Wonder's Yearling

Thoroughbred #6

by Joanna Campbell

Ashley races to save Samantha's yearling from the auction block and Townsend Acres breeding farm from destruction.

Genres: Horses, Childrens, Young Adult, Fiction, Middle Grade, Animals, Contemporary

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

See Jo Ann Simon

Reviews

[Sarah Ryder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this one a lot and it’s certainly one of my favorites! We’ve switched fully to Samantha being the protagonist rather than Ashleigh, and I really like Sammy and her bond with Pride—not to mention she’s a writer too which I had forgotten about until this (2024) reread!

There’s quite a bit of drama and tension throughout without it ever being over the top or melodramatic, and I quite liked that there were multiple things going on rather than just one problem at a time.

Still love this book and I’m glad it remains a favorite!


‼️Content‼️

Language: good God; darn; darn it; oh my gosh; gosh; jeez; darned

Violence: a man hits a horse and shoves a girl

Drugs/Alcohol: a man is drunk

Other: horses are neglected; a horse breaks its leg and has to be put down (not shown)

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had bad memories of any book in the Thoroughbred series beyond #5 (Ashliegh's Dream). I just did not like the shifting of focus from Ashleigh's point of view to Samantha's point of view. It seemed that as soon as a girl graduated from high school, she got replaced by another girl.

But then I decided, after reading a couple of book a lot later in the series, to give the Thoroughbred series another chance. I wound up buying most of the series. They are a guilty pleasure. Yes, they are very silly and offer an unrealistic view of American thoroughbred racing, but still they help me get lost in another world. A fantasy world, yes, but sometimes you need fantasy in order to deal with reality.

Now, back to the shift in main characters. (Hey -- you were paying attention, weren't you? If not, go re-read the first paragraph.) I got to wondering why the change in main characters changed so often. In thoroughbred racing, horses only run a short while (if they're very, very good.) Changing the main character was a bit like how frequent the racehorses change year to year.

I guess that's a little TOO cerebral for this series, but just a thought.



Anyway, this book was better than I remembered it. The clouds decend over the sunshine of happiness at Townsend Acres as things rapidly go downhill when Brad is left in charge. Dad has also some bad news from work and lost a lot of money, but just what happened is never gone into. There are a lot of arguments and even a confrontation with a drunk breeding manager.

Samantha is far more together here than in later books, where she's often full of self-doubt. Hey, with age comes wisdom, I guess. Ashleigh, in comparison, acts like a grown-up.

And, of course, the title is misleading (keeping in the Thoroughbred tradition.) Wonder's Pride is only a yearling during the first half of the book. He's hitting the track by the book's end at age 2. We don't get to see much of the original Wonder, and I do miss her. She just fades into the background now that she has become a broodmare. Such is racing in the fantasy world and the real world.

[Ilana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great series for tweens that love horses and/or are interested in horseback riding or racing. Teaches about the struggles of working with animals and the benefits.

The series continues for several years, several characters, and allows the reader to feel as though the characters are growing with them.

[Ashley Reif · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it! I love horses, especially thoroughbreds! I love horse racing. but most of all I love the horses.
Even though this book is fiction, I learned a lot.
Joanna Campbell has a way of making it seem so real. Even though she has moved on to a new generation with Samantha, it is still so amazing!

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

again, sappy, unrealistic, and dumb horse books. what's my problem?

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved these when I was obsessed with horses as a kid, but I think it was around here that my attention flagged with this series.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh how I would have cherished this book if I had the chance to read it when it came out. I have been obsessed with horses for as long as I can remember but I never gave books enough of my time. Oh to do it all over.

Anyway, Samantha's dad is a trainer at Townsend Acres. She helps out with Wonder's Pride who belongs to her friend Ashleigh( ok half belongs). Samantha loves horses and loves Pride no more than she could if he was her own. She takes him out before and after school , and does most of his riding training.

Then money starts getting tight at Townsend Acres and they start selling off horses and getting rid of employees.Not to mention Townsend's horrible son Brad.

So at the same time that Pride is becoming an outstanding horse, all heck is breaking loose. Ashleigh moves a newly pregnant Wonder to another stable to keep her safe, and then moves Goddess because of Brad.

Poor Samantha doesn't know what to think. Will she and her dad have to move away again? Well this and a lot of other problems all fall to Pride to win his first race. Can he do it? Or at least make such a good showing to help Townsend Acres? Guess you have to read and find out.

[June Willett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not going to lie I hated this book the first 50 pages in ONLY because I hated Samantha for no reason. Samantha low key made me question my whole future. This book is only 180 pages and it took me a month to get through the first 50 pages. But once I got past the worst month of my life I begin to love Samantha. I for some reason began to ship the 80 year old trainer with Samantha who is like 13. Luckily I found out that that was weird and stopped shipping them. Any way. After you get past the first 50 pages this book is actually good.

[Berita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mer nostalgi om Ashleigh og Samantha, Wonder og føllet hennes - Pride.

[Leah Wallin · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a great read

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the book it had me on my toes all hole time and it was a twist ending

[Susie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book, it holds a special place in my heart. I love that we get to see the focus switch to Sammy and she is just an amazing character

[JoReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Childhood favourite series (haven't read in a long time) giving all four stars unless it was a favourite as a child.

[Rachel Chiapparine · Rating 4 out of 5]

8/10.

[Lynette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every young horse lover should read this series. Loved every page.

[Books Kids Like · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Townsends have had many setbacks. Most of their young horses have not proven themselves on the track. Then, Townsend Prince breaks a leg and must be put down. They start selling stock and letting staff go. When their breeding managers leave, Brad Townsend hires an incompetent drunk, Horace Johnson. The already over-worked grooms are left to care for the brood mares on their own. Soon, the barn shows serious signs of neglect- horses often stand in stalls filled with manure. Mr. Johnson makes it clear that he doesn’t want anyone to interfere, and Brad Townsend keeps covering for the manager’s incompetence. One day, Samantha visits Wonder only to find Mr. Johnson drunk and Wonder without water. Mr. Townsend finally sees the filthiness and fires Johnson. Brad is incensed, and he forces Ashleigh to move Fleeting Goddess to Whitebrook, Mike Reese's farm. He tries to fire Mr. McLean, but his father intervenes. Knowing that Brad will be impossible to deal with, Samantha's father leaves anyway and takes a job with Mike. After Samantha leaves, Wonder's Pride becomes very unsettled, and the decision is made to ship him to Whitebrook so Samantha can continue to prepare him for his first race.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com

[Lizzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the tension of Townsend Acres financial issues. It gets a bit repetitive hearing Sammy worry about Pride, but I do like that there are significant hardships they all have to deal with. The new breeding manager is a bit of a stereotype, but it’s nice to see someone besides Brad who exhibits some of the darker side of TB racing, so it’s not always sunshine and daisies and young horses with telepathy. Sammy does read like Ashleigh a lot, but she’s entertaining. Her friend Yvonne is basically a Linda repeat, but with some more personality.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grade: A