Reviewed by Carrie Spellman for TeensReadToo.com

All Callie has ever really wanted was a mustang of her own. Callie lives a somewhat hippy existence with her parents in the Nevada desert, in an area where most families have ranches and are relatively well-off, and where wild mustangs roam free. Callie has been watching one particular wild mustang for quite some time -- she calls her Moonbeam.

One day, while out riding the family horse, Callie comes upon the herd of wild horses that Moonbeam travels with. She notices that Moonbeam is pregnant. Callie's excitement over the impending foal is catching, and her best friend wants to go see the horse. They come upon the herd of horses at the same time as some helicopters that are rounding them up. The Bureau of Land Management rounds up wild mustangs every so often and offers them for adoption. Callie is terrified for Moonbeam. A roundup can be very hard on a strong, healthy horse, and Moonbeam is VERY pregnant. This could be bad news for the horse and her foal.

Callie has been saving up her money, hoping to be able to pay the fee and adopt a horse. She doesn't quite have enough yet, but she can't let Moonbeam go to someone else. Especially now that the horse, and foal, might be in trouble.

I used to be a huge fan of horse books, like the MISTY OF CHINCOTEAGUE set, BLACK BEAUTY, NATIONAL VELVET, and other similar books. This book fits very nicely into that grouping. Callie is a good heroine, who has the best of intentions -- though sometimes not the best methods. Which actually makes her more real, and I like that a lot. She also works very hard to get what she wants, which sets a great example.

This is a sweet book that I'm glad I had the opportunity to read. ( )