Mrs. Feld has a true gift in capturing the imagination and engaging the reader. It is not always easy to find a set of books that will be read willingly by preteens! Kudos to Mrs. Feld on her delightful Morgan Horse Series. - Jenefer Igarashi, Senior Editor, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Winner of the national book award, "Children's Choices" co-sponsored by the International Reading Association and The Children's Book Council! An Accelerated Reader Book The inspiration for the Breyer Animal Creations Blackjack model horse. Sold with a copy of the award-winning book. Ages 9 - 13 Blackjack introduces Heather Richardson, a horse-loving youngster who has a problem: She keeps dreaming of a beautiful black Morgan Horse, and her dreams have told her that he s in danger and that she needs to save him. She s thrilled when she discovers that the horse is real and, with the encouragement of Blackjack s owner, she learns to ride and show while developing a strong bond with the animal. But when tragedy strikes and Blackjack falls into the hands of a cruel trainer, Heather must find a way to get her beloved horse back before it is too late... A note to parents: We are often asked about the content of our children's books. Do they contain any themes/topics that a parent may find objectionable for a young child? Does anybody die (horse or human)? Do they have sad endings? We are happy to report that our books are 100% child safe. While there is conflict within each story (friendships are tested, a horse becomes ill, etc.), nobody dies and each book has a happy ending. Additionally, while the main character in the Morgan Horse series is a girl, and one of her best friends is a boy, their relationship is platonic. They're too busy having fun with their horses. These books are packed with information about the care and training of horses. The reader will experience the thrill of competition in the ring as Heather and Blackjack participate in shows and the feeling of flight as she and Rusty jump the fences. The stories are well constructed with exciting plots and interesting characters. The strongest characters are the horses that exhibit their personalities as they face life's challenges. Anyone who loves horses will love this series. --Catholic Library Journal A wonderful story about the special bond between a girl and her horse. There is something in this book for everyone who likes horses. --Brian Sosby, Editor, Equestrian Magazine Feld takes the reader through a whirlwind of emotions as Heather manages to save her beloved horse. Her accurate and detailed descriptions of basic horsemanship and stable management make the Morgan Horse Series books not only fun adventure stories, but educational as well. --Susan Dudasik, Just Horses Award-winning author Ellen Feld began writing about horses more than 20 years ago. At first she wrote for small, regional magazines, but within a few short years, her work began to appear regularly in large, national publications. In 2001, while waiting for her next assignment, Ms. Feld wrote a short story about a Morgan. That tale became the first chapter of Blackjack: Dreaming of a Morgan Horse. The book went on to win a coveted Children's Choices award (as did the second book in the series, Frosty), an honor bestowed jointly by the International Reading Association and the Children's Book Council. The book was also picked up by Breyer Animal Creations to be sold with a model of the star of the story, Blackjack. To date, Ms. Feld has authored fifteen horse books, including seven in the Morgan Horse series and three in the best-selling Donkey-Donk series. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, two children, twelve horses, and assorted other pets.