In MacDonald's (The Ghost Horse of Meadow Green
) uneven, supernatural-themed novel for horse lovers, two eighth-graders learn to cope with mysterious powers. Although Frankie, the narrator, says he's “so normal it [makes] me sick,” he has occasional prophetic dreams that emphasize specific colors. When his dad signs him up to volunteer at the Hug a Horse Farm, he realizes that his current dream, which is red and features a horse and an accident, could be about one of his friends. He also encounters the school outcast, Maura-Lee, who sees people's emotions as colors. As the two begin to bond, they discover a secret linking their pasts. Frankie is likable enough as a boy-next-door type, and his conversations with parents and friends contain believable jokes and realistic arguments. But aside from Maura-Lee, few of the other characters show much personality. The eventual realization of Frankie's dream wraps up too neatly (and without much help from the heroes), but readers might forgive the lapse for the well-done riding scenes and rural imagery. Ages 10–14. (Mar.)
