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Sun dust
Self-conscious about the limp she is left with after a car accident, sixteen-year-old Laurie is apprehensive when her grandfather insists she learn to ride one of his quarter horses.
- GenresYoung AdultFictionHorses
184 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1976
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 18, 2010
My grandmother is the author of this book so I suppose my review is a little bias.
Sun Dust (or Sun Dust: Devil Horse) is a book about a shy 16 year old girl with a limp whose grandfather is insisting she learn to horseback ride.
Because I know all of the people the characters are based off of and the setting, I can clearly see everything. Though I truly believe this book would be enjoyed by many people. The clear imagery combines with the idea of getting back in the saddle and creates a wonderful tale.
Sun Dust (or Sun Dust: Devil Horse) is a book about a shy 16 year old girl with a limp whose grandfather is insisting she learn to horseback ride.
Because I know all of the people the characters are based off of and the setting, I can clearly see everything. Though I truly believe this book would be enjoyed by many people. The clear imagery combines with the idea of getting back in the saddle and creates a wonderful tale.
April 30, 2012
I bought this book in grade school and I still read it as an adult about once a year! i would be lost without it!
December 10, 2015
I bought this book in grade school in the 70s out of one of those beloved book order forms and have read it countless times since, even as an adult. It is charming and engrossing.
September 27, 2020
I read this when I was young, probably in middle school. It was one of my sister’s reads that she recommended. It was called Sun Dust, but this is called Sun Dust Devil Horse. I guess the title changed in the copy I read from the library.
What I Remembered: I remember her being injured, in some kind of accident, maybe car accident. Just learning to ride. Mean girl in here.
Hero buys her something for her birthday, a necklace, bridle or Spurs.
I also remembered the mean girl saying something about her being crippled.
-2020 reread:
The hero trains this girl and her horse: “If you can beat my 19.4 seconds, I’ll take you to that party you’re so set on.”
“It’s a deal—just watch me!”
And “What was my time?” she demanded.
“19.3,” he frowned in mock dismay, shaking the watch. “I think there’s something wrong with this thing.”
‘Envy rose miserably inside as she watched Randa’s lithe figure move in perfect harmony with the motion of her horse, and the confident way the other girl smiled and chatted with David, who seemed to be enjoying her company a great deal.’
I liked all the horse info:
Horses have a pecking order. Ones in charge and so on down the line.
Cribbing is what horses do in their stalls when they chew on the wood. Experts think it’s due to a lack in their diet, but it could be from restlessness too.
When horses gallop, two feet on one side will always touch the ground before the other two. Changing leads is when horses change which feet they touch the ground with.
Western riders neck-twin their horses, using pressure from the rein to push the horse in the direction you want. Pressing the reins against the left side means the horse will go right.
Cutting horses you guide with your legs. Squeeze with your legs to make them go, press your left leg to turn right and your right leg to turn left. Press directly behind and above the stirrup.
She controlled the front half of the horse with her hands, by using the reins,& the back half with her legs. I liked hearing how they get horses to turn in a circle, or move sideways.
When she wanted the horse on a right lead, she pressed her heel to the left side of the horse.
When a horse acted up, she tightened the left rein, dragging the horses head tightly, so the horse went in a dizzying circle.
The MC describes horses in a way she wouldn’t be able to, considering she’s never ridden one, & hadn’t been to the ranch since she’s 12,& didn’t grow up there. The authors knowledge was clearly coming through in those moments.
She stuck up for herself against Randa, and then apologized to David for speaking like that, & he seemed displeased by it.
It was odd her grandpa is referenced as Mr. Campbell. And her mom is called Helen.
There needed to be more dialogue.
And there were mundane things like cleaning dishes, cooking, ironing clothes that I didn’t care to read about.
There’s the scene of the fire, which could have been more exciting, but then it skips over her grandpa and David finding out. The scene ends and then it’s her first day of school. Wth? Talk about a big miss.
Any time Laurie got mad—like twice—she didn’t do anything with her anger. Usually said something sort of stupid.
“What about the contest,” he persisted. “Did you tell Randa you might enter,”
“Well, why not?” Laurie asked wildly, the tears growing heavier, ready to fall. “Don’t you think I’d be just the one to beat her? Just because she’s graceful and rides like an Olympic performer, and is beautiful besides, what difference would that make? I don’t guess it matters that I never heard of the darn contest and I don’t have the faintest idea what she’s talking about and—“
“Wait a minute!” David commanded, looking thoroughly alarmed. “Here. Wipe your nose before one of the teachers comes along and accuses me of beating you.”’
She gets mad and goes and compliments Randa! She sounds pathetic. And, boy, gotta love romance books in the 80’s. Why would someone think you beat her?
‘“I had a feeling Randa was pulling something sneaky out there. I can’t figure out why you two seem to rub each other the wrong way. Randa isn’t half bad when you get to know her. She’s really a pretty nice girl. And she might have honestly been trying to include you in the crowd.”’
I remembered the comment David’s sister made, comparing her hair to a chestnut mare and her eyes to a gray pony he saw once.
‘“About a year later Mr. Finley ordered Sunburst shot after she got him cornered in her stall and nearly killed him. If his trainer hadn’t come in with a pitchfork I guess she’d have done it. As it was, she broke Finley’s arm and some ribs.”
“How awful! That poor mare, how she must have hated people.”’
No sympathy for the guy who got his arm and ribs broken, & almost died.
I didn’t like that after her horse startled in the arena, and she gets bucked off, she wants to leave the contest, and David said “Come in, Laurie. Don’t be a baby. Do you think you’re the first rider to fall in front of the crowd?”
Randa wins, which was realistic considering Laurie’s only been riding for a handful of weeks, but I don’t like the mean girl winning. Or Laurie congratulating her.
“Congratulations, Randa. That was just a beautiful ride.”
It skips over David’s reaction of her taking second place, not to mention her family, who didn’t even seem to be there to watch her!!
After the contest, boys asked her out,& I was surprised she went out with Ernie to the movies.
She was only supposed to stay for the summer, then all of a sudden she’s starting school. And then it’s winter and Christmas! Idk when the decision to stay longer happened.
After months of training and riding with Laurie, while David’s buying Laurie’s Christmas present, Randa asks him to take her to the New Year’s dance and he said yes! Wth is that? Why do that when you’re interested in Laurie?!
“I was with David when he bought the spurs,” Marian chattered. “And who should come in the store but Randa Meredith, and when she came slinking over to ask David to take her to the New Year’s dance at the Country Club, I told her who he was buying the spurs for. You should have seen her face. If David hadn’t said he’d take her to the dance, I think she’d have exploded right there in the store.”
“Marian, shut up,” David said softly.
Marian bit her lip. “I’m sorry. Did I say something I shouldn’t have?”’
Idc that it’s passed off as him saying yes so she doesn’t get mad. He shouldn’t say yes if he doesn’t like her. Don’t be a pansy, afraid to make her mad.
-Laurie overhears Randa and David at school:
“I hope you don’t forget to get off work early Friday,” Randa was saying in her bright, teasing voice. “If you’re late to take me to the prom, I’ll go on without you.”
“Whoa, now,” David laughed. “Who said I was taking you?”
“Well, don’t you always take me to the dances? Or maybe you plan on asking poor little Laurie Campbell! It would be just like you to do something silly like that because you feel sorry for her, or because you work for the Campbells. But you know she’ll just embarrass you on the dance floor.”’
David ends up asking her to the prom, which was sweet—a long time coming admitting his feelings for her. Would have been sweeter if he hadn’t taken Randa to two dances since meeting Laurie.
Laurie lies and says his friend Ernie asked her: “Well, good for old Ernie. I was afraid he wouldn’t get up nerve enough to ask anyone! And here he snatched you right out from under my nose. I’m going to call him when I get home and tell him what I think of that trick.”’
I liked when Laurie ran in to help David when Sun Dust was gonna hurt him. And when they found the hurt colt and they each took their coats off, & David said they’d both freeze and put his arm around her.
David ended up going to the prom with Randa. And it was even worse than I thought. “They’ve dated off and on for a couple of years—I think Randa just always took it for granted that she and Dave were a couple. You’re the first threat that’s ever come up.”
Even more upsetting that Laurie could have gone to the prom with David, but Randa ruined it.
“Now that you know the game maybe you can still win it. I’d like to see Randa come unglued. Get a smile on your face and let’s see if old Dave doesn’t boil over pretty soon. He’s been watching us for the last couple of minutes and Randa’s having a heck of a hard time keeping his attention. No, don’t look! Just ignore him and let’s see what happens.”
I did like that. He comes up to her and asks her to dance.
“Why wouldn’t you come with me tonight, Laurie? I planned for it all winter.”
So Ernie had been right. Laurie sighed with pure happiness. “I’m sorry, David.”
“I know you didn’t have a date with Ernie. He’d told me a couple of days before that he hadn’t asked anyone yet. I’d have known by the look on your face, anyhow. Want to tell me about it?”
The temptation was great. David would be angry with Randa and it would be to Laurie’s advantage to tell.
“I...I can’t,” she said. “But it wasn’t because I didn’t want to.”
“I guess that’s good enough for me,” he said, after a moment.’
She doesn’t even tell on Randa! What is wrong with this heroine?! Get a backbone! And David said he’d planned it all winter: You mean right during the time you went to the new years even dance with Randa??)
Then Ernie dances with someone else, everyone just switching up with different people than the ones they came with.
“You mean it’s all right for me to ride Sun Dust—already?”
“You aren’t afraid, are you?”
“I don’t know. Yes. I guess I am.”
“Look, Laurie. She knows you now. You’ve spent plenty of time with her and she likes you. I’ve gone as far with her as I should. It’s time you took over.”
“But—But I don’t know enough. I’ll only get her mixed up.”
“She’s your horse. I’m not the one who’ll be performing on her. So this is—“ he grinned, his eyes wickedly alight in his tanned face—“the moment of truth, I think it’s called.”
“You’re laughing at me!” Laurie snapped, injures.
“Why not? You’re pretty funny. Now come and get on Sun Dust before she drops over from old age.”
Although funny, I don’t like him not understanding her fear.
Then when she thanks him for training Sun Dust he blushes which was cute but then didn’t accept her thanks, changed the subject.
It skipped over her grandpa’s and family’s reaction to her riding Sun Dust.
“That’s not fair, David Elliot! How could you expect me to ride as well as you do? I’m—”
“A poor little lame girl. I know.” He was grinning, actually laughing at her, and she wanted to throw the stopwatch at him.’
I wish she’d do it. Do what you want to.
-“You’re tense. You’re...well, let’s face it. You’re scared. I know this is new to you and I know how you feel. It you just don’t do justice to this good mare of yours.”
“I suppose someone like Randa Meredith would do justice to her, wouldn’t she?” Laurie said bitterly, close to tears.
“You said that, I didn’t,” he answered quietly. “But yes, I think she could. She’s reckless enough, I guess.”
She goes to storm out after that comment. And then realizes she’d be running away from the problem and goes back
‘Laurie said nothing until they were almost face to face. Then she lifted her chin and took a deep, unsteady breath.
“I’m going to try again.”
“Sure you are.”
David’s grin told her he knew she would t run away this time.’
Anytime Laurie did something like that, it felt like she was giving in to David.
Just do what you want.
I couldn’t believe she’d been there a year, waiting on her dad to come home. I didn’t realize journalists were gone so long.
Once I read it, I also remembered the comment she makes to Randa: “Oh, do I ever remember! That was an awkward fall, wasn’t it? I thought I’d see if I could do a more graceful one today.” And David laughs approvingly.
Randa ends up complimenting Laurie and her horse, which was so unrealistic and so unnecessary. Idc if they get along.
I remembered this: ‘For a moment Laurie wished David could be taking her place with Sun Dust now, if only to show everyone what the filly could do.’
She already competed in the reining stuff, she didn’t have to do barrel racing too. Like she’s gotta compete with Randa on everything. Even David...
David brushes the horse before the competition: “compliments of the Tierra Encantada stable boy, ma’am.” And rubs her down after the competition:
“You’re royalty today, ma’am. Let your stable boy do it.”
That was cute.
“Your mother told me something about David. He taught you to ride, didn’t he?”
“Yes.” What a simple answer to describe the very complicated job David had undertaken this past year.”
It ends with her and her dad both saying they need to thank David. Would have been better if that had been included in the book!
She introduces him to Sun Dust.
A nice ending but could have been a lot better.
It felt draggy towards the end. There was a point where it felt like it was gonna end but then it kept on going for another competition.
This needed more dialogue.
There was an overuse of exclamation points in here.
The heroine could be annoying and needed a backbone, more personality and spunk.
It was on the dry, boring side. Only a few humorous things. Needed more humor and personality.
There also needed to be way more in the romance department. How lacking!
I just read a book where a 13 year old got kissed from a boy! And Laurie’s 16, turned 17, & David’s 18 and they don’t kiss?!
I don’t remember the hero seemingly being into another girl, and I didn’t like that and how it lasted for much of the book.
The horse on the cover should be Sun Dust! What a fail.
Gave it two stars from memory, and it’s staying two stars, unfortunately.
What I Remembered: I remember her being injured, in some kind of accident, maybe car accident. Just learning to ride. Mean girl in here.
Hero buys her something for her birthday, a necklace, bridle or Spurs.
I also remembered the mean girl saying something about her being crippled.
-2020 reread:
The hero trains this girl and her horse: “If you can beat my 19.4 seconds, I’ll take you to that party you’re so set on.”
“It’s a deal—just watch me!”
And “What was my time?” she demanded.
“19.3,” he frowned in mock dismay, shaking the watch. “I think there’s something wrong with this thing.”
‘Envy rose miserably inside as she watched Randa’s lithe figure move in perfect harmony with the motion of her horse, and the confident way the other girl smiled and chatted with David, who seemed to be enjoying her company a great deal.’
I liked all the horse info:
Horses have a pecking order. Ones in charge and so on down the line.
Cribbing is what horses do in their stalls when they chew on the wood. Experts think it’s due to a lack in their diet, but it could be from restlessness too.
When horses gallop, two feet on one side will always touch the ground before the other two. Changing leads is when horses change which feet they touch the ground with.
Western riders neck-twin their horses, using pressure from the rein to push the horse in the direction you want. Pressing the reins against the left side means the horse will go right.
Cutting horses you guide with your legs. Squeeze with your legs to make them go, press your left leg to turn right and your right leg to turn left. Press directly behind and above the stirrup.
She controlled the front half of the horse with her hands, by using the reins,& the back half with her legs. I liked hearing how they get horses to turn in a circle, or move sideways.
When she wanted the horse on a right lead, she pressed her heel to the left side of the horse.
When a horse acted up, she tightened the left rein, dragging the horses head tightly, so the horse went in a dizzying circle.
The MC describes horses in a way she wouldn’t be able to, considering she’s never ridden one, & hadn’t been to the ranch since she’s 12,& didn’t grow up there. The authors knowledge was clearly coming through in those moments.
She stuck up for herself against Randa, and then apologized to David for speaking like that, & he seemed displeased by it.
It was odd her grandpa is referenced as Mr. Campbell. And her mom is called Helen.
There needed to be more dialogue.
And there were mundane things like cleaning dishes, cooking, ironing clothes that I didn’t care to read about.
There’s the scene of the fire, which could have been more exciting, but then it skips over her grandpa and David finding out. The scene ends and then it’s her first day of school. Wth? Talk about a big miss.
Any time Laurie got mad—like twice—she didn’t do anything with her anger. Usually said something sort of stupid.
“What about the contest,” he persisted. “Did you tell Randa you might enter,”
“Well, why not?” Laurie asked wildly, the tears growing heavier, ready to fall. “Don’t you think I’d be just the one to beat her? Just because she’s graceful and rides like an Olympic performer, and is beautiful besides, what difference would that make? I don’t guess it matters that I never heard of the darn contest and I don’t have the faintest idea what she’s talking about and—“
“Wait a minute!” David commanded, looking thoroughly alarmed. “Here. Wipe your nose before one of the teachers comes along and accuses me of beating you.”’
She gets mad and goes and compliments Randa! She sounds pathetic. And, boy, gotta love romance books in the 80’s. Why would someone think you beat her?
‘“I had a feeling Randa was pulling something sneaky out there. I can’t figure out why you two seem to rub each other the wrong way. Randa isn’t half bad when you get to know her. She’s really a pretty nice girl. And she might have honestly been trying to include you in the crowd.”’
I remembered the comment David’s sister made, comparing her hair to a chestnut mare and her eyes to a gray pony he saw once.
‘“About a year later Mr. Finley ordered Sunburst shot after she got him cornered in her stall and nearly killed him. If his trainer hadn’t come in with a pitchfork I guess she’d have done it. As it was, she broke Finley’s arm and some ribs.”
“How awful! That poor mare, how she must have hated people.”’
No sympathy for the guy who got his arm and ribs broken, & almost died.
I didn’t like that after her horse startled in the arena, and she gets bucked off, she wants to leave the contest, and David said “Come in, Laurie. Don’t be a baby. Do you think you’re the first rider to fall in front of the crowd?”
Randa wins, which was realistic considering Laurie’s only been riding for a handful of weeks, but I don’t like the mean girl winning. Or Laurie congratulating her.
“Congratulations, Randa. That was just a beautiful ride.”
It skips over David’s reaction of her taking second place, not to mention her family, who didn’t even seem to be there to watch her!!
After the contest, boys asked her out,& I was surprised she went out with Ernie to the movies.
She was only supposed to stay for the summer, then all of a sudden she’s starting school. And then it’s winter and Christmas! Idk when the decision to stay longer happened.
After months of training and riding with Laurie, while David’s buying Laurie’s Christmas present, Randa asks him to take her to the New Year’s dance and he said yes! Wth is that? Why do that when you’re interested in Laurie?!
“I was with David when he bought the spurs,” Marian chattered. “And who should come in the store but Randa Meredith, and when she came slinking over to ask David to take her to the New Year’s dance at the Country Club, I told her who he was buying the spurs for. You should have seen her face. If David hadn’t said he’d take her to the dance, I think she’d have exploded right there in the store.”
“Marian, shut up,” David said softly.
Marian bit her lip. “I’m sorry. Did I say something I shouldn’t have?”’
Idc that it’s passed off as him saying yes so she doesn’t get mad. He shouldn’t say yes if he doesn’t like her. Don’t be a pansy, afraid to make her mad.
-Laurie overhears Randa and David at school:
“I hope you don’t forget to get off work early Friday,” Randa was saying in her bright, teasing voice. “If you’re late to take me to the prom, I’ll go on without you.”
“Whoa, now,” David laughed. “Who said I was taking you?”
“Well, don’t you always take me to the dances? Or maybe you plan on asking poor little Laurie Campbell! It would be just like you to do something silly like that because you feel sorry for her, or because you work for the Campbells. But you know she’ll just embarrass you on the dance floor.”’
David ends up asking her to the prom, which was sweet—a long time coming admitting his feelings for her. Would have been sweeter if he hadn’t taken Randa to two dances since meeting Laurie.
Laurie lies and says his friend Ernie asked her: “Well, good for old Ernie. I was afraid he wouldn’t get up nerve enough to ask anyone! And here he snatched you right out from under my nose. I’m going to call him when I get home and tell him what I think of that trick.”’
I liked when Laurie ran in to help David when Sun Dust was gonna hurt him. And when they found the hurt colt and they each took their coats off, & David said they’d both freeze and put his arm around her.
David ended up going to the prom with Randa. And it was even worse than I thought. “They’ve dated off and on for a couple of years—I think Randa just always took it for granted that she and Dave were a couple. You’re the first threat that’s ever come up.”
Even more upsetting that Laurie could have gone to the prom with David, but Randa ruined it.
“Now that you know the game maybe you can still win it. I’d like to see Randa come unglued. Get a smile on your face and let’s see if old Dave doesn’t boil over pretty soon. He’s been watching us for the last couple of minutes and Randa’s having a heck of a hard time keeping his attention. No, don’t look! Just ignore him and let’s see what happens.”
I did like that. He comes up to her and asks her to dance.
“Why wouldn’t you come with me tonight, Laurie? I planned for it all winter.”
So Ernie had been right. Laurie sighed with pure happiness. “I’m sorry, David.”
“I know you didn’t have a date with Ernie. He’d told me a couple of days before that he hadn’t asked anyone yet. I’d have known by the look on your face, anyhow. Want to tell me about it?”
The temptation was great. David would be angry with Randa and it would be to Laurie’s advantage to tell.
“I...I can’t,” she said. “But it wasn’t because I didn’t want to.”
“I guess that’s good enough for me,” he said, after a moment.’
She doesn’t even tell on Randa! What is wrong with this heroine?! Get a backbone! And David said he’d planned it all winter: You mean right during the time you went to the new years even dance with Randa??)
Then Ernie dances with someone else, everyone just switching up with different people than the ones they came with.
“You mean it’s all right for me to ride Sun Dust—already?”
“You aren’t afraid, are you?”
“I don’t know. Yes. I guess I am.”
“Look, Laurie. She knows you now. You’ve spent plenty of time with her and she likes you. I’ve gone as far with her as I should. It’s time you took over.”
“But—But I don’t know enough. I’ll only get her mixed up.”
“She’s your horse. I’m not the one who’ll be performing on her. So this is—“ he grinned, his eyes wickedly alight in his tanned face—“the moment of truth, I think it’s called.”
“You’re laughing at me!” Laurie snapped, injures.
“Why not? You’re pretty funny. Now come and get on Sun Dust before she drops over from old age.”
Although funny, I don’t like him not understanding her fear.
Then when she thanks him for training Sun Dust he blushes which was cute but then didn’t accept her thanks, changed the subject.
It skipped over her grandpa’s and family’s reaction to her riding Sun Dust.
“That’s not fair, David Elliot! How could you expect me to ride as well as you do? I’m—”
“A poor little lame girl. I know.” He was grinning, actually laughing at her, and she wanted to throw the stopwatch at him.’
I wish she’d do it. Do what you want to.
-“You’re tense. You’re...well, let’s face it. You’re scared. I know this is new to you and I know how you feel. It you just don’t do justice to this good mare of yours.”
“I suppose someone like Randa Meredith would do justice to her, wouldn’t she?” Laurie said bitterly, close to tears.
“You said that, I didn’t,” he answered quietly. “But yes, I think she could. She’s reckless enough, I guess.”
She goes to storm out after that comment. And then realizes she’d be running away from the problem and goes back
‘Laurie said nothing until they were almost face to face. Then she lifted her chin and took a deep, unsteady breath.
“I’m going to try again.”
“Sure you are.”
David’s grin told her he knew she would t run away this time.’
Anytime Laurie did something like that, it felt like she was giving in to David.
Just do what you want.
I couldn’t believe she’d been there a year, waiting on her dad to come home. I didn’t realize journalists were gone so long.
Once I read it, I also remembered the comment she makes to Randa: “Oh, do I ever remember! That was an awkward fall, wasn’t it? I thought I’d see if I could do a more graceful one today.” And David laughs approvingly.
Randa ends up complimenting Laurie and her horse, which was so unrealistic and so unnecessary. Idc if they get along.
I remembered this: ‘For a moment Laurie wished David could be taking her place with Sun Dust now, if only to show everyone what the filly could do.’
She already competed in the reining stuff, she didn’t have to do barrel racing too. Like she’s gotta compete with Randa on everything. Even David...
David brushes the horse before the competition: “compliments of the Tierra Encantada stable boy, ma’am.” And rubs her down after the competition:
“You’re royalty today, ma’am. Let your stable boy do it.”
That was cute.
“Your mother told me something about David. He taught you to ride, didn’t he?”
“Yes.” What a simple answer to describe the very complicated job David had undertaken this past year.”
It ends with her and her dad both saying they need to thank David. Would have been better if that had been included in the book!
She introduces him to Sun Dust.
A nice ending but could have been a lot better.
It felt draggy towards the end. There was a point where it felt like it was gonna end but then it kept on going for another competition.
This needed more dialogue.
There was an overuse of exclamation points in here.
The heroine could be annoying and needed a backbone, more personality and spunk.
It was on the dry, boring side. Only a few humorous things. Needed more humor and personality.
There also needed to be way more in the romance department. How lacking!
I just read a book where a 13 year old got kissed from a boy! And Laurie’s 16, turned 17, & David’s 18 and they don’t kiss?!
I don’t remember the hero seemingly being into another girl, and I didn’t like that and how it lasted for much of the book.
The horse on the cover should be Sun Dust! What a fail.
Gave it two stars from memory, and it’s staying two stars, unfortunately.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2009
This is a sweet little book,and I enjoyed reading about horses. They do not usually feature prominently in what I read.
May 20, 2020
I've read this once or twice before. I remembered the girl was afraid of riding, and there's a boy who was dating the mean girl, or had dated her.
After reading, I realized I had forgotten so much that it was like reading a new book.
Laurie starts off 16 but has her 17th birthday. She was in a car accident and had a crippled leg that caused her to limp. On the way to the ranch, her grandma mentioned David Elliot, who trains his horses. He's 18 and his sister Marian is 16. Randa sometimes trains with David, and he challenged her to beat his time and he'd take her to the party she wanted to go to.
I liked the explanation of changing leads, and the stalls being painted white to keep horses from chewing on the wood. There was a lot of detail on the different ways of urging the horse to go in different directions and the kinds of steps you could take, moving certain feet of the horse.
Her grandpa forced her to choose a horse even though she didn't want to ride. She was nervous and didn't want to, was determined to worm her way out of this and it was so clever of her to choose Sun Dust, the horse that couldn't be ridden because of her disposition.
Randa was definitely the mean girl, there to say how stupid Laurie had been in handling Sacramento when she caused him to buck her off. Randa said Laurie could've killed him and then asked if David was going to let her completely ruin her grandpa's horse. I was so glad when Laurie finally stood up for herself and showed some toughness. She said if her grandpa didn't want her riding he'd tell her himself and asked if she had something to do somewhere else? Randa thought she was kicking her off but Laurie said she wasn't and wanted her to stop talking about her like she was an idiot. Randa left and then Laurie reverted to a meek weakling by apologizing to David and saying she shouldn't have talked to Randa that way. She felt bad for making his friend feel unwelcome. Get a backbone, Laurie. It's your family's ranch.
Laurie stupidly apologized to David for choosing Sun Dust. I was sick of her timidity. She insisted she couldn't ride and someone else who's better should've gotten her. David said she put herself down too much and I'm like that is so unattractive.
She really brought riding to life and I liked the visit to the rodeo. She captured that well. I liked the inside detail of the dirt being wet to minimize dust. I definitely didn't remember that David rode broncs and he rode his horse in the arena with Randa. He was smiling at something she said and didn't look at Laurie in the stands at all. Even when he came up, Laurie didn't get to congratulate his ride because Randa interrupted. I hate jealousy, especially when it's drawn out for too long.
Grandpa and David went to sell horses but Laurie couldn't go because her grandma was sick. It would've been nice to get off the ranch for a while and learn about a horse sale.
She fell asleep and Barlow's cigarette lit a fire in the barn. He saved Dust Devil first even though he was farthest from the flames because he's such an important horse, instead of Sun Dust. He gave her the hose and instead of just opening Sun Dust's latch and letting her go, she waited and waited for Barlow to return. Then he came and tried to get Sun Dust out but she hit him in the head. So Laurie had to take him out and then she's standing there with him begging him to save Sun Dust and asking what she should do. Get your butt back in the stable and get the horse. I was so annoyed at her.
And then I looked forward to grandpa and David returning and learning she saved Sun Dust, but no. The author skipped over it altogether so we don't know how they reacted. I wanted David to be impressed.
Her first day of school Randa taunted her about getting a private ride to school and honoring the school with her presence. Laurie annoyingly explained that she'd be taking the bus and thought she'd like it. Shut up. Of course David missed that part and walked up when Randa said they should convince her to compete to be rodeo queen. Later David asked if Laurie had told Randa she wanted to compete. Idiot. Laurie said Randa was beautiful and rides like an Olympic performer. So pathetic. I was embarrassed for her.
It was cute how Marian said David compared the color of her hair and eyes to matching these horses that he'd seen.
I wished for more between her and David, but Laurie's attitude ruined it. Marian saw Laurie practicing and made a comment about the queen contest, and Laurie realized that David had been teaching her the steps for the contest and got upset.
I was so sick of her whoa-is-me, downer attitude. She decided to compete knowing she didn't have a chance of beating Randa and the other girls. She decided this less than a week before the contest. So practicing for those handful of days had her prepared to compete, because she has a natural feel for horses. Of course. I couldn't stand how easy it was.
Randa came up and made a shot about Laurie not wanting to fall in front of all these people. David assured her that meant Randa was really worried about her. Instead of it making Laurie feel better, she lost all confidence and was so nervous. I was so irritated! And when he asked her to look at Randa, Laurie said she would never look like that. David told her not to start oozing self pity. Shut up and quit comparing yourself to Randa! Laurie was a good example of how extremely unattractive it is to put yourself down. Don't do it. It's ugly.
Of course some kids threw ice of all things over the railing and it hit Sacramento and he threw her. Laurie wanted to leave and David told her not to be a baby. Yeah, grow up Laurie.
Randa won and Laurie got 2nd. It really bothered me that Laurie did so well, beating out this other really good girl who usually wins. That is so unrealistic. I'd rather she didn't place because that's more likely of a beginner rider. And her family wasn't even there. They might as well have not even known she was competing, because no one even said anything or came. They just noticed how nervous she was at breakfast and her grandpa said to settle the horse.
Time passed after the comp and guys were asking her out. Ernie had asked her for a date and they went to the movies. I couldn't believe it because she had given no indication of liking Ernie.
I was so upset that two of their horses were shot and killed by hunters, one of them being her colt's mom, and her colt was shot but didn't die and they saved him.
David and Marian spent Christmas at their house and David got her spurs. All she got him was a lame horse training book. She knew it was a symbol of something she wasn't quite ready to think about. You went on a date with Ernie but you won't even let yourself think of what David's gift means??
Marian said Randa had come up to ask David to the New Years' dance and Marian had told her who he was buying the spurs for. She said you should've seen her face. And if David hadn't hadn't said he'd take her, she might have exploded. David told her to shut up and Laurie couldn't look at him and it ruined the night.
It was suddenly May and Laurie overheard Randa saying she hoped David didn't forget to get off early Friday to the junior-senior prom. David said who said he was taking her? Randa said don't you always take me to the dances? And then she said maybe he plans on asking poor little Laurie, and it'd be just like him to invite her because he feels sorry for her but Laurie would just embarrass him on the dance floor. But on the bus ride home when they were the last ones, David came and sat beside her and said he's been wanting to ask her if she'd go with him to the prom. Laurie felt terrible thinking he was just asking her out of pity and she lied and said Ernie had asked her. David was glad Ernie had gotten up the nerve to ask anyone and he said he'd snatched her right out under his nose and he'd have to call him tell him what he thought of that trick.
So she had to call Ernie and desperately ask him to go along with the ruse. They ended up going for real and of course David went with Randa. Ernie saw her looking and David and asked why she didn't go with him since she likes him. Ernie told her Randa had obviously seen Laurie there and wanted her to hear it and turn David down if he asked her because she didn't want him to feel sorry for her. I hated when Ernie had said they've dated off and on for a couple years and Laurie's the first threat Randa has had. Once again, Laurie fell into Randa's trap. She was so stupid.
Ernie said he knew for a fact David would have never said that and he tells him a thing or two. When she sat down and Ernie went to get punch, David came over and she didn't even hear him and only assumed he'd asked her to dance because the music was so loud. Great, he asks and she didn't even hear!
He asked why she wouldn't come with him tonight and said he'd planned for it all winter. He'd known Ernie hasn't asked her because Ernie said a couple days before that he hadn't asked anyone, and he would've known by the look on her face. Laurie knew he'd be mad at Randa and it would be to her advantage it she told him but she didn't. Stupid Laurie. I was so sick of her not saying things that needed to be said. All she said was that she couldn't tell him but it wasn't because she didn't want to go.
He graduated and turned Sun Dust over to her. He had her start barrel racing and there was a comp on the 4th of July. Of course Laurie can learn an entirely new sport enough to compete in about a month's time!
Laurie was once again frustrated with Sun Dust and David--it seemed she was always in a mood, getting upset at something--about their barrel racing progress. David told her the problem was her, she was tense and scared. He demonstrated and she said she could never ride like him and he teased her for being a poor little lame girl and I couldn't believe he said that. He told her she wasn't doing Sun Dust justice and Laurie said she supposed Randa would do her justice and I couldn't believe she was still going on about Randa on pg. 171, so close to the end. Laurie is a pathetic loser, no two ways about it.
At the rodeo, Randa got off a shot about her falling last time and Laurie turned it into a joke that she was going to try to fall more gracefully this time and Randa laughed and offered to warm up together. They sat together during the rodeo and Randa gave her tips about their competition. Oh yeah, because we all ended up befriending the mean girl in high school who made fun of us and put us down. No way would Randa be nice to Laurie when she's competing against her and she took David from her.
David picked her up and whirled her around after her ride. Her dad came up to her, surprising her with his presence because his arrival had been delayed. She told him he had to meet David and he asked if it was the guy who'd helped her from her horse in the arena and she blushed that her dad had seen it. They both had to thank David for helping her ride and he was still away getting food when the book ended. He wasn't even there.
They didn't kiss, there was barely any touching between them. wrapped his arm around her shoulders a couple times and touched her hand with his when she was on her horse. There was no declaration of feelings, no dating. I was so massively disappointed. It wasn't anywhere near enough.
Here's another book from childhood that didn't live up to my memory. It was another sad case of bumping a 3 star review down to 2 stars. I didn't enjoy the writing. It felt so distant and old, sparse and not fresh. I didn't like the heroine at all. She spent almost the entire book jealous and upset at everyone and everything. Her relationship with her mom felt really distant. We don't even know what happened in the accident. She didn't write enough detail or insight into the character's thoughts and feelings.
After reading, I realized I had forgotten so much that it was like reading a new book.
Laurie starts off 16 but has her 17th birthday. She was in a car accident and had a crippled leg that caused her to limp. On the way to the ranch, her grandma mentioned David Elliot, who trains his horses. He's 18 and his sister Marian is 16. Randa sometimes trains with David, and he challenged her to beat his time and he'd take her to the party she wanted to go to.
I liked the explanation of changing leads, and the stalls being painted white to keep horses from chewing on the wood. There was a lot of detail on the different ways of urging the horse to go in different directions and the kinds of steps you could take, moving certain feet of the horse.
Her grandpa forced her to choose a horse even though she didn't want to ride. She was nervous and didn't want to, was determined to worm her way out of this and it was so clever of her to choose Sun Dust, the horse that couldn't be ridden because of her disposition.
Randa was definitely the mean girl, there to say how stupid Laurie had been in handling Sacramento when she caused him to buck her off. Randa said Laurie could've killed him and then asked if David was going to let her completely ruin her grandpa's horse. I was so glad when Laurie finally stood up for herself and showed some toughness. She said if her grandpa didn't want her riding he'd tell her himself and asked if she had something to do somewhere else? Randa thought she was kicking her off but Laurie said she wasn't and wanted her to stop talking about her like she was an idiot. Randa left and then Laurie reverted to a meek weakling by apologizing to David and saying she shouldn't have talked to Randa that way. She felt bad for making his friend feel unwelcome. Get a backbone, Laurie. It's your family's ranch.
Laurie stupidly apologized to David for choosing Sun Dust. I was sick of her timidity. She insisted she couldn't ride and someone else who's better should've gotten her. David said she put herself down too much and I'm like that is so unattractive.
She really brought riding to life and I liked the visit to the rodeo. She captured that well. I liked the inside detail of the dirt being wet to minimize dust. I definitely didn't remember that David rode broncs and he rode his horse in the arena with Randa. He was smiling at something she said and didn't look at Laurie in the stands at all. Even when he came up, Laurie didn't get to congratulate his ride because Randa interrupted. I hate jealousy, especially when it's drawn out for too long.
Grandpa and David went to sell horses but Laurie couldn't go because her grandma was sick. It would've been nice to get off the ranch for a while and learn about a horse sale.
She fell asleep and Barlow's cigarette lit a fire in the barn. He saved Dust Devil first even though he was farthest from the flames because he's such an important horse, instead of Sun Dust. He gave her the hose and instead of just opening Sun Dust's latch and letting her go, she waited and waited for Barlow to return. Then he came and tried to get Sun Dust out but she hit him in the head. So Laurie had to take him out and then she's standing there with him begging him to save Sun Dust and asking what she should do. Get your butt back in the stable and get the horse. I was so annoyed at her.
And then I looked forward to grandpa and David returning and learning she saved Sun Dust, but no. The author skipped over it altogether so we don't know how they reacted. I wanted David to be impressed.
Her first day of school Randa taunted her about getting a private ride to school and honoring the school with her presence. Laurie annoyingly explained that she'd be taking the bus and thought she'd like it. Shut up. Of course David missed that part and walked up when Randa said they should convince her to compete to be rodeo queen. Later David asked if Laurie had told Randa she wanted to compete. Idiot. Laurie said Randa was beautiful and rides like an Olympic performer. So pathetic. I was embarrassed for her.
It was cute how Marian said David compared the color of her hair and eyes to matching these horses that he'd seen.
I wished for more between her and David, but Laurie's attitude ruined it. Marian saw Laurie practicing and made a comment about the queen contest, and Laurie realized that David had been teaching her the steps for the contest and got upset.
I was so sick of her whoa-is-me, downer attitude. She decided to compete knowing she didn't have a chance of beating Randa and the other girls. She decided this less than a week before the contest. So practicing for those handful of days had her prepared to compete, because she has a natural feel for horses. Of course. I couldn't stand how easy it was.
Randa came up and made a shot about Laurie not wanting to fall in front of all these people. David assured her that meant Randa was really worried about her. Instead of it making Laurie feel better, she lost all confidence and was so nervous. I was so irritated! And when he asked her to look at Randa, Laurie said she would never look like that. David told her not to start oozing self pity. Shut up and quit comparing yourself to Randa! Laurie was a good example of how extremely unattractive it is to put yourself down. Don't do it. It's ugly.
Of course some kids threw ice of all things over the railing and it hit Sacramento and he threw her. Laurie wanted to leave and David told her not to be a baby. Yeah, grow up Laurie.
Randa won and Laurie got 2nd. It really bothered me that Laurie did so well, beating out this other really good girl who usually wins. That is so unrealistic. I'd rather she didn't place because that's more likely of a beginner rider. And her family wasn't even there. They might as well have not even known she was competing, because no one even said anything or came. They just noticed how nervous she was at breakfast and her grandpa said to settle the horse.
Time passed after the comp and guys were asking her out. Ernie had asked her for a date and they went to the movies. I couldn't believe it because she had given no indication of liking Ernie.
I was so upset that two of their horses were shot and killed by hunters, one of them being her colt's mom, and her colt was shot but didn't die and they saved him.
David and Marian spent Christmas at their house and David got her spurs. All she got him was a lame horse training book. She knew it was a symbol of something she wasn't quite ready to think about. You went on a date with Ernie but you won't even let yourself think of what David's gift means??
Marian said Randa had come up to ask David to the New Years' dance and Marian had told her who he was buying the spurs for. She said you should've seen her face. And if David hadn't hadn't said he'd take her, she might have exploded. David told her to shut up and Laurie couldn't look at him and it ruined the night.
It was suddenly May and Laurie overheard Randa saying she hoped David didn't forget to get off early Friday to the junior-senior prom. David said who said he was taking her? Randa said don't you always take me to the dances? And then she said maybe he plans on asking poor little Laurie, and it'd be just like him to invite her because he feels sorry for her but Laurie would just embarrass him on the dance floor. But on the bus ride home when they were the last ones, David came and sat beside her and said he's been wanting to ask her if she'd go with him to the prom. Laurie felt terrible thinking he was just asking her out of pity and she lied and said Ernie had asked her. David was glad Ernie had gotten up the nerve to ask anyone and he said he'd snatched her right out under his nose and he'd have to call him tell him what he thought of that trick.
So she had to call Ernie and desperately ask him to go along with the ruse. They ended up going for real and of course David went with Randa. Ernie saw her looking and David and asked why she didn't go with him since she likes him. Ernie told her Randa had obviously seen Laurie there and wanted her to hear it and turn David down if he asked her because she didn't want him to feel sorry for her. I hated when Ernie had said they've dated off and on for a couple years and Laurie's the first threat Randa has had. Once again, Laurie fell into Randa's trap. She was so stupid.
Ernie said he knew for a fact David would have never said that and he tells him a thing or two. When she sat down and Ernie went to get punch, David came over and she didn't even hear him and only assumed he'd asked her to dance because the music was so loud. Great, he asks and she didn't even hear!
He asked why she wouldn't come with him tonight and said he'd planned for it all winter. He'd known Ernie hasn't asked her because Ernie said a couple days before that he hadn't asked anyone, and he would've known by the look on her face. Laurie knew he'd be mad at Randa and it would be to her advantage it she told him but she didn't. Stupid Laurie. I was so sick of her not saying things that needed to be said. All she said was that she couldn't tell him but it wasn't because she didn't want to go.
He graduated and turned Sun Dust over to her. He had her start barrel racing and there was a comp on the 4th of July. Of course Laurie can learn an entirely new sport enough to compete in about a month's time!
Laurie was once again frustrated with Sun Dust and David--it seemed she was always in a mood, getting upset at something--about their barrel racing progress. David told her the problem was her, she was tense and scared. He demonstrated and she said she could never ride like him and he teased her for being a poor little lame girl and I couldn't believe he said that. He told her she wasn't doing Sun Dust justice and Laurie said she supposed Randa would do her justice and I couldn't believe she was still going on about Randa on pg. 171, so close to the end. Laurie is a pathetic loser, no two ways about it.
At the rodeo, Randa got off a shot about her falling last time and Laurie turned it into a joke that she was going to try to fall more gracefully this time and Randa laughed and offered to warm up together. They sat together during the rodeo and Randa gave her tips about their competition. Oh yeah, because we all ended up befriending the mean girl in high school who made fun of us and put us down. No way would Randa be nice to Laurie when she's competing against her and she took David from her.
David picked her up and whirled her around after her ride. Her dad came up to her, surprising her with his presence because his arrival had been delayed. She told him he had to meet David and he asked if it was the guy who'd helped her from her horse in the arena and she blushed that her dad had seen it. They both had to thank David for helping her ride and he was still away getting food when the book ended. He wasn't even there.
They didn't kiss, there was barely any touching between them. wrapped his arm around her shoulders a couple times and touched her hand with his when she was on her horse. There was no declaration of feelings, no dating. I was so massively disappointed. It wasn't anywhere near enough.
Here's another book from childhood that didn't live up to my memory. It was another sad case of bumping a 3 star review down to 2 stars. I didn't enjoy the writing. It felt so distant and old, sparse and not fresh. I didn't like the heroine at all. She spent almost the entire book jealous and upset at everyone and everything. Her relationship with her mom felt really distant. We don't even know what happened in the accident. She didn't write enough detail or insight into the character's thoughts and feelings.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2018
A 3 hour read about a girl with a limp and a horse. I NEED SAY NO MORE If you are a teen aged reader, you will like it.
December 26, 2022
A childhood favourite.
October 23, 2024
This is a good, clean book for a younger teenaged girl who loves horses.
July 5, 2016
An engaging horse story with some stunningly lyrical sentences. It had a great ending that made me cry, which proves that I was truly invested in the character. Some of the descriptions really date the story, but that is really part of the whole immersion. A great read for teens! And moms of teens too :)
I caught myself wondering several times if she'd written anything else. I must see.
I caught myself wondering several times if she'd written anything else. I must see.
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