This second book in the Saddlehill Academy series follows seventh grader Abby St. Clair at an elite equestrian boarding school, where she is dealing with the fallout from the events of the first novel. Her relationship with her stepsister Emery is tense, and Abby now has a nemesis in the girl who altered a video to drive a wedge between Abby and Emery.
Not only that, but Abby’s dad seems too busy with his job to watch her compete, while the presence of Emery’s mom, Abby’s stepmom, only reminds her of being abandoned by her own mother. On the positive side, Abby develops a crush on a new girl trying out for the team, and we see this relationship blossom. Her friends are completely accepting of this, and her friend Vivi even says “Right now, I like boys. But if I meet the right girl one day? … Who knows?”
All of the social drama with her nemesis is affecting Abby’s performance on her horse Beau, however, and the tension leads to an argument that endangers the future of the entire team. As with the first volume, the story gives us lots of intrigue as well as details about the equestrian circuit; readers who love either will likely love this.
Abby and Emery are White; Abby’s two best friends are Black and Korean American, respectively.
