Shelby’s Horse-Filled Summer
An Old Quarry Lake Farms Tale
by Marty Kay Jones
The riders of Old Quarry Lake Farms are enjoying their summer together. Newcomer Shelby Simone and her friends Katherine Wilson and Rose Jensen spend all of their free time hanging out at the barn and exploring the town.
Shelby is taking part in her first horse camp at the farm. Between her lack of riding experience and having Katherine as a junior counselor, Shelby feels equal parts confident and awkward. Katherine and Rose have been riding horses for years, and they’re all the same age—Shelby will never be able to catch up with them!
When the town announces the school year will be starting later than expected due to construction at an archaeological dig, the girls are excited to spend more time at the barn… until Rose announces she’ll be going on a surprise family trip with the extra vacation time.
Shelby enjoys spending more time at the farm to learn more about horses. But will her new skills be enough when disaster strikes?
Join the riders of Old Quarry Lake Farms as they spend their first summer together. Bonded by horses, locals Katherine and Rose are joined by Shelby, a newcomer from the city. Together, they’ll learn and grow in the sleepy town of Old Quarry Lake.
5 out of 5 fairies
This was a fun story, full of friendship, horses, and new experiences. I love the friendship between Shelby, Katherine, and Rose. They’re unique but get along well, and support each other even though their experience levels with horses is so different. Shelby’s nerves are totally understandable, and I think middle graders will find it easy to relate to her. Of course there’s always someone looking to cause trouble, but I think it was handled really well from start to end by all the characters in the story. Whether they’re a horse kid or not, middle graders are sure to enjoy this!
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
Like Old Quarry Lake’s newest resident, Shelby Simone, author Marty Kay Jones grew up obsessed with horses. She also lived in the city and had to wait until her teen years to experience them for herself.
Today, Marty Kay Jones is still obsessed with horses, but now she gets to see them every day. She runs a small boarding stable in the Appalachian foothills and loves teaching new generations everything there is to know about horses.
Ms. Jones believes learning never stops and extends her equine knowledge to readers of the Old Quarry Lake Farms book series. While the books are written about 11-year-old Shelby Simone and her sixth-grade friends, readers of all ages will appreciate and identify with the challenges and triumphs that come with the major life changes Shelby experiences.
When not playing with her own horses, Chip and Mango, Ms. Jones can be found hiking with her Australian Sheep Dog Petey, tinkering around with her project hot rod, or curled up with a good mystery.
Shelby and the First Ride
Amazon | Goodreads
Shelby’s Horse-Filled Summer
Amazon | Goodreads
Shelby and the Back-to-School Blues
Amazon | Goodreads
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