Thoroughbred #01 A Horse Called Wonder
by Joanna Campbell

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Book Summary Information

• ISBN13: 9780061061202
• Condition: New
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Book Reviews of Thoroughbred #01 A Horse Called Wonder

Book Review: Beautiful beginning to the story of Ashleigh and Wonder
Summary: 5 Stars

From the very beginning Ashleigh is both stubborn and determined, but also painfully loving. It isn't much of a surprise that she's afraid to love any horse ever again - she's 12 when this series begins, which means that she's had to face a lot of death very early in life. Later books tend to forget what a strong bond Ashleigh and Wonder had - simply because of Ashleigh's initial resistance to getting close to a horse.

Ashleigh also makes us laugh - her complete disinterest in her appearance, which becomes a stronger theme as she gets older, and her absolute hatred of math, which many people will sympathize with. No one ever blames her for wanting to spend all her time with Wonder, instead of doing boring math problems at her desk.

Ashleigh fights hard to save Wonder - first from influenza, then from being sold because she's too small and weak. The love between them is so strong and so well-written. And yet we are also reminded, many times, that this is NOT Ashleigh's farm and NOT Ashleigh's horse, which makes it very scary when it looks like Wonder might be sold.

As with all good books, the story doesn't end here - there are still fears. What if Wonder doesn't train well? What if she doesn't race well? Okay, so Townsend decided to keep her at the farm for another year - but what if ...? These are all elements of a good series.

A Horse Called Wonder also introduces, right away, the arrogant, obnoxious Brad Townsend, son of the farm owner. Brad is a consistently well-drawn character - not really mean enough to be a villain, but a definite Obstacle in Ashleigh's path. Brad is one of the best elements of Campbell's writing. She doesn't wimp out of his dark sides like later authors do.

Joanna Campbell wrote Thoroughbred books #1-14, the super editiongs Ashleigh's Christmas Miracle and Ashleigh's Diary, and the first three books of the Ashleigh series: Lightning's Last Hope, A Horse for Christmas, and Waiting for Stardust. She also wrote Battlecry Forever! and Star of Shadowbrook Farm, which were released as part of the "Ashleigh's Book Collection" series. If you plan to read Thoroughbred I recommend you start with #1 and go up, because the original 14 books really were the best.

Summary of Thoroughbred #01 A Horse Called Wonder

Ashleigh wouldn't care about anything, ever again.

Ashleigh Griffen swore she'd never give her heart to another horse -- not after a terrible disease wiped out her family's breeding farm, along with Ashleigh's favorite mare, Stardust.

Now the Griffens are starting over as breeding managers at Townsend Acres, and Ashleigh's sure she is going to hate living there.

Then a small, sickly foal is born -- a beautiful copper filly that looks like Stardust. No one thinks the foal will live or that it's worth trying to save. No one but Ashleigh.

Can one girl's love alone work miracles?

Read Thoroughbred and experience the love and friendship between a determined girl and a very special filly.

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