Finny and the Boy from Horse Mountain

An untamed horse and handsome young runaway add excitement to one California teen’s summer in this suspense tale for young readers. Against the backdrop of the high-moneyed and sometimes unscrupulous equestrian sport of show jumping, Finny, a fifteen-year-old girl in California, adopts an emaciated, untrained horse without her parents’ knowledge. Soon after adopting Sky, Finny meets Joe, a sixteen-year-old, who has run away from his cruel uncle in Montana. His love for horses and desire to be a trainer match Finny’s dream of competing in the show jumping arena—against rich girls on fancier horses—and together, they train Sky to become a first-rate show jumper. But the path is fraught with danger. Sky is not like other horses and is so destructive and difficult he gets them kicked out of the barn where Finny has been working and training. Helped by a kind woman who owns a horse rescue, Joe is able to prove both his and Sky’s incredible talents. When Joe is kidnapped by his violent uncle, Finny and Sky are the only ones who can save him. In a breathtaking finale, Sky and Finny must enter the underworld of the rodeo circuit, an after-hours, illegal race, where they will risk their lives to save the boy they love . . . Young demonstrates a masterful ability to set a breakneck pace and keep it up until the end of the novel. Finny and Joe are enduring characters who are sure to appear in upcoming sequels. Praise for Finny and the Boy from Horse Mountain “Love it! This book beautifully represents the special bond between the horse and rider. It demonstrates that with hard work and persistence you can reach your goals. Add a first love to the mix and you have a great story!” —Kilian McGrath, FEI North American Young Rider Gold Medalist “[Finny and Joe’s] story is both beautifully observed and heart-warming as they battle against all odds to get their own lives on track and complete the glorious Sky’s transformation. ” —Jenny Hughes, author of twenty-one bestselling horse novels “There are enough plot twists, from horse stealing to budding romance, to keep things moving quickly to a satisfying end.” —School Library Journal