Wonder's Promise

Thoroughbred #2

by Joanna Campbell

Ashleigh's dreams are in tatters. . . .

Ashleigh Griffen is thrilled when the owner of the horse farm where she lives puts her favorite horse, Wonder, into training as a Thoroughbred racer. Ashleigh has spent the past year turning the sickly filly into a beautiful, healthy yearling.

Ashleigh knows Wonder could be great, but Wonder dislikes her harsh new trainer. Soon she's bucking and disobeying all his commands. Ashleigh is heartbroken when the trainer says Wonder is untrainable... useless.

Even worse, Wonder doesn't seem to know Ashleigh anymore. One day after Wonder fiercely throws her, Ashleigh becomes afraid of her own horse. Maybe the trainer was right after all - maybe it's time to give up on Wonder. . . .

Read Thoroughbred and experience the love and friendship between a determined girl and a very special filly.

Genres: Horses, Childrens, Young Adult, Fiction, Middle Grade, Animals, Contemporary

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1991

About the author

See Jo Ann Simon

Reviews

[Sarah Ryder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven’t read this book since the first time I tried it when I was a kid who wasn’t really into reading at the time—in fact, did I ever finish it the first time? 🤔 Hmm, not sure, but I did this time, lol! 😂

I enjoyed this book a lot and I felt for Ashleigh in wanting to do what was best for Wonder but also being afraid and having to overcome that fear in order to get her trained to race. I was really feeling her anxiety at the end too, phew! 😩

Is this the most well written series in the world? Probably not, but it’s pure horse lover fun and a joy of pure nostalgia to read. Not to mention this series inspired me to even think about writing my own stories one day, so it will always hold a special place in my heart. 🥰


‼️Content‼️

Language: oh my gosh; darn; what the heck; gosh; God (2); darned

Violence: a guy hits a horse with a whip

[Nicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horses are cool.

[P · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a wholesome choice for middle school age. I really enjoyed the positive happy ending. I know it's cheesy, but I like it and it would help any girl interested in horses learn more about the ins and outs of caring for horses and preparing them to race. Teaches discipline.

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is what I hoped the rest of the Thoroughbred series would be like (HA!): A close-up look at the life of a girl and her horse (or horse that isn't hers but should be.) This only goes over a few months in Wonder's life as she begins training to be a racehorse and shows she may be a flop -- and could (GASP) be sold! This has some good verses evil confrontations and some nice horse action but not much else.



Still, it is one of the best of the original Thoroughbred cast (and probably was actually written by Joanna Campbell, unlike the later books in the series) and a nice horsey read for those who love horse stories. Sometimes it's good to take a break from books written for adults that are more stressful than real life.

[Annika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super leuk om de boeken die ik vroeger vaak las na al die jaren in de originele taal te lezen.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, I love this series! Ms. Campbell does a wonderful job telling Ashleigh's story and the struggles she faces with Wonder. Although Wonder isn't Ashleigh's horse, she feels like it because of how much time they've spent together, and she really wants Wonder to excel in her training. I love the other characters in these stories as well, such as Charlie, Ashleigh's parents, her best friend, and her siblings. They all play smaller roles, but they add so much to these stories. If you enjoyed the first one, definitely get this second one!

Pagesofcomfort.blogspot.com

[Mollie · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books focused my passion for horses on the Thoroughbred. I read these during my entire childhood and because of them, today I have re-trained 3 ex-racehorses and found them loving new homes. These books are perfect for fledgling horse lovers!

[Lucy Siskova · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hm, líbilo se mi, že kniha nevazuje tam kde předchozí přestala a není tam nějaká delší časová prodleva.
Samozřejmě pro svou vášeň ke koním jsem si oblíbila možnost nahlédnout do tajů výcviku, se kterým se setkám jen málokdy.

[Hayleehudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I liked this book more than the rest of the series. The parts with wonder actually had me in distress!

Well, I think I'll be off to read another book- possibly another one in the Thoroughbred series?

[Jes Reaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

A particularly good installment in this series. Sometimes I wonder if I let my love for these books cloud my judgement, but this was a solid book. There were so many things that could have gone wrong or been done poorly, but they weren't.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was really good I read it a while ago but I can remember it because it was so good

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

i need to read this book cause i heard it was good from a friend and i will spill the beans after i read it so watch out jk wat the hek lol

[Daphne Wigger · Rating 2 out of 5]

I actually read this a looooong time ago. Good adolescent fiction. Especially for girls who love horses, which is exactly why I picked it up back then.

[Kati Polodna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reread.

[Brodie I LOVE HORSES :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was really good

[Reba · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can't even bring myself to read this one after the first one.

[Ilana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great series for tweens that love horses and/or are interested in horseback riding or racing. Teaches about the struggles of working with animals and the benefits.

[Ashley Reif · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it! I love horses, especially thoroughbreds!
Even though this book is fiction, I learned a lot.
For anyone who loves horses, you would enjoy this series!

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

fabulous

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved these when I was a kid obsessed with horses.

[Alice Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 of the thoroughbred series and Ashley is now 13, and while some of her friends have started to notice boys and makeup Ashley, like her friend Linda is still focused on horses only. She hopes to train Wonder with the dream of making her a race horse, however it's not all plain sailing. Meanwhile she has to face up to the fact her sister is interested in arrogant Brad Townsend, who makes Ashley's training life as hard as possible..
A bit more "teenage " themes than book 1- namely school friends finding boyfriends (Asley doesn't yet) a school dance and family tensions. However it's still very innocent and told in a way chidlren as young as 9 or 10 can read without anything too inapropriate. Yes the story is a bit cheesy and has a bot of a good guys versus bad guys (unlike the latter series that had more depth) but it's good fun for tween age, or if you're like me- a good escape for an adult to read for a couple of hours , being transported from the stress of life to the early teen years again!

[Meah Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still great lol, I want all of Wonder and Ashleigh’s dreams to come true 😂😅

The conflict between Caro and Ashleigh is so aggravating! Caro is belittling Ash for NO reason!! My sister (Ashley ironically) and I are super close apparently cause I cant even imagine my sister trying to say I couldn’t do something and that I should quit! Like what the heck!!

Oh, and Jocko is an ass + stupid and u cant change my mind, like why would you talk about a horse being dog food (i.e. going to slaughter) in front of the barn/ horse owner… and boss for that matter. Wtf… and why do people just assume whipping a horse is motivation.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oof. This is a lot more uncomfortable now that I know more about horse anatomy than I did as a kid. The racing industry is grossly irresponsible by training yearlings. It's one reason why so many OTTBs have certain health problems. Most Thoroughbreds aren't fully grown until they're about five years old. Yearlings are basically still BABIES.

But that's the way it's done, and there's nothing I can do about it, so. The book is fine, I just hate the real world. 😅

[Mariska · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book also I did with the first one. In this book Amber starts to train Wonder and she did practical races with her. I love it how Amber and Charlie worked so hard with Wonder to make sure she is good enough for being a racehorse.

[Chelle Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joanna Campbell's Thoroughbred series is the series that sparked my love for reading when I was young. And even now, 20 years later, I still come back to these books when I want to relive some of the happiest memories from my child hood.

[June Willett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was AMAZING!🤩 I loved how it had that tension between the characters not in a nasty way though. I love horses and this series is the only good horse series I have found. The only thing is this book still did not make me sob. Btw I love it when a book makes me sob.

[Michaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute book! Always been a horse lover and always will be a horse lover. These books warm my heart.

[Elise K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read several in this series when I was much younger. Reading them with my daughter who is now about the age I was when I started reading them.

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

My dad would take me every weekend to me to the bookstore or mall to buy these books. Such great memories 💖

[Allie ReadsMore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonder's Promise absolutely delivered- the true blueprint for horse girl fiction. Thank you Joanna Campbell for the escapism I needed at 11 and then again at 25. 5 stars 👍🏼