Books with author Mary O'mara

The first time that ken McLaughlin sees Flicka galloping past him on his family's Wyoming horse ranch, he knows she's the yearling he's been longing for. But Flicka comes from a long line of wild horses, and taming her will take more than Ken could ever have imagined. Soon, Ken is faced with an impossible choice: give up on his beautiful horse, or risk his life to fight for her.

The classic story of an aimless teenager, a demanding father, and aspirited horse -- now a major motion picture from Twentieth Century Fox A daydreamer and a time waster, young Ken McLaughlin spends his days on his family's Wyoming ranch with his head in the clouds, surrounded by endless blue skies, wide-open spaces, and beautiful horses. To his brusque, practical father, the boy is an enigma and a disappointment. Then one day, Ken's life is filled with new purpose when he finds Flicka, a magnificent filly as wild as she is fast. Though the strong bond between boy and horse only fuels his father's disdain, Ken's growing love for his friend Flicka is changing him -- leading a once-aimless young man down the path to responsible adulthood, forging a new respect and understanding between father and son, and inspiring a fierce loyalty that nearly costs Ken his life.

This Peoples Book Club edition has some terrific color endpapers by Paul Laune, and a double page color illustration for the title pages. This is the final novel of the My Friend Flicka trilogy. In this story, Thunderhead, Ken's wild white stallion, has escaped his remote mountain valley and is stealing mares from the Wyoming ranchers. In his band of stolen mares is Crown Jewel, a valuable racing filly. Ken's search for Thunderhead and Crown Jewel takes him through three states. And, for the first time in his life, Ken finds a challenge to his loyalty and fierce affection for his horses. Crown Jewel belongs to young Carey Marsh. With the fates of their horses bound together, it is natural that she and Ken should see a great deal of each other. Before he realizes it, Ken McLaughlin loses his heart to Crown Jewel's captivating mistress.