Thursday 21 June 2007

Sundancer by Shelley Peterson, Illustrations by Marybeth Drake

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketPublished by Key Porter Books

Shelley Peterson brings us another brilliant Young Adult book, Sundancer. Sundancer is a beautiful chestnut horse, who thanks to the quick-thinking actions of a local vet, is saved from being euthanized and is sent instead to Saddle Creek Farm. The farm is the home to thirteen-year-old Alberta (Bird for short) and her Aunt Hannah.

Hannah is at her wits end when it comes to Sundancer. He seems troubled, unreachable and dangerous. She makes it known that he is not to be ridden, especially after Bird's attempt which led to nothing but a concussion. Bird isn't going to be put off that easily though and besides, she has a gift for dealing with animals. People around her find her strange since she doesn't talk. Well, not to people at least. She can hear the thoughts of animals and send thoughts back to them and within the pages of this novel, we are treated to a glimpse of many beautiful relationships between Bird and the animals in her life.

In the middle of dealing with Sundancer, just when things can't seem to get any crazier, Bird's mother decides to pay a visit. Bird has many mixed emotions and understandably so, as she is still feeling the sting of being left with her aunt almost two years ago. She doesn't want to meet her mother's new boyfriend who is coming along for the ride, but she is excited that she will see her sister Julia again!

When they finally arrive, Bird can hardly believe it. Her mother steps out of the car all dressed in pink (including pink ankle socks!) and her sister is dressed to look like a miniature carbon copy. What follows is a wonderful mix of laughter, tears (I cried like a baby), excitement, adventure, disappointment and more, as the author delivers a story that is unforgettable. Will Bird ever feel able to speak again? Will Sundancer ever settle down and trust anyone? Will Bird's mother ever stop dressing like Barbie? It's a book that regardless of age, the reader is going to fall in love with.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

I was so pleased to read your wonderfully evocative review. I loved writing Sundancer, and therefore love hearing good things about it. Thanks. A fellow book-worm, Shelley Peterson

Charlene Martel said...

You are very welcome. It was such a joy to read and I can't wait to explore further titles. I was especially thrilled at learning that a previous novel of yours, Abby Malone is about one of the characters in this novel. I can't wait to learn more about her.

Anonymous said...

i am only partway through it and i can't put it down its so good!

Anonymous said...

This is such an amazing book! I absolutely love it! I feel like I am in the book and I am riding Sundancer. He sounds like an amazing horse! You completely put the trust in your horses words! And it is just soooo amazing!

Anonymous said...

I loved your review I am now reading Sundancer and am on Chapter16. This is such a great book i stay up later the usual just to find out what happens next!I was also wondering if there is an e-mail adress that i could use to talk to Shelly Peterson. I would like to know more about this book. If you could please post the e-mail adress in the comments area. I will check often.Thanks!

Anonymous said...

This is an amazing book. I am a rider and would love to own a horse like Sundancer. I am now reading the book, I am on chapter 16. I was wondering if you could give me an e-mail adress so I could talk with Shelley Peterson about Sundancer. If you can't please point me in the direction of maybe a fan club or something of that sort.Thanks!

Anonymous said...

This is a great book and you did a great job reviewing it. I am a fellow rider and would love to own a horse like Sundancer. I was wondering if maybe you could give me an e-mail so I can talk with Shelley about the book, I am very interested in it!If you can't could you please point me in the direction of maybe a fan culb, or something of that sort. Please post the info. on the comments section. Thanks!

Charlene Martel said...

Hi there anonymous,

It really is a fantastic book, isn't it? I didn't find a website as such for Shelley Peterson when I wrote the review but I did find a site that has a 'contact the author' option. The link is:

http://www.sentex.net/~pql/dancer.html

Also, you might like to check out this link:

http://www.sentex.net/~pql/foxridge/index.html

It's a guided tour of Shelley Peterson's farm. It was really great to look through.

Please do check back as I will be posting a review of Abby Malone in the very near future.

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed reading Sundancer so much. It was by far the best book I've read recently. I'm a horse lover and I love reading books about horses. It was great and I'd recommend it to any one!

Anonymous said...

I loved the book Sundancer.I love the words you use and all the characters.It was awsome!

Anonymous said...

A perfectly wonderful book. I have spent my entire Friday reading it on the lawn with my guinea pig. It is an amazing book.

Caleigh said...

Just a note! The Porcupine's Quill website has changed to porcupinesquill.ca. This is where you will find some more info about Shelley Peterson's earlier books, "Dancer" and "Abby".

Anonymous said...

The book was well written.A very rich vocabulary and nice introduction as well.I read it in less than a 5 days.I love horses and I recommend this book to everyone who does to.

Anonymous said...

I love love Love LOVE this book.... it's the first book I read of Shelley's books, and then I read Dancer and Abby Malone... I haven't read Stagestruck yet... is it good?

Charlene Martel said...

I haven't had a chance to review Stagestruck yet but I'll definitely get hold of a copy and review it. I do so love Shelley Peterson books.

Anonymous said...

This is my favourite book. it is great

Anonymous said...

This is a very powerful book. it was really good and i managed to finish it in less than an hour. i always re read this book and I really like the characters and the plot of the story overall