Horse Trouble

September 27, 2021
Dark-haired, light-skinned, and freckled horse lover Kate Williams, 12, has always been “pudgy.” But the bi-weekly riding lessons she’s taken “at Millcreek Farm for just over four years” have served as her haven. Alongside teasing and bullies, crushes and new friendships this year at Cottonwood Junior High, Kate hits puberty milestones, all while grappling with self-consciousness about her body. As suggested by the title, there is lots of “horse trouble”—most of which results in Kate falling and picking herself back up as she prepares for “the most competitive show in the state.” Punctuating each of the 10 chapters with a different fall, Varner (Pink Magic Cupcake) doesn’t skirt Kate’s embarrassment, nor does she dwell on it; evenly paced scenes give equal emphasis to Kate’s misadventures and successes. Kate’s first-person narration imbues a matter-of-fact tone, matched by panels—sketched in blue pencil and digitally inked—that carefully detail expressive Kate’s ups, downs, and in-betweens. Equine terminology is defined throughout as horseback-riding helps Kate build confidence in this earnest graphic novel debut. Back matter features an author’s note describing her personal inspiration, photographs, cover sketches, and the artistic process. Ages 8–12. Agent: Teresa Kietlinski, Bookmark Literary.

October 1, 2021

Gr 5-8-Kate and her best friend, Becky, do everything together, except riding. Kate loves horses, but Becky's allergic, so Kate is on her own at the barn, where she does chores to help pay for lessons. The barn is a haven-except when snobby Jana makes fun of Kate's falls and her weight. Kate's older brother and his friends mock her, too, with mean nicknames, even grabbing her "love handles." Riding is a refuge: Kate's trainer, Barb, is steady and supportive, revealing that all good riders fall and that what's important is to get back on the horse (literally). As Kate prepares for a big horse show, stable hand Ernesto helps her regain her confidence after yet another fall, and new "barn rat" Valerie cheers her on. Varner's rounded, cartoony style is mostly accurate where the horses, tack, and barn are concerned, and definitions of specialized vocabulary are included at the bottom of the page. Each character is introduced with their name, age, astrological sign, likes and dislikes, and appearance; it's a fun touch, but the well-rounded characters are easy to distinguish even without all the added information. Becky is Asian American and Ernesto is Mexican; all other characters are white. Varner uses a blue and white palette with occasional pops of pink for emphasis. VERDICT Although horses are Kate's "thing," readers don't need to be horse lovers to empathize with her self-consciousness and growing self-confidence.-Jenny Arch, Lilly Lib., Florence, MA

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2021
Horses help a tween navigate middle school in Varner's graphic novel debut. Twelve-year-old Kate Williams can't remember ever not being fat. Her mom means well but is insensitive, suggesting she not wear her favorite striped shirts; her older brother, Ross, unkindly calls her Chubba, among other demeaning nicknames. She's always loved horses, and Millcreek Farm, where she has been riding for four years and takes lessons twice a week, is a haven--except for the other girls, who also mock her size. Kate's gotten to the point where she's ready to compete in jumper classes at horse shows, but she also falls off frequently--10 separate falls over the course of the book, including one just after she crosses the finish line in what should be the triumphant victory scene. It's enough to make any horse-crazy girl afraid to ride and starts to feel repetitive. Kate, with the help of a friend, also plays a nasty prank on one of the mean barn girls and endures physical harassment from her brother's friends, but these and other serious issues are dealt with superficially. The clean, expressive illustrations in shades of blue are active and well done, and explanatory text clarifies horse-related terminology. Most characters present White; Kate's best friend is cued as East Asian. Visually appealing but skims the surface. (Graphic fiction. 8-12)

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