Gee Whiz

I've read all five of these books with pleasure though some of my book friends seem to object to them on the grounds that 1) Jane Smiley is really a grownup writer; 2) they're set in the 1970s which is cheating because she isn't doing research into modern children; and 3) they're not very dramatic.......more

Delightful. Hoping for another book in this series. The subtle life lessons and true horsemanship depictions --and those fabulous horses! make reading this story pure pleasure .......more

Delightful. YA series In THE HORSES OF OAK VALLEY RANCH, Jane Smiley gives young readers a glimpse into the life of a strict Evangelical family in 1960's California. The protagonist, Abby Platt, is endearing and intelligent- and one he'll of a good horse woman, easily overshadowing her self a righteo......more

Much better than most of the horse books that are written for young people now. The book has a lot about horses, but is also about the main character's (Abby's) life, her family and friends, and her church. The series is set in the 70's and Abby is a hard-working, independent sort, and there is no d......more

I'm knocking all these books down to three stars. As horse books, they're great, but I was much more interested in what Abby thought of Danny going to war, or how she felt about her family's nutty religion, and we literally never got any of that. It was very, very frustrating.......more