Maggie and a Horse Named Devildust

Maggie is a hard-riding tomboy who would rather work with her father's horses than learn the feminine graces that are so important to her mother. When she sees the magnificent wild horse Devildust, she knows she wants him for her own. She works hard to gentle the horse, and her efforts are rewarded. But Maggie's involvement in a fight at school convinces her mother that she must be sent away to boarding school to learn to be a lady. Horrified at this prospect, Maggie runs away to join a wild west show; after a few adventurous days, Maggie is reunited with her family and realizes that she can be a cowgirl and an elegant person. While the depiction of life in late 19th century Texas is quite appealing, the novel's plot is predictable and its characterizations less than subtle. However, horse enthusiasts should be able to overlook these flaws and focus instead on the many well-executed descriptions of riding and training horses. Ages 8-14. (Mar.)