Children’s Book Review: “Cassie and Jasper to the Rescue” (Juv. Fiction)

To Cassie, in Cassie and Jasper to the Rescue by Bryn Fleming, school felt like a “giant rock crushing the breath out of her.” She knew that school wouldn’t do anything to prepare her for her future life as a rancher. Cassie loved nothing better than to ride her horse Rowdy and feel one with the wind and the trails. Jasper, a boy in her class, tells her about an abused horse that needs rescuing. The two plan to release the horse and keep him in an abandoned barn. They don’t tell their parents about their scheme but manage to get permission to sleep outdoors which will give them the opportunity to rescue the horse. That is, until Cassie’s teacher calls her father and tells him about Cassie’s bad behavior and poor work in school. Cassie is grounded. But Cassie goes out that night anyway because she knows the horse needs her. What she didn’t expect was to find the evil owner of the horse chasing her. Read this exciting story to follow Cassie’s scary adventure.

Portland, Oregon: Westwind Press [2014]. Reviewed by Lillian Hecker, Children’s Services Librarian. For children ages 8 and older.