Have you settled down with a good horse book recently? Well if you haven't we've found a good one for you. It's a book by award-winning author Kerri Lukasavitz.

Age Range: 8 to 12

13-year-old Cassie Piotrowski is dedicated to her horse, Snowdrops, and improving her riding skills. She can sometimes take on things that are a bit out of her range, but she does her best. She is fun, can be sassy (okay, she doesn't get along with her classmate and riding rival since 3rd grade, Lisa, and she makes fun of another rider's big nose), is determined, and loves her relationships with her best friends, Ingrid and Allison. But she has problems sharing her feelings and standing up for herself and others, especially when the bullying starts. She's unaware of the fear that seeps in and affects her showing performances.

"Gray Horse at Oak Lane Stable" (Book 2) takes place in rural Southeastern Wisconsin during 1976, with some chapters devoted to a few horse shows held in neighboring Midwest states. Kerri created a stable culture so readers can imagine what life is like around horses, including taking them into the world of showing horses where things aren't always so glamorous.

How the book came to be: I was an equestrian for 25 years, which includes owning my own ponies; showing when I was young; and working on two hunter/jumper stables as a show groom, rider, and riding instructor. I volunteered recently at a therapy stable and plan to return to riding shortly. My time around horses has given me plenty of inspiration for the Oak Lane Stable Adventure Series - inspiration being the keyword. The stories have been fictionalized and are not based on real-life events. The same with the characters. I create their personalities from a variety of people, mixing things up and adding new traits, so no one character is one person in life. That's what the imagination is for - creating new characters, plots, sub-plots, and settings. This is why fiction writing can be so fun.

Book Lessons: Many children want to have a horse of their own. I show them in "Gray Horse at Oak Lane Stable" (Book 2) that having a horse is more than simply getting on and riding or watching them graze, or brushing them. Horses take real commitment, which can be more than some enthusiasts are willing to give. I also wanted readers to see that the show world isn't so wonderful all of the time, especially when it comes to good sportsmanship. Some behavior behind the scenes can be petty, annoying, and hurtful. Speak up. Be the better person. End bullying.

Check the book out on Amazon today.