National Velvet

The timeless story of 14-year-old Velvet Brown, her beloved horse Pie, and their race for victory in the Grand National Steeplechase has thrilled generations of readers.

A butcher's daughter in a small Sussex town ends her nightly prayerswith "Oh, God, give me horses, give me horses! Let me be the best riderin England!" The answer to 14-year-old Velvet Brown's plea materializesin the form of an unwanted piebald, raffled off in a village lottery,who turns out to be adept at jumping fences—exactly the sort of horsethat could win the world's most famous steeplechase, the Grand National.

Richly atmospheric of rural life in England between the World Wars, National Velvet has enchanted generations of readers since its 1935 debut. Theheroine's grit and determination, backed by the support of her eccentric and loving family, offer an inspiring example of the struggles andrewards of following a dream.

A Book of the Month Club selection upon its 1935 publication, it provides a positive role model for girls and remains especially popular with young horse lovers.