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Thoroughbred #42
The Bad Luck Filly
Melanie has her hands full...
Melanie Graham can't help herself--she's fallen in love with the high-spirited black filly, Perfect Image. More than anything, Melanie wants to help train the filly and be the first one to race her.
Despite her name, Image is anything but perfect. The filly has been spoiled by her doting owner since birth, and is impossible to handle. In fact, her trainer wants to give up and turn Image into a broodmare, hoping her foals will have better sense than she does. But Melanie is sure that Image was born to win. Will Melanie fight for the horse she loves?
Melanie Graham can't help herself--she's fallen in love with the high-spirited black filly, Perfect Image. More than anything, Melanie wants to help train the filly and be the first one to race her.
Despite her name, Image is anything but perfect. The filly has been spoiled by her doting owner since birth, and is impossible to handle. In fact, her trainer wants to give up and turn Image into a broodmare, hoping her foals will have better sense than she does. But Melanie is sure that Image was born to win. Will Melanie fight for the horse she loves?
Library Binding
First published August 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 31, 2024
Most of the books after Without Wonder are absolutely horrible or just take ridiculousness to a whole new level. The Thoroughbred series was never an entirely accurate look at a racing or eventing stable, but some books did make attempts to keep on this side of reality. This is just about the last book that does so. This was also one of the last books that was just plain fun to read.
I think writer Alice Leonhardt took inspiration from Walter Farley's classic The Black Stallion's Filly. There are a lot of similarities between Perfect Image and Black Minx:
* They're both black, although Image is not pure black. Black is EXTREMELY rare in Thoroughbreds. The Black had a pureblood Arabian dam and a mixed breed sire. Black is a common color in Arabians.
* They were both spoiled as foals, making them dangerous when they grew into a thousand pounds.
* They both need some rather unorthodox training methods.
* Both can run like the wind.
Melanie was my favorite human character in the series. She had spirit, but wasn't so cocky that she couldn't admit when she needed help. I really think she could've carried the series by herself, with Christina only popping by every now and then as she pursued her Olympic dream. But the publishers had to screw things up by kicking Sterling to the curb and turning Christina into one if the worst jockeys in the country.
Anyway, it was nice that Pirate gets to play a big part here. He was pretty much abandoned by now. He was an interesting horse, and it's a shame he's in so few books. Other horses that appear are Gratis, Fortune's Way, Mischeif Maker (Missy), Rascal, Raven, Khan, Pedro the donkey, and Star.
I think this is the book that introduces Alexis, and right off the bat, she's making trouble.
This book is a bad introduction to the series. Try to read some of the older books before this, particularly from Without Wonder onwards. Otherwise, you'll have no idea what's going on.
I think writer Alice Leonhardt took inspiration from Walter Farley's classic The Black Stallion's Filly. There are a lot of similarities between Perfect Image and Black Minx:
* They're both black, although Image is not pure black. Black is EXTREMELY rare in Thoroughbreds. The Black had a pureblood Arabian dam and a mixed breed sire. Black is a common color in Arabians.
* They were both spoiled as foals, making them dangerous when they grew into a thousand pounds.
* They both need some rather unorthodox training methods.
* Both can run like the wind.
Melanie was my favorite human character in the series. She had spirit, but wasn't so cocky that she couldn't admit when she needed help. I really think she could've carried the series by herself, with Christina only popping by every now and then as she pursued her Olympic dream. But the publishers had to screw things up by kicking Sterling to the curb and turning Christina into one if the worst jockeys in the country.
Anyway, it was nice that Pirate gets to play a big part here. He was pretty much abandoned by now. He was an interesting horse, and it's a shame he's in so few books. Other horses that appear are Gratis, Fortune's Way, Mischeif Maker (Missy), Rascal, Raven, Khan, Pedro the donkey, and Star.
I think this is the book that introduces Alexis, and right off the bat, she's making trouble.
This book is a bad introduction to the series. Try to read some of the older books before this, particularly from Without Wonder onwards. Otherwise, you'll have no idea what's going on.
October 30, 2014
Reread.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews