Foals in the Field

Animal Ark [GB Order] #27

by Ben M. Baglio (Creator), Jenny Gregory (Illustrator)

An alternate cover edition can be found here

Genres: Animals, Childrens, Horses, Fiction, Middle Grade, Contemporary, Chapter Books

144 pages, Paperback

First published December 18, 1997

About the author

Ben M. Baglio created the brief for two series of children's books - Dolphin Diaries and Animal Ark. Dolphin Diaries features a girl and her family from Florida, who travel around the world as marine biologists and study dolphins. Animal Ark features two children who work together to help animals and solve animal-related mysteries. The books were written by commissioned writers in the UK under Baglio's instruction using the pseudonym Lucy Daniels. Each ghostwriter is named with a 'Special Thanks' on the copyright page.

Using his real name he also wrote the book series The Pet Finders Club, featuring a group of three children who search for peoples lost pets.

Reviews

[Ashley Pollaski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the book,but it's so sad in the end.

[Christine Severt · Rating 3 out of 5]

i loved the plot of this one, but i hated the ending. i think i was only 6-7 when i made grampa read this one to me. when we got to the end i actually wrote out a new ending for it, because i couldn't stand for it to end like that, but even now after i reread it i liked the plot a lot, but i still didn't like the ending.

[Samantha Martinez]

This was a good book!!! I Can connect with the character Mandy!!!! I Love the names Dash and Dot!!! It was sad when They had To put down Dot:( But overall it was a good book

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story. Although this story does have some pieces of heartache entwined within it is a very good read. I loved the ending of the story and I loved how it showed all of the characters working together.

My niece enjoyed this book a lot and was very excited about it. She kept telling me to read faster.

So, if you have a horse lover in your family this book is a good read for all involved.

[Sammy]

I was completely obsessed with this series of books when I was a child and my aim was to read every single book. They are a really good children's series.

This book made me cry buckets when I read it.

[Katie Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

i ahve learnt alot on horses and how to react when i find an injured horse.

[Tina · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was really sad. a foal had to be put down. :( animal ark series

[Meagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

really sad but very good book

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mandy tries to help save a farm and its newborn foals.

[Samantha Salikin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a very sad ending, but it was a good book. It was happy for the most part.

[Shayma · Rating 5 out of 5]

if this is the one i think it is it was beutifull and realy sad but loved.

[Makayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

i thick it was amazing but my friends thick it is sad

[Addie Bishop · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not like the ending. One of the main characters, Dot, died in the ending.After all she went through she should have lived.She tripped on a pile of trash and was then put to sleep.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ever feel so jealous over a character in a book..? That's me over Mandy :(

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm always a fan of horses, they are irresistable!

[Twyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

my favorite part was when two new foals went to the farm. the worst part was when dot was not healthy. the best character was mandy. there was no worst character. Auryn 10 years old

[Hillvan]

O. thought it sad.

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a review of the UK "Lucy Daniels" edition. It was really written by Helen Magee. If you ever want to know who really wrote an Animal Ark book, or any of the spin-offs, just look at the copyright page. Whoever is given "special thanks" is the ghostwriter.

I haven't finished the Animal Ark series yet, but I've read enough to start wondering what the worst book in the series is. I gave the nod to Dolphins in the Deep, but this was a damn close second. This book was interesting enough for me to finish, but it made absolutely no sense.

One guy tries to build a stable in his own. Who on earth could do that?

What the hell breed are the black horses?

Why don't any of the adults in this bloody town do anything unless Mandy tells them to? I know it's a kid's series, so rah rah kids and all that, but this is getting really weird. It's like Mandy is a more benevolent White Witch of Narnia.

There's also a bit at the very end where Mandy kinda sorta maybe sees a ghost. It's the best written bit of the book, quite poetic. I do wonder if that was added as a tie- in to the mercifully short-lived Animal Ark Hauntings series, but I've got a feeling that not a lot of planning went into this book.

[Lydia Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very sweet story of determination and dedication to looking after animals in need of help. Although a lot of reviews said that the ending was sad, I found it hopeful for the future and for all of the characters. There were also a lot of funny and light hearted moments.

[Akonti Emmanuel]

Better

[Jada Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was super sad but also taught some life lessons.

[Amber Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book.

[Josephine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad

[Bling · Rating 2 out of 5]

The baby horse dies T-T

[Katherine Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

[Jaime · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not for sensitive readers!

[Jessica]

My 5th grader told me I HAD to read this, so I did :)

[Isabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 4.5 Stars

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this with my 10 year old, who notices that the horses on the cover do not match the description of the ones who are born, but you find them later on in the story. This is a story about perseverance and friendships. I liked the quote, "Luck! Hard work is more like it!" I enjoyed reading the lines for Mrs. Ponsonby aloud because she's so funny. The 10 year old did not like the serious nature of part of the story. I thought Mr. Baglio handled that topic very well, with both sensitivity and realism. I did not like the deceit that Mandy showed to get her way, and my 10 year old stated that her deception was not a good idea and predicted it would not work. I also did not like that James felt he had no choice but to go along with Mandy's deceptive plan. He did have other choices.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I teach first and second graders and this is one of my favorite books to read aloud. I have rewritten the ending a bit, not entirely, but enough to keep the big suspense/worry at the end, while also finishing up with a happy ending.