Marty Kay JonesCritiques

This is a great story, directed towards pre-teens. The book is easy to read with developed characters who you want to be friends with in real life! The story line was engaging and will delight middle school readers, especially those who love horses!

This is another good book to allow my daughter to read when she gets older. Such a great grade school book, and it does make me want to see about collecting the other books. Because seeing the growth of the characters and their lives and school time is probably going to really make this series a great one of a kid who loves to read.

This is a compliation of the 4 Shelby / Old Quarry Lake series for preteens: Shelby and the First Ride, Shelby's Horse Filled Summer, Shelby and the Back to School Blues, and Shelby's Season of Surprises. All the books in this delightful series showcase making new friends, overcoming obsticals, and deepening friendships. Would recommend for preteen girls and other who enjoy lowkey, natural stories about friends and horses.

This was such a heart-warming story, set in the midst of winter. Shelby and friends are gearing up for the month-long winter festival in town, and the special party at the barn. It's all new for Shelby, and I loved her enthusiasm, and reading her diary entries along with the story itself. I realized while reading this, that this series has taught me more about horses than I ever knew, and you don't even realize you're learning because the facts are all woven into the story so well. This one really focused on friendship, and supporting your friends through tough times and unexpected things. It's a great thing for kids to see, and so important. Highly recommend for middle graders and horse lovers of all ages!

This was a great story, with a focus on friendship, and embracing differences. There's so much that happens in this, and once again, I find myself identifying with the girls. I know what it's like to be an outsider, and how learning disabilities and mental health can really affect your life. The girls learned the importance of communicating, and that sometimes struggles in your personal life can spill over and affect friendships. It was heartwarming to see all the parents be so supportive, and proactive about not just school but mental health. There were times my heart just hurt seeing the girls struggling, and Shelby's anxiety, but in the end I couldn't stop smiling. Cannot recommend this series enough, each book has a unique lesson, and situations that many middle schoolers will be able to relate to.

Shelby's Horse-filled summer will captivate any girl who loves horses and friendship! It portrays realistic girl friendship with rough spots, but they're always ready to get each other's backs. Shelby feels awkward and clumsy, but comes to realize where she shines. I received an e-book in exchange for my review.

This is the second entry in the Old Quarry Lake Farms series. In this installment Shelby gets to spend a week at Horse Camp. She experiences the frustration of riding skills that won't stay put, taking a riding placement test, and intereacting with fellow students in ways she didn't expect. Along the way she discovers that she has more horse skills that she originally thought, uses her practical knowledge to help a sick horse, and how to cope with a know-it-all. Something I particularly like about this author is her ability to get inside a kids head and authentically express the thought processes and the kinds of thoughts kids this age would have. I could see my younger self in some of Shelby's concerns. Would recommend for young people, especially those interetsed in horses.

This is the third installment of the Old Quarry Lake Farms tales. Shelby and her friends head back to school to start 6th grade. A new friend is added to the group but several worrisome things occur among the girls. The book addresseses some of the weirdness that can occur in a group of friends when someone is not privy to all of what is going on in another's life and how changes in circumstances do not mean the end of friendships. There are some rough patches that Shelby must work through, but she does so successfully. The friendships are as strong as ever by the end of the book. While the horses and horse stuff is still present in this book, it is not as prevelent as in the eariler instllments. As the series continues, it is nice to see the girls having more defined and rounded out characters. Something in particular that I like about these books is that the parents and other adults, while secondary characters, are portrayed as smart, caring people that Shelby and her friends can relie on and go to if necessary.

This was a fun story, full of friendship, horses, and new experiences. I love the friendship between Shelby, Katherine, and Rose. They're unique but get along well, and support each other even though their experience levels with horses is so different. Shelby's nerves are totally understandable, and I think middle graders will find it easy to relate to her. Of course there's always someone looking to cause trouble, but I think it was handled really well from start to end by all the characters in the story. Whether they're a horse kid or not, middle graders are sure to enjoy this!

This book is good for late primary, early intermediate readers who enjoy horse stories. It was a quick and easy read and had enough action to keep readers engaged.

This was a great book, and I look forward to reading more in the series. Shelby isn't what you probably picture when you think of a stereotypical horse-girl, and I think that makes her the perfect protagonist. She's kind of nerdy, and doesn't quite fit in. She struggles a lot with being herself and how she looks, which is an experience a lot of tween kids experience. The story is a fun read, and I won't give spoilers, but I really like the way everything turned out in the end.

This children's book describes a girl's first experience horseback riding. Shelby and her parents move from the city to the country and Shelby gets to fulfill her goal of learning to ride. Along the way she makes new friends, experiences new things, and learns a little about herself too. Would recommend to girls who like horses.