The Tale of the Dancing Slaughter Horse

Gr 7 Up—This dressage-focused memoir features strong characterization through the use of dialogue. Shade, the daughter of Romanian immigrants, is hooked on horses. When she meets Moonshine, an abused and abandoned ex-racehorse, she initially finds his belligerent behavior an unwelcome challenge. But, as in most romances, first impressions prove to be wrong; Moony has it in him to be a great show horse, and he ultimately becomes the love of young Shade's life. As Shade trains vigorously throughout her teens, she learns that dressage isn't just about fancy moves but about the connection between horse and rider. She must learn how to "keep her seat" while facing naysayers. Readers similarly devoted to a sport might understand a life of being coached, traveling to events, and connecting more with athletic peers than classmates. Shade lives to ride, daydreaming about the stable during school and framing teenage milestones (taking the SAT, getting a driver's license) in terms of her future as an equestrian. Family drama, particularly around money, is the only counterpoint to an abundance of insider details that may be lost on nonriders. There is some in-context profanity, mostly directed at Shade's father, portrayed as a narcissistic deadbeat.