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The popularity of the horse series attests to the love affair between girls and horses. Alison Bell reads with enthusiasm as Shelby hatches a plan to swap her beloved but ugly pony, Blue, for a mount more fitting to her riding skills. While Bell's Australian accent is true to the story's setting, her careful enunciation makes her words accessible to the American listener. The musical transitions at the start and end of each disc are jarring and add nothing to the listening experience, but Bell's reading is engaging. Young listeners will experience the danger and excitement when Shelby discovers she's been duped and tries to get her pony back. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 06/ JAN 07]