A Stable for Jill

In the second book of the series, Jill is separated from her home and her beloved Black Boy when her mother, who writes horribly twee but apparently very successful novels about a series of sickeningly saintlike children, much to Jill's disgust, goes on a signing tour of the US and Jill is sent to stay with posh Aunt Primrose and Cousin Cecilia – who doesn't ride, but knows she'd be good at it if she wanted to. Jill being Jill, she wastes no time in finding a local family mourning the imminent loss of their beloved pony Ballerina, and then in galvanising them into turning their home (which happens to be a vicarage) into a commercially successful riding stable. I suspect that in real life a group of under-15s might not really find this show more worked out all that well – plus, wouldn't there be taxes and things? – but real life is boring. I would quite happily live in pony-book-fantasy-world, if given the option. Although I fear I would be lumped in with the dreadful Cecilia, so maybe not. show less

Jill runs her own stable while she's staying with her cousin Cecilia. Not a whole lot of riding but a great deal of caring for horses, which I think is just as interesting. I had no idea of the rivalry that seems to be exist between ballet and pony children (I'm an adult and I enjoy both) and I think the constant allusions to Cecilia's preciousness due to her ballet classes were a bit grating. Ferguon's writing can be generously described as disjointed but I suppose she gets away with it by saying that it's Jill narrating the story. Regardless, style is neither's strong suit. I look forward to more adventures.

4.5