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Book: Flying Change by G G Collins

categories: Book, Teen, Young Adult, Coming of Age, Courage, Horses, Horse Care, Family, Girls, Action, Sports, Outdoors, Being a Teen, Equestrian

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G G Collins

about this book: Flying Change is an equestrian term referring to a change of gait while the horse is cantering. It's valuable in show jumping and cross country eventing. And it is used in dressage. Just as in riding, so in life sometimes we need to make a quick change to adjust to new challenges.

Fourteen-year-old Molly wants to be an Olympic equestrian. To kick start her horse career, she goes against her father's wishes and lands a job at Reintree Stables where she will groom horses and muck stalls. The stable owner recognizes a budding rider and gives her lessons in exchange for her work.

She feels awkward at about everything. Molly's older sister is nearly perfect. She's a ballet dancer, a good student and has a boyfriend. Life is finally looking up in Molly's world when tragedy strikes her family. Before that is resolved, she takes a fall from her favorite school horse. As if that wasn't enough, she learns a secret about her father that even her mother didn't know. The combination of these events creates a crisis of courage. It threatens to end her riding dreams.

Her aunt Gillian supports Molly as she struggles to regain her courage. Once a promising rider herself, she now needs a cane to walk after a riding accident. She introduces Molly to grand prix eventing.

Molly's best friend Samantha launches a program to help Molly ride again even though she doesn't understand why she wants to. Then she sees the stable owner's son. Molly explains that he's already taken by the rich snob who stables her horse there.

It's a season of change for Molly who must overcome her fear in order to fulfill her destiny. She doesn't know that someone's life hangs in the balance.