High Hurdles Collection One

High Hurdles #1-5

by Lauraine Snelling

Fourteenyearold D.J. Randall wants nothing more than to compete as a show jumper in the Olympics. The challenges that stand in her way only spur her to work harder toward her dream. Whether it's mucking out stalls and hosting pony parties to earn money to buy her first horse or navigating the changing family dynamics at home, D.J. relies on her faith in God to see her through the most daunting obstacles. Collection One includes Olympic Dreams, D.J.'s Challenge, Setting the Pace, Out of the Blue, and Storm Clouds.

Genres: Horses, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Contemporary, Christian, Middle Grade

624 pages, Paperback

First published February 26, 2011

About the author

Award-winning and bestselling author Lauraine Snelling has over 80 books published with sales of over 4.5 million. Her original dream was to write horse books for children. Today, she writes adult novels about real issues centered on forgiveness, loss, domestic violence and cancer in her inspirational contemporary women’s fiction titles and historical series, including the favorite, Blessing books about Ingeborg Bjorklund and family.

Lauraine enjoys helping others reach their writing dreams by teaching at writer’s conferences across the county. She and her husband Wayne have two grown sons, and a daughter in Heaven. They live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a Basset named Sir Winston ob de Mountains, Lapcat, and “The Girls” (three golden hens).

Reviews

[Sarah Grace Grzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this, even though I was a bit older than the target demographic. Some of the stories dragged a bit, but perhaps that is because I couldn't relate to some of the storylines.

[Aubrey Goeckner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been a favorite book of mine for years. DJ is really relatable sometimes, and it is all from a good Christian viewpoint. My grandma got me hooked on Laurianne Snelling’s work, and, like every proper bookworm, I read every book of hers that my grandma found for me. My first impression of DJ was that she was a brat. I read the first book, but had no intention of reading the next one. Then…I read my old diary. The thing about reading old diaries is that you are always like, “Don’t do that! Stop. You REALLY don’t want to do that.” Then my past self does the stupid thing, got in trouble, and learned from it. Reading your diaries means reliving all of your bad judgments and their consequences. It will lead you to the conclusion that you are a very sinful human in need of saving and stupid in a way only a sinner can be. Realizing what a brat I was brought me to rethink the way I viewed DJ. I went back, read the books, and I am so glad I did. One of my favorite sayings is that, “Readers live a thousand lives and non readers live only one.” My Mom and Dad scoff at this bit of wisdom that I try to impart every time I have to beg, “just one more chapter”, and, while I abuse the phrase quite grievously, it is, in a sense, true. When you read a book with strong moral life lessons you can either realize that you need an attitude adjustment and try to use follow their example or you can say, “ that was a good read” and forget about it. The High Hurdles Series is a really good read for those ready to grow.

[Claire · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really hate how all horse books describe their wonderful, fantastic, miracle working trainers as "former Olympic contenders" or say how "they once qualified for the Olympics" as their one big hurrah, like that was the culmination of their career. THE OLYMPICS IS NOT THE BE ALL-END ALL PEOPLE... Ugh, but I guess it sure impresses those who don't actually know much about equestrian sports. And is it just me or did the trainer suddenly become French in the later books? I don't remember her being French at the beginning? And I love how they're so weird and mystical about Dressage and the girl seems to find it boring (but more difficult that flatwork). I must ask what flatwork she's been doing this whole time because flatwork isn't just hacking around the ring, kids. Dressage is the basis. And why the heck did they let this chick jump without learning the basics of Dressage? And she is training horses without knowing a shred about Dressage- which teaches a horse to carry itself properly and efficiently WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY THE ULTIMATE GOAL WHILE TRAINING HORSES?!?! This French trainer lady needs to rethink how she runs her stables. Yeah, I haven't finished this yet, but I only have one more book to go and I wanted to get this off of my chest. Okay bye.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is some repetition of information from book to book but the deep POV is awesome! I never noticed before that it was written without all the “he said/she said”!!!

Cute books from my childhood :)

[Elena Harder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved rereading this book! I read it years ago as a teen and now I read it again and see things from a different perspective. I relate to DJ’s mom now more than before and also see that DJ herself has a lot of growing up to do.
Still a story i enjoy!!!☺️

[Allison Donohue · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was overall a good book and I get it she has a crummy mom who hates her but it gets better I promise. Her mom and Robert get married and have a baby girl. Dj and her mother get a WAYYYYYYYY better relationship. She doesn't see gran as often until book 10 when she burns her hands in a fire.

[Danae K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

High Hurdles by Lauraine Snelling
Even though everyone’s life story is different, they are all unique in some way or another. In Lauraine Snelling’s fictional story, High Hurdles, DJ’s life is nothing but chaos and struggles. DJ has a passion for horses; she works at a horse academy with her best friend, Amy, competes in contests, teaches a small group of students, and dreams to ride Equestrian in the Olympics. In addition to all of this, school, and trying to rescue her relationship between her and her divorced mother, Lindy, DJ learns to trust in God with the help of her grandmother, Gran who lives with her. It all starts when Gran moves out of the house because she is getting married. DJ is scared because living with only her mother could be a catastrophe. It is a hurdle that would take a long time to get over. Secondly, she struggles with her mom’s engagement. Shortly after Gran gets married Lindy gets engaged to a man who is a stranger to DJ. What bothers her most about him is he has twin boys that are constantly annoying her, and now she will have to live with them. On top of all of this DJ also faces work and school. She works almost every day and has hardly any time to do homework, and often gets in trouble for falling asleep in class. With these problems that seem never-ending, there is one more major problem that evolves: her dad. DJ’s father left Lindy before DJ was born, and never contacted her. She was hurt, and wanted nothing to do with him, especially now that he had a wife. One day she received an unexpected call from him and the day that DJ hoped would never come did. DJ’s dad was coming to her house, and she was certain it would be a disaster. With this she learned even more just how important it is to pray and rely on God.
The author’s purpose in writing this was to show how even though there are a lot of challenges in life, we can trust in God to get us through. She wanted to creatively show through her book how there is help we can go to when difficult circumstances occur.
Lauraine Snelling’s dialogue in High Hurdles was excellent. The way she worded the conversations made the reader feel as if they were actually there, witnessing the situation.
The type of person who would enjoy this book the most is a horse lover. It is not just about horses, though. Any Christian girl would also find High Hurdles a great book.

[Kerith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first read this back when it was out in 5 separate volumes. As a kid I devoured every horse book in the library, so sometimes it's fun to reach back to that, especially when the book is about show jumping (too many are about racing). This series will satisfy those looking for armchair horseback riding, if you can get past the stereotypical hallmarks of inspirational YA that are also present. I don't mind Christianity showing up in my fiction at all, not at all, but here it's kind of an afterthought. And the adults in DJ's life have romances that happen so fast it gives you whiplash.
But, horses!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grade: B+

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked reading these stories with this book, back to back! Otherwise I have to wait for the next book to arrive from the library, & it takes forever! Looking forward to Collection Two!