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Thoroughbred #19
Cindy's Heartbreak
Cindy has trained Storm ever since he was a colt. Now he's a full-fledged racehorse and he's blindingly fast. In his three-year session at Gulfstream Park, Florida, he piles up victory after victory. Cindy is sure that storm is on his way to becoming a champion. When they get back to Whitebrook, though, disaster strikes. Cindy discovers that an incurable disease has spread through the area. Then Storm tests positive, and the vet warns that if they don't put Storm down, he may spread the disease to all the other horses. Cindy is heartbroken at the thought of losing her beloved Storm. But can she risk putting her other horses in danger to save Storm's life?
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 15, 2021
This was certainly not my favorite in the series, but I still enjoyed it. Unfortunately it shot itself in the foot on the suspense of what might happen by basically telling you the end through the title and back cover blurb. Which also only lasted in the last three chapters. 😒 Yeah, kinda annoyed by that�
The story is just basic slice of life but it does teach you a lot about horse racing which was one reason I always loved this series. The end was very sad and hit close to my heart personally. The cover is beautiful and I loved seeing these characters again. Plus baby Christina and Kevin were really cute. 😊
Not my favorite in the series but still an enjoyable read.
Content: a horse dies; mentions of other horses getting sick and having to be put down
The story is just basic slice of life but it does teach you a lot about horse racing which was one reason I always loved this series. The end was very sad and hit close to my heart personally. The cover is beautiful and I loved seeing these characters again. Plus baby Christina and Kevin were really cute. 😊
Not my favorite in the series but still an enjoyable read.
Content: a horse dies; mentions of other horses getting sick and having to be put down
October 3, 2018
I'm staying up late to say this because I have to GET. IT. OUT.
Cindy is the most arrogant character in the Thoroughbred series. I have never wanted to give up on a TB book and I would have, if I wasn't so damn determined to own and read the entire series, super editions and side series included.
This novel had two plots from two different horses: Storm and Wonder's Champion.
Storm, I do not remember from a previous read, even though I have read the previous in which he is bought. Anyway, he's not a Wonder born miracle, he's a bought sprinter. His plot revolves around trying to see if his potential would allow him to succeed at longer distances with No. Additional. Training. Yes. Let that skin in. He does NOT receive extra conditioning to go the extra miles what-so-ever.
However, this plot still would have been a more accurate description for the back of the novel and would have left the disease, which is plonked onto the last thirty pages, as a surprise for the reader.
Wonder's Champion's plot revolves around him being a spoilt brat. I can't really comment on why because I don't remember his training history. But the thing which made me nearly give up the novel was Cindy's insistence that she is the ONLY person who can ride Champion. If she doesn't ride him everyone will give up on him and he'll never race again. COME ON! What an arrogant piece of poo to think about yourself as a 13 year old girl who has only ever ridden two other (NICELY BEHAVED) race horses and has never raced them. Cindy, you are NOT a trainer, you are an exercise rider and groom. MAN! I wanted to take that kid down twenty pegs. I get that she's young and it's written for a younger audience but couldn't there have been a better way to show Cindy's immaturity that didn't make me want to heave the book out the window.
*Breathes deeply*
Karen Bentley (ghost writer) also quite disappointed me (is she a ghost writer when her name is also included, but Joanna Campbell is cited as the creator?) with her change of character of Ashleigh. Cindy is banned from riding Champion from her father because she injuries herself and Ashleigh knows she disobeys him but says NOTHING. Sure, maybe Ash thought Cindy had sought his permission, but I can't believe that Ash wouldn't have said anything in conversation to her HEAD TRAINER about a horse they have invested lots of money in and have just begun to train again.
Did I like anything...? *Grins evilly*
Yes, I actually did.
The conclusion of the story was realistic (even if it was about no-name horse instead of a Wonder special) and I shed a tear. And I did enjoy Champion beginning to behave (minus Cindy's inner dialogue about how wonderful she is and how much better a rider she is) and the recovery of Storm between races was interesting too.
Let's hope for more enjoyment and less annoy-ment next volume.
Cindy is the most arrogant character in the Thoroughbred series. I have never wanted to give up on a TB book and I would have, if I wasn't so damn determined to own and read the entire series, super editions and side series included.
This novel had two plots from two different horses: Storm and Wonder's Champion.
Storm, I do not remember from a previous read, even though I have read the previous in which he is bought. Anyway, he's not a Wonder born miracle, he's a bought sprinter. His plot revolves around trying to see if his potential would allow him to succeed at longer distances with No. Additional. Training. Yes. Let that skin in. He does NOT receive extra conditioning to go the extra miles what-so-ever.
However, this plot still would have been a more accurate description for the back of the novel and would have left the disease, which is plonked onto the last thirty pages, as a surprise for the reader.
Wonder's Champion's plot revolves around him being a spoilt brat. I can't really comment on why because I don't remember his training history. But the thing which made me nearly give up the novel was Cindy's insistence that she is the ONLY person who can ride Champion. If she doesn't ride him everyone will give up on him and he'll never race again. COME ON! What an arrogant piece of poo to think about yourself as a 13 year old girl who has only ever ridden two other (NICELY BEHAVED) race horses and has never raced them. Cindy, you are NOT a trainer, you are an exercise rider and groom. MAN! I wanted to take that kid down twenty pegs. I get that she's young and it's written for a younger audience but couldn't there have been a better way to show Cindy's immaturity that didn't make me want to heave the book out the window.
*Breathes deeply*
Karen Bentley (ghost writer) also quite disappointed me (is she a ghost writer when her name is also included, but Joanna Campbell is cited as the creator?) with her change of character of Ashleigh. Cindy is banned from riding Champion from her father because she injuries herself and Ashleigh knows she disobeys him but says NOTHING. Sure, maybe Ash thought Cindy had sought his permission, but I can't believe that Ash wouldn't have said anything in conversation to her HEAD TRAINER about a horse they have invested lots of money in and have just begun to train again.
Did I like anything...? *Grins evilly*
Yes, I actually did.
The conclusion of the story was realistic (even if it was about no-name horse instead of a Wonder special) and I shed a tear. And I did enjoy Champion beginning to behave (minus Cindy's inner dialogue about how wonderful she is and how much better a rider she is) and the recovery of Storm between races was interesting too.
Let's hope for more enjoyment and less annoy-ment next volume.
August 22, 2024
"Make it make sense." That's what the kids say these days. Normally, I can't stand that expression, but in the case of this series, it's apt.
Later on in the series, horse loving Cindy turns into horse hating Cindy. She also acts like a total lunatic. Granted, a highly functioning total lunatic, but still a total lunatic.
And I think that this is where her tiny little mind cracks in this book. She loses Storm to one of the (now) rarest equine diseases in America. Yes, the disease exists and there still is no cure. Any horse testing positive has to be destroyed. It is one of the cruel facts of life with horses. She just can't get over it, despite all of the other horses around her that she loves, including Wonder's Champion. I think this is when she learns that loving horses leads to heartbreak. However, she's addicted to riding. She later becomes a workaholic jockey that clearly does not like horses anymore. There are plenty of successful jockeys that don't like horses.
Although Cindy seems to comes to terms with her grief, she just shoves it away and tries to ignore it. This is a common coping mechanism. Sooner or later, that grief comes back to really mess you up. You're really not allowed to grieve on a Thoroughbred farm. There's just too much to do, and too many living animals demand your attention. Horses die seemingly every day on a farm. You get hardened to it ... or you leave horses forever.
This also might be why Cindy eventually broke up with Max, although this break up is never adequately explained. Max's mom is a vet, but she couldn't do anything to save Storm. This resentment could've lead to problems.
Yeah, I'm probably overthinking this stupid series, trying desperately to find some thread of logic in it. I was dumb enough to spend a lot of money buying the series, so I guess this might be one side of myself trying to justify the expense to the other side of myself.
Along with Storm's Ransom and Wonder's Champion, other horses mentioned in this book include Limitless Time, Alyba, significant competitor Satin Romance, Mr. Wonderful, and a listing of Whitebrook's stallion roster of six -- Jazzman, Blues King, Wonder's Pride, March to Glory, Maxwell, and Sadler's Station. The last two stallions have basically nothing to do in the series, although Sadler's Station does have a bit part in a much later book, when he is inexplicably sold. Wonder, Shining, and Fleet Goddess are mentioned, but don't play any significant parts. Christina and Kevin are still toddlers, waiting to hog the series' limelight later.
This book was ghostwriter by Karen Bently, who would be the only ghostwriter that Joanna Campbell (real nane Jo Ann Simon) liked. At least, she tried to keep up the series continuity, although not always successfully. She also knew a little about racing, and horse health, which was more than can be said of the ghostwriters that followed her tenure, with the notable exception of Jennifer Chu, who was (in my opinion) the best writer in the series.
And can we just take a lingering gander at the sweater Cindy is wearing on the cover? Of all the covers in the series, that sweater was the one thing that was most realistically done. Too bad none of the horses were given as much attention.
Later on in the series, horse loving Cindy turns into horse hating Cindy. She also acts like a total lunatic. Granted, a highly functioning total lunatic, but still a total lunatic.
And I think that this is where her tiny little mind cracks in this book. She loses Storm to one of the (now) rarest equine diseases in America. Yes, the disease exists and there still is no cure. Any horse testing positive has to be destroyed. It is one of the cruel facts of life with horses. She just can't get over it, despite all of the other horses around her that she loves, including Wonder's Champion. I think this is when she learns that loving horses leads to heartbreak. However, she's addicted to riding. She later becomes a workaholic jockey that clearly does not like horses anymore. There are plenty of successful jockeys that don't like horses.
Although Cindy seems to comes to terms with her grief, she just shoves it away and tries to ignore it. This is a common coping mechanism. Sooner or later, that grief comes back to really mess you up. You're really not allowed to grieve on a Thoroughbred farm. There's just too much to do, and too many living animals demand your attention. Horses die seemingly every day on a farm. You get hardened to it ... or you leave horses forever.
This also might be why Cindy eventually broke up with Max, although this break up is never adequately explained. Max's mom is a vet, but she couldn't do anything to save Storm. This resentment could've lead to problems.
Yeah, I'm probably overthinking this stupid series, trying desperately to find some thread of logic in it. I was dumb enough to spend a lot of money buying the series, so I guess this might be one side of myself trying to justify the expense to the other side of myself.
Along with Storm's Ransom and Wonder's Champion, other horses mentioned in this book include Limitless Time, Alyba, significant competitor Satin Romance, Mr. Wonderful, and a listing of Whitebrook's stallion roster of six -- Jazzman, Blues King, Wonder's Pride, March to Glory, Maxwell, and Sadler's Station. The last two stallions have basically nothing to do in the series, although Sadler's Station does have a bit part in a much later book, when he is inexplicably sold. Wonder, Shining, and Fleet Goddess are mentioned, but don't play any significant parts. Christina and Kevin are still toddlers, waiting to hog the series' limelight later.
This book was ghostwriter by Karen Bently, who would be the only ghostwriter that Joanna Campbell (real nane Jo Ann Simon) liked. At least, she tried to keep up the series continuity, although not always successfully. She also knew a little about racing, and horse health, which was more than can be said of the ghostwriters that followed her tenure, with the notable exception of Jennifer Chu, who was (in my opinion) the best writer in the series.
And can we just take a lingering gander at the sweater Cindy is wearing on the cover? Of all the covers in the series, that sweater was the one thing that was most realistically done. Too bad none of the horses were given as much attention.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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February 14, 2025This book made me cry in middle school. What do you mean the horse dies?!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2024
I can only keep this short and sweet, for it has been a number of years since I have read this book.
This was by far my favourite book when I was younger. It was so touching reading of Cindy's love for Storm's Ransom, a budding colt who no doubt was a born racehorse.
Even as I write this, I'm fighting back tears from the heartbreaking ending that I read all those years ago. To this day Joanna's adept way of writing the devastating end to Storm still affects me greatly. I remember when I read of his death, and I was so overcome with grief that I threw the book down and spent a good twenty minutes trying to regain control so I could finish the book.
An excellent read, even though it is very heartbreaking.
This was by far my favourite book when I was younger. It was so touching reading of Cindy's love for Storm's Ransom, a budding colt who no doubt was a born racehorse.
Even as I write this, I'm fighting back tears from the heartbreaking ending that I read all those years ago. To this day Joanna's adept way of writing the devastating end to Storm still affects me greatly. I remember when I read of his death, and I was so overcome with grief that I threw the book down and spent a good twenty minutes trying to regain control so I could finish the book.
An excellent read, even though it is very heartbreaking.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2017
I really loved this book. It really shows the bonds that can form between people and animals. The ending was very emotional and upsetting. Storm was very talented. Like Ashleigh had said “Storm was a brilliant star that flamed and quickly faded." I don’t think that there has been many books since Joanna Campbell wrote this series that have had this kind of excitement, sadness and emotion.
April 30, 2015
A great series for tweens that love horses and/or are interested in horseback riding or racing. Teaches about the struggles of working with animals and the benefits. Teaches young readers important life lessons in a way they can handle.
March 27, 2016
An interesting read about race horse breeding and training, with a sad but realistic ending. A young adult book will less detail than I like, and no natural horsemanship mention, so only a three star book for me.
October 6, 2008
This is my favorite of the Thoroughbred books!
October 20, 2011
Made my cry :(
July 15, 2012
Very sad book.
July 1, 2013
A good introduction to the devastation of infectious diseases with horses. More at
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March 3, 2014I love how there is a big twist at the end of the book with storm!
September 7, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. I normally don't cry when I read a book but this one made me cry
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