Jessica Burkhart

Jessica Burkhart is an American author known for writing tween and young adult fiction. Her most notable work is the Canterwood Crest series, which follows the lives of students at an elite equestrian boarding school. Beginning her writing career at a young age, Burkhart drew from her personal interest in equestrianism to create her stories. She attended Florida State University at age 16, graduating in 2007 with a BA in English while already working as a freelance writer for publications including The Writer magazine. Burkhart's entry into traditional publishing came through National Novel Writing Month in 2006, when she completed her manuscript for Take the Reins. The novel caught the attention of a literary agent through Burkhart's blog and led to a four-book deal with Simon & Schuster in 2007. The success of the Canterwood Crest series led to multiple extensions beyond the initial four-book contract. In 2010, Burkhart expanded her work into the young adult genre, writing under her birth name while continuing to produce middle-grade fiction under her pen name.

Readers consistently praise Burkhart's accurate portrayal of horseback riding and boarding school life in the Canterwood Crest series. Young readers connect with the realistic friendship dynamics and school challenges faced by main character Sasha Silver. What readers liked: - Authentic equestrian details and terminology - Relatable middle school social situations - Fast-paced plotting that keeps pages turning - Strong female friendships - Age-appropriate romance elements What readers disliked: - Some found the drama between characters repetitive - Later books in the series felt formulaic to some - A few parents noted concerns about mean girl behavior - Some readers wanted more complex character development Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.1/5 average across series (20,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 average (2,000+ reviews) Common Sense Media: 4/5 parent rating, 5/5 kid rating One young reader noted: "These books got me through middle school and inspired me to take riding lessons." Another mentioned: "The horse details make it feel real, not just a generic school story."

Take the Reins - Fourteen-year-old Sasha Silver leaves her home to attend the prestigious Canterwood Crest Academy, where she must navigate both elite equestrian training and complex social dynamics.

Chasing Blue - Sasha works to prove herself worthy of the advanced riding team while dealing with mounting pressure and competition from her classmates.

Behind the Bit - During winter break at Canterwood Crest, Sasha faces new challenges both in and out of the riding ring.

Triple Fault - Sasha struggles to balance her riding commitments with her first serious relationship while preparing for a major competition.

Best Enemies - The arrival of a new student at Canterwood Crest creates additional tension within the already competitive advanced riding team.

Little White Lies - Sasha faces the consequences of keeping secrets from her friends and teammates at Canterwood Crest.

Rival Revenge - Competition intensifies as Sasha and her rival Heather Fox are forced to work together during a prestigious horse show.

Home Sweet Drama - Sasha returns home for a visit only to find that her life at Canterwood has changed her perspective on everything she once knew.

Kathleen Duey Her "Unicorn's Secret" series features detailed horse knowledge and boarding school settings similar to Canterwood Crest. Duey writes with technical accuracy about riding and horse care while incorporating coming-of-age storylines.

Lauren Brooke The "Heartland" series centers on a horse farm and young riders dealing with school, relationships, and equestrian challenges. Brooke's books contain similar elements of friendship drama and horse care details that appear in Burkhart's work.

K.M. Peyton Her "Flambards" series combines equestrian themes with boarding school experiences and interpersonal relationships. Peyton writes about competitive riding and the social dynamics of young equestrians.

Bonnie Bryant The "Saddle Club" series follows three friends at a riding stable as they navigate friendships and riding challenges. Bryant's work features similar themes of friendship, competition, and horse care that appear in Canterwood Crest.

Virginia Euwer Wolff Her young adult novels focus on realistic teen experiences and social dynamics in school settings. Wolff writes about complex relationships between young characters while maintaining authentic teen voices.