Thirteen-year-old Crissy Crosby, daughter of a poor Texas family can ride horses and rope with the best of them, She longs to win first prize, the silver buckle, but money is tight and training equipment scarce. Worse, the class bully, Jodie Lea Fairgate, also has her sights set on that same silver buckle. After the bully’s father fires Crissy’s daddy, hard times come to the Crosby household and their small stable of rodeo horses. Crissy must overcome many disasters, some natural, some contrived, and maybe the most difficult obstacle of all, her temper. Somehow Crissy must find her way around or through a classic bully to reach the prize, both the one she desperately wants and the one she needs.
In Roped, the Gates brings her readers into the world of horses, rodeos, black felt Stetson hats and modern day cowboys. With interesting characters, rich descriptions, and colorful dialogue a great bullying plot unfolds. But Roped is also a tale of faith, family, perseverance, and character growth as Crissy learns that life can be more complex and challenging than it seems—for her and her enemies alike. Nice humor and tension throughout, a fun read.
Age Range: 10 and up
Genre: Contemporary
Prism Book Group, 2015
Series: Book 1
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