Abby, a young equestrian living in California in the 1960s, is thrilled that she has been invited to participate in a famous riding clinic. Naturally, she wants to show off her beautiful new horse, True Blue, sure that his performance will impress the temperamental instructor. Things don’t go quite as Abby plans, however, when Blue turns out to be performing under par. Her riding abilities shaken, Abby gets a second chance when she is asked to ride rival/friend Sophia’s expensive mount Pie in the Sky instead. Between riding Pie, trying to figure out what’s wrong with Blue, and starting high school, Abby suddenly has a whole lot of her plate. Will she leave Blue’s training behind to accept a lucrative offer to take over as Pie’s rider? Is it possible to become friends with your competition? Above all, can Abby figure out how to stay true to herself and her horse? Pie in the Sky, by Pulitzer Prize winning author Jane Smiley, is a realistic read about the special bond between a girl and her horse that older readers will likely enjoy.
ISBN: 978-0375869686 272 pages. Ages 11 and up.
Recommended by Molly Crumbley, Librarian, Maryland, USA.