Review by Booklist Review
Willa gets the opportunity to live out all her #HorseGirl dreams when she receives an anonymous scholarship to Juniper Ranch Horse Camp. Alongside her friends (and frenemy Amara) from her barn back home, Willa improves her skills and transforms from novice rider to confident horse handler. She bonds with friends new and old as well as with her trusty horse, Bandit. A camp mystery unfolds when Amara's show horse, Silver Streak, goes missing, and the last person to see him is Willa. She must carefully sift through her list of suspects and piece together clues to regain the faith of Amara and safely bring back Silver Streak. Puzzle pieces connect for a slightly unpredictable and completely sweet resolution, seeing strengthening friendships, solutions to every problem, and plenty of affection for the horse-loving community. Willa's humorous voice is heard through footnotes explaining terminology as well as countless horse puns. A stepping stone to the Saddlehill Academy series and perfect for any horse lover, regardless of whether they read Seim's previous book, Horse Girl (2021).
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
When the beloved horse belonging to a "former frenemy" disappears, can first-time camper Willa solve the mystery? Having moved frequently for her mother's military career, 14-year-old aspiring #HorseGirl Willa only started taking riding lessons a year ago. When she gets a scholarship to the Colorado English-riding horse camp all her stable besties attend, it's an "OMGEEEEE" and "!!!!!!!!" moment. She's surprised, though, that wealthy Amara gets to break camp rules and bring her own horse. Apparently, Amara's parents' donation has bought her that privilege--and Amara taunts Willa with the revelation that they've even funded Willa's attendance, which Willa thought was awarded for merit. When Amara's horse goes missing, Willa, feeling guilty for possibly leaving a gate open, determines to find Silver Streak herself. But even after she figures out it was a horsenapping, Willa keeps investigating. She'll prove she belongs at Juniper Ranch! Enthusiastic, dramatic, and awkward, Willa peppers her narrative with exuberant punctuation, hilarious parenthetical asides, handwritten notes, and more. Horse lovers will appreciate the equine activities and details (including plentiful informative footnotes), mystery fans will enjoy the solid plot and fast pace, and those who like realistic fiction will love the friend drama and Willa's crush on fellow camper Pasquale. Though the main characters have some depth, white-presenting Willa reads younger than 14, and the secondary characters are thinly sketched. The happy ending is more aspirational than realistic but still satisfying. A fun, breezy, and enthusiastically punctuated camp mystery for readers who devour horse stories.(Mystery. 9-13) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
