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Horses of the Maury River Stables #2
Macadoo of the Maury River
A sequel to Chancey of the Maury River, this heart-tugging story focuses on Macadoo — the gentle giant of the Maury River Stables.
When Macadoo is just a colt, he challenges his father — a huge Belgian stallion — in order to protect his dam. From that moment on, Mac knows that his purpose in life is to help others. From surviving a kill auction to learning how to be a vaulting horse to giving therapeutic riding lessons, Mac is always patient and never loses hope in his mission to serve others — and he finds the courage to "walk on" through even the most difficult circumstances. Told with insight and compassion from Macadoo’s point of view, this is a story that all horse lovers will cherish.
When Macadoo is just a colt, he challenges his father — a huge Belgian stallion — in order to protect his dam. From that moment on, Mac knows that his purpose in life is to help others. From surviving a kill auction to learning how to be a vaulting horse to giving therapeutic riding lessons, Mac is always patient and never loses hope in his mission to serve others — and he finds the courage to "walk on" through even the most difficult circumstances. Told with insight and compassion from Macadoo’s point of view, this is a story that all horse lovers will cherish.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published August 6, 2013
6 people are currently reading
328 people want to read
About the author
Gigi Amateau
9books44followersGigi Amateau was born in northeastern Mississippi and raised in Mechanicsville, Virginia, just outside of Richmond. Her first young adult novel, Claiming Georgia Tate (Candlewick Press, 2005), described as “a moving first offering” by School Library Journal, was selected as a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age, Voice of Youth Advocates Review Editor’s Choice, and a Book Sense Summer Pick. It was also nominated for the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance Children’s Book Award and the American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults list.
Among other upcoming titles, Chancey of the Maury River will be published by Candlewick Press in May 2008.
Among other upcoming titles, Chancey of the Maury River will be published by Candlewick Press in May 2008.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 26, 2014
I was happy to win this Advance Reading Copy from LibraryThing. This was an interesting and engaging book told from the horse's, Macadoo's, point of view. Macadoo learned true character and destiny as he grew up and discovered his purpose in life. Macadoo learned to set aside his own unhappiness in order to make others happy. He served others and developed lasting friendships. Through Macadoo, kids will learn that no matter what circumstances they are in, that they have a destiny in life to fulfill. They will learn that no matter what they are told by others, that they matter. They will learn that when people they love leave, they will come back and be remembered. These themes are prevalent through this story and are encouraging themes for kids and people of all ages.
December 28, 2023
I'm a sucker for a horse book, what can I say? This is essentially an autobiography of a horse through which the author teaches fundamental lessons about horses and people to the reader within the narrative. It is written at a middle school reading level and is, therefore, an easy read. I don't imagine that non-horsey people would find it interesting, but it is a delight to a horse-girl. I especially appreciated the constant use of appropriate horse terms. Whether parts of the horse or equipment the author used the proper horsey vocabulary without dumbing it down, as horse books written for a younger audience tend to do. In short, it made me happy.
July 23, 2017
I really love the story and I thought it was really sweet. It was a little slow but I got pulled in.
The series is really well written and I love the author.
The series is really well written and I love the author.
January 31, 2021
Enjoyed this one.
November 29, 2021
A sweet little story about the young life of a Belgian horse told as only a horse can
March 23, 2025
An earnest tail of a draft horse who learns what it is to serve and love freely
July 8, 2014
Lovely modern day version of the archetypal Black Beauty story: horse narrates his life as he is sold to a series of owners and makes friends along the way, learns lessons. In this case, Macadoo is a Belgian draft horse, which is a different and interesting choice for a horse story. His mother imparts lessons to him about his breed, that they were important for humans, used in clearing land and doing all sorts of work; and that his job will always be to be strong and to heal people. Yes, the story is a little heartstring-pulling and dare I say schmaltzy, but really nice. Macadoo suffers the heartbreaking first separation from his mother, and then another separation years later from the boy he has grown to love; but he also learns to stay true to his calling and love every new child who comes to care for him or to ride him. And there's a lovely happy ending. I enjoyed learning a little more about vaulting (the sport of doing gymnastics tricks while on the back of a horse running around in a circle!) and therapeutic riding stables. I liked the mules he befriends, Job and Molly, too. My only quibble, and what kept me from giving it five stars, was that the horses were pretty much all-knowing; they all understood their humans perfectly, so they were always aware of what was going to happen to them. Mac's mom knew what an auction was and knew of the historic importance of Belgians; Mac learns to recognize the constellations in the night sky! As in, their real names, not some horse-idea of the constellations. But maybe I am being too cynical. I know as a 13-year old I would have eaten this book up, and I enjoyed being able to hand it to one of my library teens as her summer reading prize recently. I would read the other book in the series, Chancey of Maury River, too. I received an Early Reviewer advance reading copy of this book from LibraryThing in exchange for my (belated) review.
November 2, 2014
Just coming off a film festival from a titled film, Red Lines, about the left behind affairs of Syria, amid, much death, destruction, and forgotten behind a cruel dictator - what does that have to do with Amateau's story of Macadoo?
""The world needs us now more than ever to bring a gentle peace. Together, side by side, as we have for centuries" (179). If you are observant enough, and take in the gentlest and deepest lines of this story, you will see this story is not just about Macadoo the beautiful Belgian. It is about compassion, commitment, desire, and dreams. So strong are the memories when I was lucky enough to lead students in need of emotional, physical, and mental repair on sloping hills with the gentlest of horses, this story brings it all back. In no way, shape, or form can riding a horse be represented in any other way with the wind, the woods, and the air at your very beckon and call, but can be shared is a sense of compassion that is found in these pages. Gigi Amateau captures the beauty of so many things around Macadoo and manages to bring together the sense of healing that also results. This truly is an uplifting read!
""The world needs us now more than ever to bring a gentle peace. Together, side by side, as we have for centuries" (179). If you are observant enough, and take in the gentlest and deepest lines of this story, you will see this story is not just about Macadoo the beautiful Belgian. It is about compassion, commitment, desire, and dreams. So strong are the memories when I was lucky enough to lead students in need of emotional, physical, and mental repair on sloping hills with the gentlest of horses, this story brings it all back. In no way, shape, or form can riding a horse be represented in any other way with the wind, the woods, and the air at your very beckon and call, but can be shared is a sense of compassion that is found in these pages. Gigi Amateau captures the beauty of so many things around Macadoo and manages to bring together the sense of healing that also results. This truly is an uplifting read!
December 7, 2013
Macadoo of the Maury River is a sequel to one of my favorite horse books, Chancey of the Maury River. Macadoo's story can stand on it's own, but if you haven't read Chancey, I highly recommend it. Macadoo is for ages 8-12 and a story the entire family can enjoy. It's told through Macadoo's point of view in the tradition of Black Beauty, The One and Only Ivan and Chancey. The author does a terrific job weaving the story of a Belgian colt who escapes being sold for horse meat in a kill auction to a beloved member of the Maury River Stables. Many children and adults will identify with the kind, saintly horse souls in many of the "school horse" type stables. Macadoo survives overcoming obstacles and flourishes as he not only gives love but learns to accept it as well. Another heartfelt, warm, memorial book from a masterful storyteller.
July 25, 2013
I liked this book however I found it very sad, especially at the beginning. What happens to horses no one wants makes me sick to the heart.
This is the story of a young Belgian colt, his trials and how he learns his place in life, to help, heal and mend people. The old saying that the outside of a horse is good for the inside of a person is true. Ultimately this book tries to teach us not to dwell on our losses but to look toward the future. When one light goes out another one come on. No greater way to heal a heart than to give it to a horse.
This is the story of a young Belgian colt, his trials and how he learns his place in life, to help, heal and mend people. The old saying that the outside of a horse is good for the inside of a person is true. Ultimately this book tries to teach us not to dwell on our losses but to look toward the future. When one light goes out another one come on. No greater way to heal a heart than to give it to a horse.
June 17, 2013
I loved this book. The story is about a young Belgian horse whose journey though his young life is full of heart breaks and life lessons and well as good friends. You find yourself hoping the next fate this horse encounters will be the way your heart wants it to turn out. The book is written for 8-12 yr olds and tells the story from the horses point of view. It is very good and will bring some awareness to the trials of life these young kids in the story go through.
November 11, 2013
I learned a lot about horses from this story, spoiler alert, horses are raised and used for many reasons. That being said, this is a beautiful story full of the sadness of separations and the sweetness of the love that can be found all around us. I like that the author writes about places familiar to me because I live in Virginia such as the Maury River & the Lexington riding center. Macadoo and his horse friends are as great to get to know as the human characters. This story touched my heart.
September 6, 2014
I enjoyed reading a story from a horse's POV. The author took me on a journey through the life of a Belgian and I learned a lot about the breed's capabilities. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in therapy horses and what it takes to be one.
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July 2, 2016690L
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
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