Book Review: Bubba Goes National

Thirteen-year-old Leslie Clark, the main character, works at a local equestrian center to pay off her own horseback riding lessons and dreams of owning a horse one day. Helen Green, the owner and trainer at Green Meadow Stables, serves as both mentor and a maternal figure to the young teen.

Eventually, Leslie is able to purchase a purebred (and registered) Arabian gelding at a farm auction. Leslie works daily with her new mount Lucky (tagged Bubba by Leslie's widowed father, Dan Clark) to prepare him for the horse show ring. Together they pursue their dream of reaching the Arabian Youth National Championships.

The author injects plenty of colorful and authentic detail into Bubba Goes National, displaying her own firsthand equestrian experience and expertise. As the 240-page story progresses, readers gain insights into horse care and grooming, horse show competitions, adolescent shenanigans and a girl's first love.

Bubba Goes National, by Jennifer Walker, is targeted at preteen readers, but the story is likely to attract horse-loving readers of every demographic.

Reviewers have lauded Jennifer Walker's debut novel. "Bubba Goes National is a sweet story," writes Michelle Devon (of Accentuate Services), "but it also tackles some of the more difficult issues teens have to deal with these days, such as: death of a parent, competitive rivalry, overcoming tough obstacles, and working hard to earn something. It's a story any teen girl who has ever dreamed of having her own horse will want to read, and horse-loving grownup girls will too!"

Bubba Goes National includes several drawings by illustrator Debra Torrico, who also created the cover art for the book. Bubba Goes National is the first in a series of horse novels for preteens by Jennifer Walker, titled The Green Meadows Series.

AC writer Jennifer Walker's first novel, Bubba Goes National, will be available for purchase (for $12.95) in January from Windswept Destiny Publishing. The book may also be ordered from Amazon and Ingrams Book Company.

About the Author: Jennifer Walker

Horse lover Jennifer Walker is the author of Bubba Goes National and Budget Horse-Keeping for the New Horse Owner. Her articles have appeared in Arabian Horse Times, Horseman's News, Modern Arabian Horse and Sierra Style. Jennifer Walker has published short stories in Elements of the Soul and The Ultimate Horse Lover. Sacramento Equestrian Examiner Jennifer Walker writes for Associated Content and several other online news sites.

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