The Georges and the Jewels

I must have a British edition, because reading reviews I see that a horse in this book is called Ornery George, whereas in my book he is Grumpy George which is better. Maybe some editor didn't think British kids would know what ornery means, which is unlikely. This is the tale of Abby, a schoolgirl......more

This is the kind of horse novel I've been looking for, one that is actually about horses and is not a soap opera set in a barn. The central story here is about a 12-year-old girl who is trying to cope with an uncooperative horse called Ornery George. She is expected to help her father train him so t......more

I never thought I would enjoy reading a book about horses like I did with this book. Abby was a seventh grade girl whose father names all the mares 'Jewel' and all the geldings 'George'. Abby loves horses and spends all of her free time helping her dad train them on their farm. With troubles at schoo......more

I really enjoyed this moving story about 7th grade Abby. As she helps train horses, she also quietly witnesses how her father's strong nature and "righteous anger" divides her family. In the end, she learns to find her own voice and the courage to tame the horse she fears most, "Ornery George." The......more

This book was so perfectly right for me, that I originally felt I couldn’t judge it objectively. So, first I gave it to my daughter who is just starting to ride. And, then I gave it to my mother who was never bitten by the horse bug. We all absolutely loved it. It is a wonderful book that while just......more