Darkling

Jenny is determined that Darkling, the wild colt her grandfather bought her, will become the champion racehorse she believes he is destined to be. Spurred on by this goal, Jenny works long hours as a stablehand for the trainer who has agreed to take on the colt. Her hard work is sweetened by Darkling's progress and Jenny's involvement with another stablehand, who happens to be the son of her family's worst enemy. In a satisfying ending, Jenny's horse lives up to her wildest dreams, and her romance has the strength to withstand the revelation of a tangle of nasty family secrets. Darkling is a sturdily constructed horse story, filled with a pleasing combination of romance and equine nitty-gritty. But its rambling plot and relatively leisurely pace may disappoint Peyton fans who yearn for a book as gripping as her Flambards trilogy. Ages 12-up. (June)