By Maggie Stiefvater

Published: 2011

Word Count: 110,085

AR Level: 5.5

AR Points: 17.0

I suggest 7th through anyone

Why it’s relevant

Although it is a decade old, Scorpio Races has an atmospheric quality that is timeless. This is a story about a race, a romance, and a resilient girl, but it is so much more. Never has magical realism felt so authentic. Get ready for the ride of your life on horses that are truly fierce and sometimes frightening.

Why readers will love it

Puck Connolly is a heroine who definitely shows us the meaning of courage as she uses a dangerous race to fight for her family. She agrees to race her normal horse against the fierce and deadly water horses. On the other hand, Sean Kendrick is ready to win again on the horses he esteems so much. But they aren’t the only ones with horses in the race, so to speak, and the characters, motivations, goals, and storylines will keep readers highly involved.

What writers should know

This is a masterfully written book, but it balances depth with pacing in a way that is not often done so well. It takes time to understand each of the character’s wants and needs, and that is the beauty of the story, even as we feel the action rising to a nail-biting conclusion.

Check it out on Barnes and Noble.