The Georges and the Jewels Audiobook By Jane Smiley cover art

The Georges and the Jewels

Horses of Oak Valley Ranch, Book 1

 Preview

Get 30 days of Standard free

Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 30-day trial. Cancel anytime
Try for $0.00
More purchase options
Buy for $17.61

Buy for $17.61

A Pulitzer Prize winner makes her debut for young listeners. Abby Lovitt has been riding horses for as long as she can remember, but Daddy hasn't let her name a single one. He calls all their geldings George and their mares Jewel and warns her not to get attached. The horses are there on the ranch to be sold, plain and simple. But with all the stress at school (the Big Four - Linda, Mary A., Mary N., Joan - have turned against her) and home (nothing feels right with her brother, Danny, gone), Abby can't help but seek comfort in the Georges and the Jewels, who greet her every day with soft nickers. Except for one: the horse who won't meet her gaze, the horse who bucks her off, the horse Daddy insists she ride and train. Abby knows not to cross her father, but she knows, too, that she can't get back on Ornery George. And suddenly the horses seem like no refuge at all.

From Pulitzer Prize winner Jane Smiley comes an emotionally charged and action-filled novel for young listeners, set in the vibrant landscape of 1960s California horse country.

©2009 Jane Smiley (P)2014 Recorded Books Growing Up & Facts of Life Family Life Fiction Growing Up Social & Life Skills Horses Literature & Fiction Animal Fiction Historical Fiction Animals Animals & Nature
Engaging Writing • Accurate Information • Realistic Storytelling • Cohesive Story • Accessible Fiction

Highly rated for:

All stars
Most relevant
loved listening to this. I'm a truck driver and it helped me through a couple of long nights. even my Co driver loved it .

Horse stories

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is the best youth (or juvenile) fiction series on horses I have encountered. A lot of other series on the market are sort of slop that is cranked out. Smiley's writing here, perhaps no surprise, considering her previous works, is as superb, thoughtful, and compelling as it is in her fiction books for adults. The characters' voice are so authentic and both tween and adult can identify with Abby's inner monologues. The fiction is accessible but *nothing* is "dumbed down." I expected this series to be "fun" and "light," but it is just as well-written as Smiley's other work. It also communicates a lot of "natural horsemanship" approach information, though not identified as such. And there is even a featured Monty Roberts-esque "join up" moment. The horse information is accurate, which is no surprise, since Smiley is a lifelong, respected horsewoman. I loved book 1 and burned through it. I cannot wait for book 2. This is such great quality writing to expose girls to, but moms will love it as well. I would rank this along side something like _A Tree Grows in Brooklyn_ or The Witch of Blackbird Pond_. It is that well done.

Wow! Head & Shoulders Above Any Horse Youth Series

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Okay so I don’t really like horses. But right away this book pulled me in and when I finish this book I think I will become a major horse girl! This was such a good find definitely get this is you love horses or want to get into loving them. This is 100% the right choice for you! I don’t really like horses and I am starting to like them them because this book






Great find! I mean it

I love it so dang much!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A very nice story told in the first person very realistically by a straight up thirteen year old girl. The horse angle is equally well told and satisfying for us horse lovers of any age.

Georges and Jewels

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
It is really written for a teen girl audience, but the focus is on the girl's life with the horses on her family farm. The horsemanship is solid & the characters are well-crafted if not always likable. That's life. The audible performance was good, very appropriate to the character voicing the story.

Thoroughly enjoyed it

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews