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The Georges and the Jewels
by
Jane Smiley
A Pulitzer Prize winner makes her debut for young readers.
Jane Smiley makes her debut for young readers in this stirring novel set on a California horse ranch in the 1960s. Seventh-grader Abby Lovitt has always been more at ease with horses than with people. Her father insists they call all the mares “Jewel” and all the geldings “George” and warns Abby not to get attached:...more
Jane Smiley makes her debut for young readers in this stirring novel set on a California horse ranch in the 1960s. Seventh-grader Abby Lovitt has always been more at ease with horses than with people. Her father insists they call all the mares “Jewel” and all the geldings “George” and warns Abby not to get attached:...more
Hardcover, 256 pages
Published
September 8th 2009
by Knopf Books for Young Readers
(first published 2009)
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Didn't make it all the way through this book. I stopped about half way. Reasons: by the middle of the story I should have had an idea of the main thrust of the story. The "why I should keep reading" element. Didn't see it. Plus there was an awful lot of religion being shoved down my throat. I've read literally hundreds of horse stories in my life. Never have I felt the need for a dose of Christianity with my barn dirt. The actual horse bits were authentic and realistic and wer...more
The Georges and the Jewels is a slow paced uneventful story of a pre-teen, Abbey, growing up on a ranch with loving parents who are much more old fashioned than the upwardly mobile suburban parents of her classmates. The story lightly (and unsatisfyingly) deals with mean girl cliques, horse training cruelty and religious intolerance. Considering the author is Jane Smiley, I expected more deeply developed characters and conflict. That said, girls who are nuts about horses will enjoy this story an...more
I really think there should be a "recent" historical category. I mean, when one says historical, you think Victorian era, early colonies, etc. etc., yes? So that makes the 1900s recent. Trust me on this. *nods firmly* Oh, and I love the title.
Voice. This book has it in spades (or so the expression goes; I don't actually have a clue what it means, hehe). Abby is the most authentic middle-grader ever, what with her exasperation towards seventh grade politics and clear-eyed vi...more
Voice. This book has it in spades (or so the expression goes; I don't actually have a clue what it means, hehe). Abby is the most authentic middle-grader ever, what with her exasperation towards seventh grade politics and clear-eyed vi...more
If you love horses, you'll LOVE this book. It's brimming with ideas about training horses. But even if you don't love horses, there is lots to like here.
Abby and her parents run a horse farm: her dad buys horses and (re)trains them so that they can be "ridden by a young girl". That's where Abby comes in: if she can't ride a horse, that claim can't be made and money will be lost. Her dad won't let anyone name the horses--the boys are all "George" and the girls are all "...more
Abby and her parents run a horse farm: her dad buys horses and (re)trains them so that they can be "ridden by a young girl". That's where Abby comes in: if she can't ride a horse, that claim can't be made and money will be lost. Her dad won't let anyone name the horses--the boys are all "George" and the girls are all "...more
This book was so perfectly right for me, that I originally felt I couldn’t judge it objectively. So, first I gave it to my daughter who is just starting to ride. And, then I gave it to my mother who was never bitten by the horse bug. We all absolutely loved it. It is a wonderful book that while just right for a nine year old, has the ability to appeal to children and adults alike. I would recommend it to people of any age and with varying degrees of interest in horses. It is that goo...more
Georges and the Jewels, was probably my most favorite book. Its a amazing story about a young girl that loved horses, almost as much as I do, She and her parents ran this farm. Her brother (Danny) was banned from the farm after getting into a physical fight with his father, When a colt was born, her father wanted to get rid of him. But the colt (Jack) was too special to think of getting rid of, a bit playful at that. She had a problem with one of the new geldings George. There were many of them ...more
Anne Shealy
added it
I enjoyed The Georges and the Jewels, but I'm not sure how many other people will enjoy it. It has very strong descriptions of horse training which I thoroughly enjoyed reading; however, I'm not sure how many young adult readers will enjoy that. I could be wrong though - maybe the young horse enthusiasts will really like it.
It also contains a very realistic description of they dynamics of adolescent females trying to get along with one another. That is a frightening, insecure world for many g...more
It also contains a very realistic description of they dynamics of adolescent females trying to get along with one another. That is a frightening, insecure world for many g...more
At first, when one of my friends, Kate gave this to me for my birthday, I was a little hesitant to read it. I love horses and horse back riding, and my favorite series is about horses! So why, I now wonder, was I reluctant? Well the story is about a girl who’s family owns horses, and everyday she has to ride them and take care of them. So they don’t get attached, the girl’s father names all the gelding’s George, and all the mare’s Jewel. He says that way they can celebrate when they sell the hor...more
The Georges and the Jewels by Jane Smiley is another of my "Love it!" book for horsey readers of all ages. The title refers to the horses on the Lovitt farm - all the geldings are called George and the mares, Jewel. Abby's father insists this so that they don't become attached since all the horses are for sale.
The 7th grader has her share of problems from difficult horses to ride to social interaction with her peers. She finds solace in the "good" horses, especially...more
The 7th grader has her share of problems from difficult horses to ride to social interaction with her peers. She finds solace in the "good" horses, especially...more
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Admiring horses, but not into the equestrian sport, I enjoyed this novel of young Abby and her love of horses. Her relationship with her father, which revolved around his horse business, was interesting. Another subplot, her challenge to fit in at school and have a friendship group, was a good counterbalance to all the horse information. I learned a lot about horses and their training. The book was well written. But I believe the main audience for this book will be girls 4th through 6th grade, w...more
Jane Smiley's first foray into young adult literature is sure to find a home among horse lovers. Abby is a young girl in seventh grade struggling to find her place amongst her peers. Middle school angst is nothing new but young readers are sure to relate to this coming of age story about a young girl who succeeds with horses while clumsily navigating the social landmines of middle school and struggling to understand and tolerate her parents, especially her father, who is strict, demanding, and...more
Jane Smiley's first foray into young adult literature is sure to find a home among horse lovers. Abby is a young girl in seventh grade struggling to find her place amongst her peers. Middle school angst is nothing new but young readers are sure to relate to this coming of age story about a young girl who succeeds with horses while clumsily navigating the social landmines of middle school and struggling to understand and tolerate her parents, especially her father, who is strict, demanding, and...more
Jane Smiley, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “A Thousand Acres,” has returned to the topic of horses, this time in a book for preteens.
Like Smiley’s “Horse Heaven,” “The Georges and the Jewels” takes a fond, detailed look at all things equine. Unlike that wickedly satirical novel, “Georges” is straightforward and much more serious than funny — but most preteens aren’t yet savvy enough for satire anyway, so this is not a strike against it. What “Georges” does have is Smiley’s sharp eye...more
Like Smiley’s “Horse Heaven,” “The Georges and the Jewels” takes a fond, detailed look at all things equine. Unlike that wickedly satirical novel, “Georges” is straightforward and much more serious than funny — but most preteens aren’t yet savvy enough for satire anyway, so this is not a strike against it. What “Georges” does have is Smiley’s sharp eye...more
Seventh grader Abby Lovitt’s father makes a living buying horses, re-training them, and selling them for a higher price. His most persuasive selling point is that a horse is so gentle and well trained that a kid could ride it, the “kid” being Abby, who has never minded her after school chore of riding horses until a horse called Ornery George bucks her off. Abby stands up to her strong-willed father for the first time in her life and refuses to remount, but she knows it’s just a matter of time...more
Reviewed by hoopsielv for TeensReadToo.com
Abby is one busy seventh grader. Between school, church, and her family's ranch, there is little time for much else.
Abby can't remember much about her life before the horses that her family raise, train, and then sell. The mares are all named Jewel, and the geldings are called George. Her dad feels that if they each had individual names, it would seem like they are going to stay permanently.
Still, Abby can't help givin...more
Abby is one busy seventh grader. Between school, church, and her family's ranch, there is little time for much else.
Abby can't remember much about her life before the horses that her family raise, train, and then sell. The mares are all named Jewel, and the geldings are called George. Her dad feels that if they each had individual names, it would seem like they are going to stay permanently.
Still, Abby can't help givin...more
The blurb reads emotion charged and action packed but that seems a little strong. It did have some interesting horse training scenes and will most likely appeal to the girls who love horses. Set in the 1960's, Abby learns as much about people as she does about horses as she works on her father's ranch and starts 7th grade. Set in California, the students do a project on the California missions which brought backs some memories. My nieces are even still doing them!
Though an animal-lover, I am not a major horse fan, but the considerable depth and beauty of 1960s seventh grader Abby Lovitt's relationship with horses in The Georges and the Jewels, described there in loving detail, really won me over. The teen-cliques aspect of the story seemed too familiar, less developed and worked less well, but I also much enjoyed Abby's lovingly ambivalent relationship with her religious father and the scenes with horse trainer Jem Jarrow.
What did i think?
Truthfully, i liked it. A lot. And for someone who's absolutely NOT a horse lover, that's pretty good. I thought it was an interesting combination of schoolgirl and horse riding. I thought that Abby (main character), however, was just so not seventh grade-like.
I thought that the description on the back was totally wrong, and i was a little disappointed, but anyways--this is a really good book!
Truthfully, i liked it. A lot. And for someone who's absolutely NOT a horse lover, that's pretty good. I thought it was an interesting combination of schoolgirl and horse riding. I thought that Abby (main character), however, was just so not seventh grade-like.
I thought that the description on the back was totally wrong, and i was a little disappointed, but anyways--this is a really good book!
Smiley's first YA novel, and there's a sequel coming. 13-year-old Abby Lovitt trains horses for her father to sell. (He insists they be named either "George" or "Jewel" to help keep her from becoming attached.) In addition to her troubles with her father, she's in conflict--in a fairly trite way--with some other 7th-grade girls at school. YA angst for girls.
2010 Mock Newbery - 1st YA book from author of A Thousand Acres. Nice story of 6th grade Abby growing up in the 1960s on her families horse farm. I'm not that into horses, but I don't think that's why the story didn't grab me. Abby has some friend trouble at school, some conflicts with parents, and big issues with one of the horses. All is resolved in the end.
Yolanda Fletcher
rated it
Good solid horse read, but I liked the second novel in this series "A Good Horse" better. This one is a little bit slow, but good for 5th grade and middle school girls who love horses and also want to read about middle school drama. Although the book is set in the sixties (?), it feels contemporary (minus cell phones and computers). The family dynamics are very interesting - born again, conservative Christian parents who are portrayed sympathetically, despite some wrenching narrow-mind...more
How heavenly to read a new horse book from Jane Smiley, this one for the middle grade audience. Underneath the de rigeur riding lingo and horse craft (which I love) is the compelling theme of human and animal nature, and how best to read and handle others, especially when you're in a pack. Smiley set up some great long term plot lines for this series, so I look forward to reading the next two books about Abby and her family's training ranch.
I found this book to be a good girl book where there are :mean girls" who snub another girl but I was a bit bored. If you are horse-crazy like the girls in the book, you might really enjoy reading The Georges and the Jewels. There is a satisfactory ending where the "mean girls" get a bit of a comeuppance.
I love Smiley's writing for grown-ups and her first Young Reader was enjoyable and well done, too. The importance of the connection between people and horses comes through very clearly, and the writing -- especially about the horses -- did not disappoint. A cute story with layered lessons. Just right.
As with her adult novels I found myself drawn into the story, learning more and caring more about horses than I ever have and feeling Abby's struggles with peers, parents and life. Not sure if the 60's are considered historical fiction now but except for some references to events, the story is timeless.
It is with a very heavy heart that I admit to how much I disliked this first YA offering from my very favoritest Pulitzer Prize-winning horse writer. This really worked better as a riding/horsemanship instructional pamplet than a novel. 'Course maybe that's what the kids today are into, how would I know?
As an author myself, commenting on a Pulitzer Prize winning author is quite daunting, but I found this book a bit plodding. It didn't have the drive to keep me enthralled through the ending. Carefully written, but much too technical for fiction. However, if horse-crazy girls want to learn horsemanship while they read fiction, this is a good one.
In my library, this book was shelved in the middle-grade section. Even though the protagonist, Abby, is in seventh grade, I thought this book would appeal to an older audience of horse lovers. I enjoyed the horsy parts of the story, but for me, other parts seemed to drag a bit.
Jane Smiley is one of my favorite authors, but this was not nearly as dramatic as I would have hoped. Still, a quick read with interesting characters and an unusual setting. What is just 'okay' from Smiley, is still head and shoulders above most others.
Engaging story of a family of horse traders. I know precious little about horses, lots of interesting bits about raising, selling, and loving horses here. A story of family, friends, church and school as Abby juggles challenges from every direction.
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Jane Smiley is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist.
Born in Los Angeles, California, Smiley grew up in Webster Groves, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis, and graduated from John Burroughs School. She obtained a A.B. at Vassar College, then earned a M.F.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. While working towards her doctorate, she also spent a year studying in Iceland as a Fulbr...more
More about Jane Smiley...
Born in Los Angeles, California, Smiley grew up in Webster Groves, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis, and graduated from John Burroughs School. She obtained a A.B. at Vassar College, then earned a M.F.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. While working towards her doctorate, she also spent a year studying in Iceland as a Fulbr...more
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