Gee Whiz

August 15, 2013
Abby Lovitt's newest horse brings her a taste of the wider world. Handsome, intelligent Gee Whiz, recently retired, raced successfully all over the country, and Abby loves to imagine the things he's seen. Meanwhile, her brother looks to be heading into the Vietnam War, her friends Barbie and Alexis come home from boarding school, and a beloved church member dies. Abby's awash with change--but if that weren't enough, the man who co-owns her young horse, Jack, wants to start his race training, which Abby and her family can't afford. Smiley's Abby Lovitt books (Pie in the Sky, 2012, etc.) have always been especially anchored to time and place. Beautifully written as always, this installment is especially satisfying for the way it shows Abby's curiosity and sense of wonder naturally unfold. Also as always, the horse details continue to fascinate. Another successful visit with Abby Lovitt and her horses. (Historical fiction. 10-14)

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December 1, 2013

Gr 5-8-In 1966, Abby lives on a ranch in California where her family trains and sells horses. In this fifth story about her, she interacts with the yearling Jack, destined for the track; Beebop, a rodeo bucking horse; and Gee Whiz, a big ex-racehorse that may have jumping talent and is very clever at opening closed gates. The teen's life revolves around her church, some activities with friends, and taking care of the horses. Various characters drift in and out of the narrative. An elderly man at her church, Brother Abner, shares stories with her about the world, which help her to start thinking about more than her present life. The dilemma of the Vietnam draft is briefly touched upon concerning her older brother, Danny. Abby is a smart and appealing protagonist, but the novel moves slowly; it is like reading a person's daily blog rather than an exciting or unexpected story. Even her relationship with Gee Whiz never seems fully realized.-Carol Schene, formerly at Taunton Public Schools, MA

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2013
Abby, the sensible protagonist of Smiley's horse girl series set in 1960sera California (Pie in the Sky, rev. 9/12), is growing up, which means she has some hard decisions to make. The head of the riding stable where Abby teaches wants to buy True Blue for use as a lesson horse, but Abby's not sure she's willing to sell. The partial owner of Jack, the orphaned thoroughbred colt Abby bottle-raised, wants him sent to the track for training, but racing training is too expensive for Abby and her family. And a new horse, Gee Whiz, arrives at Abby's family's farm, this one a retired racing thoroughbred, extraordinarily tall at 17.1 hands, very curious, and capable of opening gates by himself. Abby's older brother Danny has just gotten his draft notice for Vietnam, and Abby is determined to keep Gee Whiz and train him for Danny until he returns ( Something to come home to, then, Danny says). In addition, episodes involving school and friends, the elders at church, and authentic details about life in the 1960s keep this series humming. Horse-loving readers will come away with more horse knowledge than they had before (in particular, how to catch a horse that's gotten loose from the pasture), but most will keep following the series just to hear how their levelheaded friend Abby is getting on. Art not seen. anita l. burkam

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2014
Abby (Pie in the Sky) is growing up, which means she has some hard decisions to make regarding her family farm and the horses in her life. Readers will come away with more horse knowledge than they had before, while episodes involving school and friends, the elders at church, as well as authentic details about 1960s California, keep this series humming.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)