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About The Perfect Distance: A Novel
Product Description Seventeen-year-old Francie Martinez rides with one of the best equitation trainers in the country, and works as a groom to pay her way. She’s dreamed of winning the Maclay finals, and now that it’s her last year to compete the pressure is really on. But just when Francie needs to focus more than ever, everything turns upside down, and soon she’s not so sure if winning is really all that important, much less the point. In this fast-paced coming-of-age story, brimming with fascinating details about the competitive horse world, Kim Ablon Whitney has drawn on her own experiences to create a backdrop perfect for Francie’s story as she tries to figure out who she wants to be and what really matters in life. From School Library Journal Grade 8 Up–Francie Martinez, 17, has the good fortune to work at the stables of one of the best equitation trainers in the country. Previous students have gone from firsts at the Maclay Finals in New York City to Olympic teams, and Francie dreams of following in those august footsteps. Her father, a Mexican immigrant, met her mother at these same stables and is now the head of all the grooms–though Mom left ages ago. Francie's acceptance as a student is not without peril, as Tara is being groomed for first-place wins and trainer Rob hardly pays Francie any attention at all. Her fellow students and her school friends bring all the modern-day pressures vividly to life, from pushy parents to alcohol, sex, and the privileges of the rich. In a sport filled with wealthy people, the teen has to make an extra effort to find her place and accept reality without giving up her dreams. The author rode in many similar equitation events, and currently acts as judge, which adds to the authenticity. As a result, the terminology is accurate, but assumes a familiarity on the part of readers. The plot involves romance and making ethically wise choices in all areas of life. While sometimes the many characters are cardboard, the story will have strong appeal to horse lovers who've grown beyond Joanna Campbell's Thoroughbred series (Morrow/Avon) and should satisfy demanding K. M. Peyton fans. –Carol A. Edwards, Douglas County Libraries, Castle Rock, CO Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From Booklist Gr. 7-10. "I knew how many Mexican riders and trainers there were in America. None." Francie Martinez's father works as barn manager at the prestigious West Hills Stables, and she pays for lessons by pulling groom duty in her spare time--a situation that sets her starkly apart from her well-scrubbed, privileged fellow riders. With one year remaining to compete in the teens' equitation circuit, Francie is determined to pour all her energy into winning big. Keeping focused proves difficult, though, when the year also brings a new romance, social pressures, and conflicts with her father. Whitney's probing of race and class issues feels a little too pointed, and some characterizations are too broadly drawn. But Whitney inhabits Francie's character wholly and convincingly and gets the universals of serious competition just right--any athlete will recognize the imperious, unfeeling coach; the snotty front-runner; and the unparalleled thrill of hitting the zone. For another lovable novel about a gutsy rider, try K. M. Peyton's Blind Beauty (2001). Jennifer Mattson Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved About the Author Kim Ablon Whitney is a full-time writer and part-time horse show judge who recently received her Masters of Fine Arts in creative writing from Emerson College. She lives with her husband, son, and greyhound in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
