Circle C Adventures

Title: Circle C Adventures
Author: Susan K. Marlow
Series: Circle C Adventures
Major Themes: California, Horses, Pioneer Life
Synopsis: This is a series of books about a young girl who is living and learning how to get along with people in California in the 1890s.

Circle C Adventures is a 6-book series for the 8–12-year-old girl who loves horses. The main character is Andi, who starred in Circle C Beginnings as well; she’s grown up a little more now. She is still full of life, however, and finds herself in trouble over and over. Now 12 years old, she rides her horse Taffy (which she was given in Andi’s Pony Trouble as a tiny colt) everywhere she can.

#1: Andrea Carter and the Long Ride Home begins with Andi’s forgetfulness getting her into trouble. She forgets to do her chores, and as a consequence is assigned more work. Allowing herself to be distracted from that job gets her into danger and worse trouble, so she jumps on her horse and runs away. Bad move—suddenly she is in even more danger and realizing that her family is just trying to help her and protect her because they love her. Will she ever be able to go back home?

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#2: Andrea Carter and the Dangerous Decision begins with an impromptu horse race—right down the middle of the main street of Fresno! Bad idea, especially when she almost runs down the new teacher, who then carries a grudge against her. Andi has a lot to learn about forgiveness and obedience, as well as laying her life down for others.

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#3: Andrea Carter and the Family Secret. Andi and her friend Cory find a man in trouble in a remote part of the ranch, and help him out, but keep his presence a secret. The same day, when Andi arrives home, she suddenly learns about her family’s secret, which has been kept from her all her life. She is very upset about the woman and three unruly children who have suddenly showed up at the ranch. When she finds herself and the children in grave danger, will she be able to get them out of it?

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#4: Andrea Carter and the San Francisco Smugglers begins with a flood in Fresno, which causes Andi’s family to send her to live with Aunt Rebecca for a couple of months to go to boarding school. She finds herself involved with a Chinese slave girl, and then in great danger when she tries to help the girl.

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#5: Andrea Carter and the Trouble With Treasure finds Andi and her friend from boarding school ready to take off into the mountains with Andi’s brother for a wonderful two-week camping trip. Another friend, Cory, is planning to pan gold and make his fortune. Unforeseen events take place, however, which change their plans. When danger threatens, will they find a way out?

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I have not read the sixth book, Andrea Carter and the Price of Truth.

I appreciated, through all of these books, that even though Andi’s impulsiveness gets her in trouble she learns lessons about obeying her mother and older brothers and listening to their advice and instructions. Gradually, through the series, she grows up and takes more responsibility for her actions. All through these books, she also learns about relying on God, although that is a more minor aspect of the story line. For girls who are voracious readers and love horse stories, and need good clean books, this series would be a good fit. My 12-year-old son enjoyed them, too; he read all five books in a week or so.

WARNING: The word “golly” is used twice in Dangerous Decision. Once is in chapter two, but I failed to make a note of the other. There is also violence in most of the books. In #1, Andi is kidnapped. In #2, she is kidnapped again, and shot in the head (just grazed). In #3, she and three little children are kidnapped. In #4, she is captured and threatened with being sold as a slave in China. In #4, her big brother is shot in the leg and shoots another man.