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Reviewed by Carine Engelbrecht for Readers' Favorite
Shelby Simone is crazy about horses. When her parents move to Old Quarry Lake, she finally begins horse-riding lessons and makes friends with Rose, Katherine, and Agate, who share her passion. In Shelby's Season of Surprise by Marty Kay Jones, each girl faces a different challenge. After a fall, Agate reconsiders what riding and horses meant to her and comes up with a unique solution. For Rose, selection for the Old Quarry Lake barn's show team appears to be a dream come true. But it requires uncomfortable changes, such as working with a new trainer whose methods and attitude leave much to be desired. When Katherine gets the opportunity to work with the prize jumper Dante, she faces a difficult decision. And Shelby? With so much going on, she wonders whether she will ever have a horse of her own to spoil and hang out with.
The story takes place against a backdrop of the seasonal cheer of Christmas and New Year's Eve. Each chapter concludes with some geek notes, cleverly disguised as Shelby's diary entries. There is also a more detailed glossary at the back of the book. The horses (and their humans) have personalities and back stories that inform their behavior. Interactions are layered to feel authentic. For example, the tension created by a miscommunication is cleverly set up when Shelby repeatedly tries to clear up the misunderstandings, but finds her friends too excited by their holiday plans to pay attention. Until it's too late. This is a common story trope done right. The bits of horse lore woven in add realism to the stories, but also introduce alternative concepts such as liberty training, which the average horse geek might be unfamiliar with. I'm sure there will also be readers salivating at all the holiday food. Season of Surprise by Marty Kay Jones is a comfort read that should hit the right spot for any young girl who dreams of hanging out with horses.
