Racing Savannah by Miranda Kenneally Review

Racing Savannah
By Miranda Kenneally
Publication Date: December 3, 2013
ISBN: 9781402284762
Reviewed from: an ARC provided by Sourcebooks Fire—Thank You!! 

Purchase Notes:

• I purchased a copy for myself
• I purchased a copy for my library's collection

Story Synopsis from GoodReads:

They’re from two different worlds.

He lives in the estate house, and she spends most of her time in the stables helping her father train horses. In fact, Savannah has always been much more comfortable around horses than boys. Especially boys like Jack Goodwin—cocky, popular and completely out of her league. She knows the rules: no mixing between the staff and the Goodwin family. But Jack has no such boundaries.

With her dream of becoming a horse jockey, Savannah isn’t exactly one to follow the rules either. She’s not going to let someone tell her a girl isn’t tough enough to race. Sure, it’s dangerous. Then again, so is dating Jack…




My Thoughts:

Ms. Kenneally's writing is simply superb. She gripes me from the first page and does not let me go until the last word has been read. Her characters development, pacing, conversation, wit and humor just have me coming back to her books time and time again.

Before coming to Goodwin Farms, Savannah really seemed like she was just going through the motions of life. She knew she wanted to work with horses—that is her passion and she is good at it. She never thought of college nor rising above her situation in life. Jack and the Goodwins challenge her to consider more—why can she not go to college? Why does she have to stay in the same life as she has always known? No matter what lot in life you have been dealt in life, I think this is a powerful message that all readers can take from heart.

What I enjoy so much about her books is she is not afraid to tackle sensitive topics such as socioeconomic dynamics. Her candor discussion in the acknowledgements about her own dealings with her own feelings of inadequacy as a child because she did not have the right labels as a child resonate so much with my own as well. Perhaps that is why Savannah’s story really struck a chord with me this time. To be able to get a reader to reflect and consider without demeaning or preaching is a delicate balance that Ms. Kenneally does well.


Readers’ Advisory Notes:

• Genre: Young Adult; Contemporary; Realistic
• Series Fans: Hundred Oaks Book Four
• Themes: socioeconomic status; accepting yourself; first love; first experiences
• Content Concerns: partying with underage drinking; first sexual situations and experiences

My Final Thoughts:

Just like Savannah is addicted to candy—I am addicted to Miranda Kenneally’s books! She has solidified her spot on my favorite authors list.