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"When almost 13-year-old Alex forms a true bond with a newborn colt, she secretly promises to make him her own. But like all horses born on her family’s Rosen Ranch, this colt is slated to be sold.
"When almost 13-year-old Alex forms a true bond with a newborn colt, she secretly promises to make him her own. But like all horses born on her family’s Rosen Ranch, this colt is slated to be sold.
Alex thinks if she can prove herself a capable horse trainer, there might be a chance to keep the colt. But when her attempt to work with a spirited filly ends in disaster, her secret hope is shattered.
Alex thinks if she can prove herself a capable horse trainer, there might be a chance to keep the colt. But when her attempt to work with a spirited filly ends in disaster, her secret hope is shattered.
Now Alex must rebuild trust with her parents— and regain confidence in herself—before her dream horse gallops away forever."
Now Alex must rebuild trust with her parents— and regain confidence in herself—before her dream horse gallops away forever."
Midwest Book Review, The Middle Grade Fiction Shelf
An original and deftly crafted children's story of a girl and her horse, "Galloping Away" by Robin Kolb is a fun read from start to finish. While especially and unreservedly recommended pick for elementary school, middle school, and community library General Fiction collections for young readers ages 9-12, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Galloping Away" is also readily available in a digital book format
.Karen Peterson, Fifth Grade Teacher, Hellgate Intermediate School: In my fifth grade classroom, I read Galloping Away.... Everyday my students would look forward to what was going to happen with Alex and her horse. At the end of the story the students applauded and asked it there was another book. So I guess Robin needs to write another book. Children of all ages relate so well to animals and this book offers the real bond between kids and animals. The challenges Alex faced in the story give readers hope to manage through difficult situations.
Doreen Chombu for Readers' Favorite, 5 stars
Alex is fascinated by the birth of a colt and dreams of owning it. However, she makes a mistake that injures one of the horses on her family ranch. Feeling guilty and undeserving of the newborn colt, she tries to prove herself by training and helping her mother and even wishes to become a training assistant. Despite her efforts, Alex's chances of getting the horse she wants seem to diminish every day. To make matters worse, her family ranch normally sells horses, and her colt is up for sale. Will Alex ever achieve her dream of owning her dream horse? Find out by reading Galloping Away by Robin Kolb.
Galloping Away is an inspiring and heartwarming story that teaches the importance of never giving up on your dreams and having the courage to speak your heart's desires. This book is an excellent resource for those interested in learning about horse training and ranch life. Author Robin Kolb also includes valuable lessons about family values and hard work. The story takes readers on an emotional roller coaster, wondering if Alex's dream of getting her dream colt and training horses will ever come true. Despite her unmatched passion and natural talent for the craft, Alex's desperation hinders her from showcasing her skills. I particularly appreciated how the book ended, with a beautiful closure yet still leaving room for a potential sequel. This book is a must-read for anyone who loves horses or has ever wished for something so much. Always keep hope alive and work hard toward your goals.
Joann Howeth: A Galloping Good Read! Great storytelling from beginning to end! Told from the POV of her main character, Alex, the author has captured the teen voice perfectly. The portrayal of family relationships and sibling rivalry are spot on as Alex struggles with being the middle kid between an older sister and boisterous younger brother, and the depiction of Alex’s relationships at school and with friends realistically addresses the social situations middle schoolers daily encounter with their peers.
A master of her craft, the author writes with great skill peppering her story with excellent pacing and tension that keeps the reader engaged and turning the page. Her writing is spare and fluid and filled with vivid descriptions and clever literary devices with horse-related references.
The plot is set in a rich landscape and the family’s circumstances of owning a horse ranch give the author plenty of room to educate her audience about aspects of handling and training horses without becoming pedantic. Her approach is subtle and cleverly woven into each chapter. From beginning to end, a Galloping Good Read!
Galloping Away
Galloping Away
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Galloping Away – Chicken Scratch Books
Praise for Galloping Away:
Sue Beckhorn : Ahhh! Galloping Away touched all the right chords in this grownup horse-loving gal’s heart, as I know it will for young teens. I found the bond between Alex and her old horse—as well as the new foal, Denver, evocative of My Friend Flicka. The sweet, quirky, and realistic family, and Alex’s determination to work hard to win her dream made me think of National Velvet. Kolb’s sure writing, attention to detail, and strong sense of family values give the story heart as well as nurturing the thirsty souls of horse-addicts. A must read for girls who would rather smell like a horse barn than bubble bath.
Rachel Bemis, 4th Grade Teacher, Corvalis, Montana : Classroom Zoom -- Great for the classroom! I am a teacher in Montana and read this with my 4th graders. They absolutely loved the book...(the author) was so friendly, engaging and passionate. We also utilized the amazing resources for a Literature Circle on the Chicken Scratch Books publishers website. My 26 fourth graders said please write a review Miss B. and give her 5 stars and the book. They loved the character development, amazing figurative language and descriptive words. Go get this book. You will want to gift it to all the littles in your life, your teacher friends and much more.
Susan Reimer : Galloping Away is a heart stomping, poignant story of a girl and her horse. I loved this story and cannot recommend it highly enough!
Wendy Parciak : When I was a kid, I loved nothing better than a good old-fashioned horse story – but after working my way through all the Marguerite Henry and Walter Farley books, I had trouble finding many more. It’s too bad Robin Kolb’s Galloping Away wasn’t available to me, because her writing easily matches that of the authors who wrote those classic horse stories. I would have read Galloping Away ten or more times, at least. And the best thing is that this book isn’t just for kids who adore horses, but for anyone who enjoys tales about kids and animals and the immense love they can have for one another.
From the very start, Galloping Away immersed me in the beauty and bustle of a hard-working Montana ranch. Kolb’s attention to every detail involving the horses is masterful. I never for one second doubted her expertise and knowledge of the intricate processes of foaling, grooming, and horse training. I didn’t merely read about Alex’s excitement at the birth of the new foal, but I became Alex. Right along with her, I yearned for her to be able to keep the colt. I felt anxious that she’d never find a way to persuade her parents that she deserved it. I basked in the pleasures of training with a friend, worried about the difficulties Alex had with her sister and classmate, and despaired when disaster struck and took Alex even farther from her goal. I emerged from the story feeling as though I, too, could live on the gorgeous Rosen Ranch and dream as big as Alex.
I’m not embarrassed to say that I teared up while reading this coming-of-age story. It is a joyful, wrenching, and heart-warming exploration of one girl’s discovery of what’s most important to her, and how she needs to grow to achieve that. And let’s not forget the horses. Throughout the story, I reveled in being surrounded by horses large and small, each one full of personality, whether boisterous, cantankerous, or steady and wise. The bonds Alex and her mother develop for these creatures come through loud and clear.
Congratulations, Robin Kolb, on writing such a wonderful book. It’s one that deserves to be read and cherished by kids, and remembered by them even when they’re grown.
Suzanne Morrone : Robin Kolb’s wonderful middle grade book, Galloping Away, is about wanting something more than you’ve ever wanted anything ever, and thinking you can’t have it.
Alex’s family supports itself, in part, by breeding and selling horses, but she falls in love with a newborn foal. How can she convince her parents to let her keep the foal, even though it means losing money? And worse, she’s at fault for injuring another valuable horse, proving she’s not worthy of their trust.
While this seems like a simple story of girl learning about herself, about what is most important to her, and how she needs to grow to achieve her dreams, to me it is deeply, fundamentally, about the mystery, beauty and heartache of love. It’s about a girl falling in love with a foal as it’s born. That instant love-at-first-sight connection that is powerful and life altering. And it’s about the complicated love in a family between parent and child, between siblings, and grandparents. Watching Alex learn about herself and how she also gains a greater understanding of her family members throughout the story deepens the message and experience.
The horses are as carefully drawn and as individual as the humans. Every detail is written with a masterful understanding of how to care for and train horses, not just any horse, but each particular and unique horse. Ranch life is also richly drawn, and the love of the land, the legacy, is felt in every description. It’s clear the author knows her subject intimately and thoroughly.
I highly recommend this book. Robin Kolb has created a world I want to stay in. I’m sure her readers will want to read this book again and again, as well, so they can spend more time with Alex, her dog, and the horses. And I hope she writes a sequel, because I only want to spend more time with Alex, and follow her on her journey as she continues to face new challenges.
Debbie Austin : I highly recommend Galloping Away by Robin Kolb. I love characters I can really root for and the main character, Alex, is just that! The author has written her as a relatable almost thirteen-year-old navigating adolescence—sometimes awkward, unsure, and faltering but learning and growing into someone who knows what she wants and how to get there.
No plot spoilers here but suffice it to say that the author handles the plot with just the right amount of tension on the reins, allowing for very sweet moments between Alex and the horses (especially the colt Denver) while also driving the reader forward through missteps and near disaster to find out if Alex is going to fulfill her dream.
Family members and school friends round out the cast. The sulky older sister and the sometimes-annoying younger brother help create a realistic picture of Alex’s family life—something I’m sure many readers will relate to. Her parents are loving and supportive, and Alex has a very sweet relationship with her grandmother. But it’s not all sunshine and roses. There are plenty of nuances and tricky conversations to navigate here. I was touched by the relationship between Alex and her mother and the way their relationship grew throughout the book.
The author obviously knows her subject well, not glossing over the technical aspects of horseback riding but actually giving the reader a lesson in such a natural and engaging way. I had never seen that done before and it was fascinating.
There is beautiful writing throughout. I especially love the author’s use of horse characteristics to describe Alex’s emotions. One of my favorite lines: “The wild horses thrumming through my veins refused to be tamed. They tossed their manes and pranced with joy.”
What a delightful read! Galloping Away checked all the boxes for me. This will be my go-to gift for middle-graders in my life.
For more reviews and the best price, visit: Galloping Away – Chicken Scratch Books
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