Runaway by Dandi Daley Mackall (Review)

• Age Range: 8 - 12 years
• Grade Level: 3 and up
• Series: Starlight Animal Rescue (Book 1)
• Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale Kids (August 18, 2008)
• ISBN-13: 978-1414312682

I've run away seven times—never once to anything, just away from. Maybe that's why they call me a “runaway,” and not a “run-to.”

Meet 16-year-old Dakota Brown. She used to love all things “horse” until she lost everything, including hope. The minute she sets foot on her foster parents' farm—Starlight Animal Rescue—she plans her escape. But can an “impossible” horse named Blackfire and this quirky collection of animal lovers be the home she's always dreamed of?

Starlight Animal Rescue: Where problem horses are trained and loved, where abandoned dogs become heroes, where stray cats become loyal companions. And where people with nowhere to fit in find a place to belong.

My Review:

This was a good balanced character and plot book. The characters were interesting and well developed. I felt bad for Dakota having been in so many foster homes. She finally lands in a really good one that runs Starlight Animal Rescue. They have their son Hank and two other foster children. They treat them like they are their own. Dakota is scarred and can only think of escaping again. She tries to set up a plan to runaway with an old "friend." She makes friends with a horse named Blackfire. Its the first thing she has really cared about in a long time. This was a touching YA book with a few funny moments too. I can't wait to read more books in the series. Recommended.

Wild Thing by Dandi Daley Mackall (Review)

• Age Range: 8 - 12 years
• Grade Level: 3 and up
• Series: Winnie the Horse Gentler (Book 1)
• Mass Market Paperback: 173 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale Kids; Reprinted edition (March 28, 2002)
• ISBN-13: 978-0842355421

 Twelve-year-old Winnie Willis has a way with horses. She can gentle the wildest mare, but other parts of her life don't always come as easily. Along with her dad and sister, Lizzy, Winnie is learning how to live without her mom, who was also a natural horse gentler. As Winnie teaches her horses about unconditional love and blind trust, God shows Winnie that he can be trusted too. Readers will be hooked on the series' vivid characters, whose quirky personalities fill Winnie's life with friendship and adventure.

In #1 Wild Thing, Winnie's fearful heart finally begins to trust God again as she tries to gentle the horse of her dreams, Wild Thing.

My Review:

This was a touching young adult book. Since Winnie's mom died her Dad has been moving them around. Life has not been stable. Winnie's mom was known as a horse gentler. Winnie has her mother's horse skills. The author's experience with horses shows in her books. There are several true to life details like how to tell how old a horse is according to the teeth. Wild Thing is a horse that Winnie wants to train. Her family does not have the money to buy it. The characters and plot are interesting and kept my attention. The faith part is not overdone. Recommended especially for Christian horse loving girls.

Chasing Dream by Dandi Daley Mackall (Review)

• Age Range: 6 - 10 years
• Series: Backyard Horses (Book 3)
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (February 17, 2012)
• ISBN-13: 978-1414339184

Feisty fourth-grader Ellie feels the need to prove to the world that her Backyard Horse (Dream) is worthy of attention. Ellie arranges a race to show off her dream. But her world is shaken when her horse gets sick and she is forced to realize that she could very well lose her Dream.

My Review:

I thought this was a good book for the age range. Children into horses would definitely enjoy this series. This is book three but can stand alone. Ellie learns the lesson that winning is not the most important thing when Dream loses the race she started and then gets sick. This was a sweet semi coming of age story. Ellie is a good heroine and I liked the other characters too. Recommended.  





A professional writer for over 20 years, Dandi Daley Mackall has written dozens of articles for popular magazines and published around 400 books for children and adults alike, with sales of over 4 million. A frequent guest on radio and television talk shows, she lives in rural Ohio with her husband, three children, horses, dogs, & cats.

Horse Dreams by Dandi Daley Mackall (Review)

Age Range: 6 - 10 years

Paperback: 160 pages

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (August 12, 2011)

ISBN-13: 978-1414339160

Fourth-grader Ellie James has a great imagination. She spends a lot of time daydreaming of owning a black stallion show horse and winning trophies in the horse show. But when the answer to all her dreams and prayers gallops into her life, will Ellie be able to recognize it? Join Ellie and her quirky family in their exciting, horse-loving adventures.


My Review:

I enjoyed this light fun horse story. It is for the elementary age group. I think the first time readers might need a little help but second grade up can read on their own. Little girls who love horses will especially like this book. I am a daydreamer too so I completely got her. I remember getting in trouble at school too. lol The book is well written and the pages fly by. There is a faith element that is blended nicely. It is the first in the Backyard Horses series. Highly Recommended!


Dandi Daley Mackall is the author of over 400 books for children and grown-ups, with sales of over 3 million, she has published with HarperCollins, Dutton/Penguin-Putnam, Harcourt, Simon & Schuster, Disney, Hanna-Barbera, DreamWorks, and many others. Dandi; her husband, Joe; their three children (Jen, Katy, and Dan); and their horses, dogs, and cats live in rural Ohio.