Carrie and Bandit Book Description:
Carrie can’t believe it—she has a horse of her own and is only weeks away from being adopted by the most loving family she’s ever known. But Bandit is harder to manage than she first imagined—and the adoption might not go as smoothly as she thought either. When a bad decision jeopardizes everything, Carrie learns what it means to be forgiven and truly loved.
The Sonrise Stable series is the heartwarming, continuing story of an extended homeschooling family as they live, learn, and love together. Mixing adventure, life lessons, and realistic horse experiences, the series is a must for readers who enjoy family values, Christian faith, and, of course, horses!
About the Author:
Vicki Watson has a love of horses that began when a teenage neighbor offered her the opportunity to ride for the first time on the back of a horse. From her 8-year-old perspective, it seemed like the biggest horse in the world. From that moment on, she was hooked. Horses became a very important part of her life, although, she could never have imagined, at the time, how much God would teach her about Himself and her relationship to Him through horses.
My Thoughts:
Carrie and Bandit is the second book in the Sonrise Stable series. If you will recall from my review of Rosie and Scamper, Sonrise Stables is purposefully written that way because Grandma (the owner of the stable) has a love of the Lord and wanted her stable to reflect that. Grandma’s love of the Lord shines through in her desire to help not only her family but others in need.
Readers were first introduced to Carrie and Bandit in the first book of the series. (Bandit was rescued from an abusive situation, and Carrie, the foster child of Grandma’s neighbor, becomes good friends with Rosie.) Book 2 picks up right where book 1 left off – Carrie and Rosie are headed home from the fair with the rescued horse Bandit. Carrie and Rosie had just learned that Rosie’s family was going to adopt Carrie. Needless to say, the girls are rather excited about both events.
Just as in Rosie and Scamper, the family unit continues to play a key role in the story. The girls are not left up to their own devices. Instead, they are taught responsibility under the guidance of parents, grandma, and other adult family members. The girls are expected to complete their responsibilities before they are allowed to have fun. In this book, Carrie does something wrong and is afraid that the family will no longer adopt her. The parents (and later Grandma) talk to her to gain a better understanding of the situation without embarrassing her in front of other family members. The style of the conversations allow the author to seamlessly weave spiritual truths into the story.
The realistic horse experiences and information continue to enhance the story. The addition of a puppy to the storyline added a few more chuckles – especially if you’ve gone through having a puppy of your own. Carrie and Bandit concludes with a spiritual topic lesson, a horse training tip, and information about Lost Acres Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation which all tie directly into the story.
These stories are a quick read, but they’re sure to be enjoyed by any horse lover in your home. If you’re looking for a good horse series for your child that encourages Biblical teachings and a strong family unit, this series is for you.
Book Details:
- Paperback: 149 pages
- Publisher: ChristianCowgirl.net; First edition (March 30, 2012)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0984724214
- ISBN-13: 978-0984724215
- Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.2 inches
- List Price: $9.95
- Purchase through sonrisestable.com or Amazon
