From the treacherous mountain trails of the Pony Express, to the vast prairies of America where pioneers first settled...The "Saddle the Wind" series will sweep readers back through history on an unforgettable journey. They will meet very special heroines from different times and cultures, with two things in common: a great love of horses, and a unique brand of courage. Fourteen-year-old Jacquetta May lives on a cotton plantation in Mississippi in 1863. Her father is a breeder of Morgan horses who, like most landowners in the southern states, uses black slaves. When Union soldiers attack her family's home and take it over as a temporary hospital, Jacquetta's family flees further south. But Jacquetta sneaks back to the farm to rescue her favourite horse, a beautiful bay called Chance. In the barn, Jacquetta is discovered by Peace, a young slave who loves horses almost as much as she does, and the two girls become friends. To save the Morgans from a life of battle, they decide to secretly move them into Louisiana, where Jacquetta's family is waiting. Their journey is full of peril, as vicious battles between North and South rage along the way. "Chance of a Lifetime" is a thrilling ride, set in one of the most dramatic points of American history. Pony-mad readers will identify with the special bond between brave Jacquetta and her beloved Chance.

 

This book is part of a book series called Saddle the Wind .

There are 192 pages in this book. This book was published 2005 by Pan Macmillan .

Deborah Kent's first young adult novel, Belonging, was published in 1978 by Dial. Since then, she has written 18 young adult novels and over 50 children's non-fiction titles, mainly on topics of American history. Educated at Oberlin College and Smith College, Deborah was a social worker for several years before moving to Mexico and becoming a writer. Today she lives in Chicago with her daughter and husband, the children's author R. Conrad Stein.