Chance of a Lifetime

Saddles, Stars and Stripes #2

by Deborah Kent

Jacquetta May Logan is visiting her relatives when the Union army commandeers her family's plantation, forcing her parents to flee. Alone in enemy territory, Jacquetta has only her beloved horse, a beautiful bay named Chance, for company. With the help of a brave slave girl, Jacquetta devises a daring plan to rescue her family's Morgan horses and lead them to safety across the Mississippi.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Horses

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Deborah Kent was born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, and grew up in nearby Little Falls. She graduated from Oberlin College and received a master's degree from Smith College School for Social Work. For four years, she was a social worker at University Settlement House on New York's Lower East Side. In 1975, Ms. Kent moved to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where she wrote her first young-adult novel, Belonging. In San Miguel, Ms. Kent helped to found the Centro de Crecimiento, a school for children with disabilities. Ms. Kent is the author of numerous young-adult novels and nonfiction titles for children. She lives in Chicago with her husband, children's author R. Conrad Stein, and their daughter, Janna.

Reviews

[Shanna Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a decent read with some history to it. However, I just couldn't give full stars for 2 main reasons.

1. I could not attach myself to the story or characters. The only part that hooked me was when she was talking to Jim and got the letter. Everything else just didn't draw me in very much.
2. The ending left so many things unsolved. I wish it would have followed through to the end of finding her mama and papa but ended well before that. I wish more ends would have been tied.

This book could be great though to show younger children about the personal lives of those involved in wars and how each side does have families at home to return to

[Sara Carmona · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice, simple story for anyone who likes horse stories. Not too exciting, but might be a good read for an elementary student.

[Madeline Henricksen · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Chance of a lifetime is about a girl, Jacquetta Logan, who is at her aunt, uncle, and cousin's house when the Union army commandeers her family's house and Jacquetta's mother and father are forced to flee to Alexandria, Louisiana. The Union Army turns their house into a hospital for wounded soldiers, and take half of the Logan's Morgan horses with them! Luckily for Jacquetta, a slave named Peace and a slave named Witness are still there along with 5 horses still in the stables. I recommend this book to anyone that is crazy over horses and is interested in the Civil War.

[Shreya=Drastically Random. Find the emoticon. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book must have taken a lot of research! I wish I had a horse like that - loyal and dependable! I wish Peace could come with Jaquetta! I liked it - but SPOILER's death was out of place - it shouldn't have happened! Plus it should have more about Jaquetta's feelings. But that's just emo me.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very adventurous and always kept me on the edge of my seat!

[Abby Hobbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved it was a little emotional but good