Scarlet Royal

I read this book as a child -- I was probably around 9 or 10. I got it out of the library and fell in love with it. Anne Emery was one of my favorite authors growing up, and this book is definitely not only HER best, but one of the very best horse books of all time! I bought my own copy from Scholastic Books through my grammar school and have read it over and over through the years (in fact, it's almost time to read it again!). My copy is falling apart and I'm going to try to get a copy in better shape. Along with the Trixie Belden series by Julie Campbell (later written by Kathryn Kenny, but not quite as good), The Timber Trail Riders books,and The Horsemasters by Don Stanford, Scarlet Royal is one of the books from my childhood that I treasure and re-read every few years. It's a wonderful book that I highly recommend to any horse-crazy girl (or boy) -- or even adult. There's nothing "childish" about Anne Emery's writing.

I have three daughters ages 12 and below, and am very involved in various school boards and PTA fucntions, but mostly organizing and running the book fairs. I do a lot of hand selecting of books to sell, and spend much time reading children's books, and while many are terrific, I was really hard pressed to recommend any really wonderful books to my nine-year old, who is a horse fanatic. I first read "Scarlet Royal" when I was ten and in fifth grade, and while never a horse fanatic myself, I fell in love with this book and have never forgotten it. Over the years I have tried to track it down (among others I recall as particular favorites), but found it impossible -- they were long out of print. Through the wonders of the Internet, I recently was thrilled to be able to locate and purchase a used copy in excellent condition, and re-read it. I marveled on how well my memory served me-- that this was a book worthy of tracking down nearly forty years after I had first read it,not to mention what incredible taste I has even as a kid! This is still a WONDERFUL book, with the core story being the love of a girl for her horse, but the writing and the plot lines are still enthralling and the book remains a great pageturner, impossible to put down. I heartily recommend it for anyone into children's books, for your own kids or anyone else's.

Scarlet Royal is so much better than any of the series out there. This book actually has *life* to it. Very good read for anyone who loves horses.

Too bad this one is out of print. I first read this as an eleven year old horse fanatic, and still remember how much I loved it. Most excellent reading if you can get your hands on a copy.