Review of One Out and Won Back

[Megan Gilligan]

[Following is a volunteer review of "One Out and Won Back" by Arnold van der Vegt.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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One Out and Won Back by Arnold van der Vegt is a very intriguing young adult novel. The preface sets the scene for the reader, establishing that the main characters, Jeremy and Melissa, are spending their holiday with their uncle at his farm while their father deals with some personal demons. They feel unwanted right away, but also feel a need to defend their uncle from the townsfolk based on an incident involving a harness horse.

You really start to feel for the characters within the first chapter. Jeremy is experiencing grief with the death of his mother, the intense changes with his father, protecting his sister, and dealing with bullying from his peers.

It is a very fast-paced and action-packed book. When getting picked up from the train by their uncle, the kids return to the farm to witness the birth of a foal. With that intense event, it almost set up a clean slate for Jeremy and Melissa.

Each chapter is accompanied by an illustration related to the story. The illustrations were simple black and white, but were very enchanting. The illustrations are a great tool for younger readers to help with the comprehension of the book.

This book is great for younger readers who enjoy mysteries, especially ones that deal with families. I think it would be a perfect read for students in 5th or 6th grade. Readers might also want to read this if they have an interest in harness racing. The chapters were short, which is great for younger readers. Readers should also note that some words are spelled with British English and not American English. The book was well edited and had minimal questionable language. It also did not contain any sexual content. The only disclaimer I would make would be the mention of alcoholism and Alcoholics Anonymous. It might be triggering for some readers, or it may be a topic that raises questions, especially for younger readers. The writing at times seemed a bit too detailed, which took the reader out of the story a bit. I would rate this book a 5 out of 5.

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One Out and Won Back
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