STAR DREAM by Janet Lambert

Okay, I am not going to lie, this looked super-horsey to me and I almost stopped in my tracks and didn't go on. But I have to say that Dria Meredith is a lovely character. She is capable, friendly, a good sport and hard working - just like all of Lambert's protagonists. And her defining characteristic is a love of horses and old people. Typical teen. 

The premise is that Dria's dad is estranged from his mother. She was widowed young and took over her husband's business and made it a huge success but was angry when her son decided not to take over, but went off to live his own life in the newspaper business. But when Dria's mom needs to go to the Mayos for health reasons that are, in true Lambert fashion, pretty vague, Dria is to spend the summer with the old battle-axe. 

There is also Aunt Emily who is a spoiled brat and her daughter Camilla Lou who is one of Lambert's patented shallow/snotty girls. But there is also Gran, who is lovely. And it is Gran's farm so her word is law even though Mama (Dria's grandmother makes everyone call her Mama so she doesn't feel as old) thinks the world is hers. 

And then there is Star Dream. He is a horse. Dria falls in love with him. And there is Chad. He is a farm-helper, friend of the family. He loves Dria. But it will be AGES before that comes out...

Dria helps everyone get along and in the end Gran decides to let Emily and Camilla Lou paddle their own canoe (with Mama providing the paddles, metaphorically) and moves in with Dria's family. And she gives Dria the horse. 

You may notice that this is a much shorter post than usual. I am not note-taking in as detailed a fashion because it was taking me AGES to get through the books. And I really want to move along. Hence the shorter posts.