Under a Different Sky

Horse-story enthusiasts get a double dose of dramatics as Savage (To Race a Dream) traces the struggles of a teenage equestrian and the rebellious preppie who helps shape his dreams. Following a stunning prologue, which captures the splendor of a foal's birth under the northern lights, there come the less dynamic (and less convincing) character studies of Galaxy's poverty-stricken owner, Ben Stahler, and his rich girlfriend, Lara McGrath, who is bent on getting expelled from the exclusive private school bordering on the Stahlers' ramshackle farm. Although their backgrounds and personalities could hardly be less similar, both feel entrapped by their parents' expectations. Ben lends a sympathetic ear to Lara's complaints about her insensitive adoptive parents. Lara, in turn, inspires Ben to follow his own path with his super-sensitive stallion instead of becoming an auto mechanic. Ben and Galaxy's success story (beginning when a world-famous trainer discovers their abilities) is as overblown as Lara's hang-ups about her Mexican birth mother, imagined as a prostitute ""with sores all over her face."" The book's histrionic tone and sluggish pacing might, however, be overlooked as readers become enamored with the real star of the show, the princely horse. Ages 12-up. (Apr.)