Miranda and Starlight

By Janet Muirhead Hill

Miranda Stevens thinks that if she had a horse of her own, it wouldn't matter that she has to live with her grandparents and go to a school where she has no friends. She impulsively accepts a dare to ride an unbridled horse in a nearby field. The dire consequence of that action begins a chain of advenures that test her courage, spawns unexpected frinedships, and teach lessons in honesty and trust.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Raven Publishing of Montana
• Release date: Jan 13, 2010
• ISBN: 9780982089347

Janet Muirhead Hill

Janet Muirhead Hill is the author of thirteen published novels for children ages 8-18. She co-authored curriculum units to adapt the novels for use in classrooms and home schools.Hill has presented many writing and publishing workshops across the state and in Colorado and Oregon. She is available to present workshops to fit one, two, three, four, or five days of instruction depending on the needs and time schedules of her sponsors and students. She has conducted many one-day school visits in Montana and Colorado, and has plans for longer residencies. She wrote and published comprehensive workbooks for use with her three, four, and five-day writing workshops. She is listed in the Artist's Registry of the Montana Arts Council.Her published children’s and young adult novels include the award-winning Miranda and Starlight series of eight (soon to be nine) books, Danny’s Dragon, a Story of Wartime Loss, winner of the Eric Hoffer Award, and a trilogy about twins, separated at a young age and searching for each other. Kyleah’s Tree, a finalist for both the High Plains Book Award and USA Book News, Best Book Award, is the the girl twin's story. It's companion novel, Kendall's Storm, silver medal winner of the Moonbeam Award, is the boy twin's story. Kendall and Kyleah, is the third book of the series completes their story. Her book, Call Me Captain has been renamed, The Body in the Freezer, and is a story about a 13-year-old rich kid who is both smart, and smart-mouthed searching for his place in the world—and finding when forced to "volunteer" in a homeless shelter.Hill calls the writing she does “true fiction,” because, she says, “My goal is to tell the truth about the human experience, its dilemmas, natural responses, and emotions through fictional characters; characters children relate to; characters who will help them better understand themselves, giving them comfort and encouragement in their own lives.”Ms. Hill spends much of her free time enjoying the outdoors, her horses, and most of all her family, which includes eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. She writes and publishes from her home office in rural Montana near the Madison River.

Book preview

Critical Acclaim for Miranda and Starlight

This is an American story of the great outdoors, of following the wisdom of the heart, of wanting love, and living the great American dream (whatever it happens to be). A lovely portrayal of youth and hopes and the high-spirited joy of love. -- The Book Reader, America’s Most Independent Review of New Titles

Miranda Stevens is a lonely fifth grader who feels that if she only had a horse of her own everything else in her life would be okay. Then in response to a dare by Chris, a boy who has a habit of bullying others, she mounts a beautiful black horse named Starlight who is pastured in a field just beyond the schoolyard fence and begins a wonderful adventure of scrapes, narrow escapes and quandaries that teach Miranda life lessons in honesty, trust and courage. …A charming and highly recommended story for young readers. -- Children’s Bookwatch; The Midwest Book Review

"Dear Ms. Hill, I read your book Miranda and Starlight and I really enjoyed it. It was full of life. I felt like I was there watching it all happen. I can’t wait to read Starlight’s Courage." -- Jessica Wilson, age 8, Massachusetts

"Dear Mrs. Hill, Before I read Miranda and Starlight, I hated reading. Your books have changed my life. Last night, I read Starlight’s Shooting Star for three hours and it felt like five minutes." -- Katherine Wade, age 11, Dallas Texas.

This is more than a mere horse story. It is a journey of courage and consequences for younger juvenile readers. My own children will read this story. -- Writers Notes Magazine on presenting the Notable Award for young adult fiction to Miranda and Starlight

All horse lovers will relate to this joyful story of a spunky young girl’s journey with the horse of her dreams. The main character, Miranda Stevens, inspires young readers as she discovers the importance of faith, friendship, and integrity. It’s about a girl named Miranda who’s sent to live with her grandparents and attend a new school. A big bully dares Miranda to ride a beautiful horse in a field near school, and it sends her on an adventure where she learns about honesty and makes new friends. I see a lot of myself in Miranda, because we both love horses and caring for them. -- Nicolle Caraway, age 13, Colorado, Young Horseman section of Western Horseman, August 2004

"Miranda Stevens had been sent to live with her grandparents.…At school she felt left out and alone—the only girl in her class who did not own a horse. Miranda was sure that if she only had a horse of her own nothing else would matter. Then a new girl, Laurie Langley, came to the school. While still getting to know each other, they met Christopher Bergman. When Christopher dared Miranda to ride the most beautiful horse she had ever seen, she never hesitated. That dare began a series of adventures for the three friends.

The adventures of Miranda will keep young readers glued to the book as they learn lessons of honesty and loyalty. Highly Recommended Series! -- Detra Fitch, Huntress Reviews

Miranda and Starlight

by

Janet Muirhead Hill

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2009 Janet Muirhead Hill

Cover Illustration Copyright 2002 Pat Lehmkuhl

Print edition copyrights: 2002 and 2003

The excerpt from the poem, The Horse,

© Ronald Duncan Literary Foundation, is used by permission.

Published by:

Raven Publishing, Inc

PO Box 2866

Norris, Montana

www.ravenpublishing.net

E-mail: [e-mail]

Publishers note: This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and events are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to any person, place, or event is coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this book, text or illustrations, may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Dedicated to Jayme Schaak

who asked,

Grandma, will you tell me a story about a horse?

The Horse

Nobility without pride,

Friendship without envy…Beauty without vanity…

Ronald Duncan

Chapter One

Ten-year-old Miranda Stevens peered into the classroom, her heart pounding as her stomach did cartwheels. She didn’t feel ready to face a new teacher and the same snobby kids who had ridiculed her when she came to Country View School last April. The summer had been lonely, but anything was better than coming back to this school on the first day of fifth grade.

She tried to calm her pounding heart and slow her breathing by taking a minute to assess her new surroundings. The teacher had arranged the desks into groups of four, two side by side, facing the other two. It made sort of a table with two people to a side. She’d heard teachers call them Quad Pods. There were only three pods, two in the back half of the room, and one in the front next to a circular table with twelve chairs around it.

Four boys had already claimed one of the back pods. Miranda wanted to leave when she saw Lisa and Kimberly rush to claim the remaining pod along the back wall. Miranda felt her body stiffen. A new girl was about to sit at their pod.

Oh, that seat’s saved! Lisa exclaimed. There are four of us. We always sit together.

But I got here first, the new girl countered.

So? Kimberly sneered. I just told you we need all four seats. There’re three empty ones over there.

The new girl shrugged, picked up her backpack, and moved to the pod near the door. She sat with her back to Miranda, across from a boy who was so engrossed in a book he didn’t even look up.

I bet she feels as out of place as I did when I came here last spring, thought Miranda. Those snooty girls hate new kids in their class.

You gonna stand there all day? roared a familiar voice behind her. Either go in or get out of my way!

A shove sent Miranda stumbling into the room. She slipped into the seat next to the new girl. The only place left for the boy who shoved her, Christopher Bergman, the class bully, was across from Miranda. She wanted to scream. In the two months Miranda had come to this school before summer vacation, Chris had constantly teased and tormented her. That might not have been so bad if she had a friend, but the other boys ignored her, and the Magnificent Four, as she sarcastically called Lisa and her gang, made it perfectly clear that she was not welcome. They loved to brag about their private riding club, always adding, It’s too bad you can’t ride.

If I just had a horse of my own, Miranda thought, I’d show them I can ride better than they can.

As the teacher passed out books to each student, Miranda stole a shy glance at the girl next to her. All she could see were the lovely curls that hung in waves to the desk top as the girl looked down at her own books. On a scrap of paper, Miranda scribbled, Hi, I’m Miranda Stevens, what’s your name?

She slipped it past the curtain of dark brown hair and waited. Delicate fingers pulled the note out of sight.

This book, Mrs. Penrose, the teacher, said, holding a small book aloft, will be our first reading book. We will read several novels throughout the year, and discuss them together.

Miranda picked up the book, Julie of the Wolves, from the pile on her desk. From the cover, an Eskimo girl stared straight at her, looking as lonely as Miranda felt. Miranda opened the book. A nudge to her elbow sent the book flying. Before she could pick it up, the new girl pressed a note into her hand. Miranda retrieved her book and spread the note open inside it.

I’m Laurie Langley. Do you want to come to my house after school? it said.

Miranda met her seatmate’s soft brown eyes and smiled. A dimple flashed in Laurie’s cheeks as she smiled back.

At recess, Miranda called her grandma to ask if she could go to Laurie’s house after school. She hung up, shaking her head.

I can’t today. Grandma said Mom’s going to call tonight to ask about my first day of school.

Miranda led Laurie to the swings and claimed two empty ones.

Where is your mother? Laurie looked puzzled. Did your grandma come to baby sit while she’s gone?

Miranda drew a deep breath. Here we go again, she thought. She hated explaining her family situation to people.

Mom’s in California, Miranda began. I’m living with my grandparents until she sends for me.

California! That’s a long way away. Has it been long since you’ve seen her?

"It seems like it. I wish it could be like it was before she went to California. We both lived here with Grandma and Grandpa. While I was there, I missed the farm and my grandparents. Since I’ve come back here, I miss her.

Will you go back to California?

"Maybe. Mom was a model for a while. I had a nanny while she worked. When she lost her job she sent