Dark Horse

Nikki Tate-Stratton writes children’s picture books and novels for
preteens. Her most recent novels are Raven’s Revenge, Tarragon Island,
and Jo’s Journey. Her latest picture book is Grandparents’ Day.

The eighth and ninth books in the Mustang Mountain series each focuses
on a different riding discipline (barrel racing and endurance riding,
respectively). In Swift Horse, 15-year-old Alison Chant is determined to
find the best barrel-racing horse money can buy, regardless of the
consequences. In Dark Horse, Alison’s cousin Becky Sanderson takes her
mother’s place in a 50–mile endurance ride. In both books, the girls
must overcome physical and emotional challenges before reaching a new
level of maturity and understanding. Both books also include boy
interest subplots, complete with requisite miscommunications and
eventual warm-fuzzy reconciliations.

Unlike some of the earlier books in the series in which the author felt
compelled to throw new, death-defying disasters at the reader every few
pages, Siamon has chosen to focus on a couple of storylines in each book
and develops these more fully. Though somewhat hampered by stereotypes
established in earlier books, in general the characters (both central
and supporting) are becoming rounder, more complex, and more believable
as the series progresses. Contributing to this increased plausibility is
Siamon’s decision to set each novel within the world of a specific
discipline. To write about these subjects convincingly, the author had
to do considerable research and Siamon has done a commendable job of
integrating her findings within a strong narrative framework. The horse-
and riding-related details will satisfy horse lovers and the strong
plotting will keep readers turning pages. Recommended.