"In the Heart of a Mustang is one of the finest books ever written for teens and preteens." Literary Classics In the Heart of a Mustang has been awarded the Gold Medal for Young Adult Fiction from the Literary Classics Book Awards, a Silver Medal for Young Adult Fiction by the Nautilus Book Awards, a Silver Medal for Young Adult Fiction from the Readers' Favorite Book Awards and the Literary Classics Seal of Approval. Everyone needs loyalty, love and at times healing. Lucky is the soul who finds all three In the Heart of a Mustang. A boy is told that his father was a brave and virtuous man, a soldier who traded his life to save the lives of countless others. He was the man that Hunter needed to emulate. The only problem is the story is a lie, all of it. The truth, which Hunter discovers as he begins his sophomore year of high school, is that his father has actually spent the boy's entire life in jail, paying his debt to society, but not mending his ways. A wild mustang mare is rounded up by the BLM. The spring rains had been sparse, the forage on the plains even more so. The mare and her herd are rescued from certain starvation and placed for adoption. In a sandy corral at Promise Ranch, a home for troubled teenage boys, the boy and the mare meet. A weathered old cowboy brings them together - a mentor for one, a trainer for the other. The bond that forms between boy and horse becomes one that saves the lives of both.

In the Heart of a Mustang

Teen & Young Adult

Evans, M.J.

Literature & Fiction

Dancing Horse Press

Mists of Darkness, the Gold Medal winner of the Mom's Choice Award, is the continuation of M.J. Evans' beloved fantasy, Behind the Mist. Having braved the evil powers of the Dark Kingdom and rescued a lost soul in Behind the Mist, Nick and Jazz proved themselves worthy to become members of the Legion of the Unicorn, the guardian angels to the animals on earth. In a ceremony passed down through the ages, Jazz is endowed with a glowing horn and a new name: Lazari. Nick becomes his partner as the first unicorn rider. The celebration is short-lived, however, as word reaches Celestia of an ominous dark mist that descended upon the Churchill Downs race track in Kentucky. When the mist dissipated, several horses had vanished. The unicorns knew immediately that this was the work of Hasbadana, the ruler of the Dark Kingdom. Again and again, the mist of darkness descends upon horse venues around the world. Appealing to those that have been abused or neglected by their human owners, many horses answer Hasbadana's call to help him conquer the earth. Urijah, the lord of Celestia, and his Council of the Twelve Ancients watch anxiously, never knowing where Hasbadana and his mist of darkness will strike next. Will Nick, Lazari and the Legion of the Unicorn be able to stop him? In the continuation of The Mist Trilogy, M.J. Evans' masterful storytelling exudes spellbinding images and heartrending emotion. Mists of Darkness enthralls from the first page to the last, even as it leaves you eagerly awaiting book three.

Mists of Darkness: Book Two of The Mist Trilogy

Children's Books

M.J. Evans

Animals

The Stone of Courage was chosen as one of only three finalists in Pre-teen Fiction from the Book Excellence Awards for 2017 and has been awarded a Five Star Review Award from Readers' Favorite Book Reviews. Be it known throughout the land that the rightful heir to the throne of Crystonia will be the wearer of the Silver Breastplate with its four Stones of Light: The Stone of Mercy, The Stone of Courage, The Stone of Integrity and The Stone of Wisdom. Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is conquering fear for the sake of doing what is right. A young Duende girl named Carling is in possession of the coveted Silver Breastplate, but the breastplate is only partially complete. The green Stone of Mercy, which Carling found on her first quest, is nestled securely in its place on the breastplate. Now, the Wizard of Crystonia sends her on her second mission to find the red Stone of Courage in the foreboding region known as the Northern Reaches. The assignment will be difficult because the stone is under the guardianship of a reclusive Tommy Knocker named Shim, who has no intention of relinquishing it to the young Duende girl or to anyone else. The Stone of Courage is the second tale in the critically acclaimed and Award-winning Centaur Chronicles series. This book continues the compelling adventure that began with The Stone of Mercy as Carling attempts to gain another stone on her way to becoming the righteous ruler of Crystonia. In The Stone of Courage, Carling faces her fears in the form of the Tommy Knocker, Ogres and evil Heilodius Centaurs, all of whom attempt to prevent her from fulfilling her destiny to become the Queen of the land. Immerse yourself in another fantastic adventure created by Award-Winning author M.J. Evans.

The Stone of Courage: Book 2 of the Centaur Chronicles

“PINTO! deserves a spot on the reading lists of not only young, horse-crazy readers, but adults who like horse tales ala Black Beauty.”— Diane Donovan for Midwest Book Reviews
“A forgotten piece of Americana brought to vivid life.”— Kirkus Reviews
“PINTO! revives an amazing part of history that has lain forgotten for ages. It is written with a unique twist and is both informative and entertaining.” — Edith Wairimu for Readers’ Favorite
In 1912, four men, calling themselves the “Overland Westerners,” decided fame and fortune awaited if they embarked on the longest horseback ride in history. Their goal was to visit all forty-eight state capitals over the course of three years and complete their journey at the San Francisco World’s Fair on June 1, 1915. Facing rugged roads, raging rivers, thieves and near starvation, the men went through seventeen horses. Only one horse completed the entire journey… Pinto, a little horse with a heart as big as the whole country! This is Pinto’s account of his arduous adventure.

PINTO!: Based Upon the True Story of the Longest Horseback Ride in History (Horses in History)

Crafts, Hobbies & Home

Pets & Animal Care

Children are disappearing from Coeur d'Alene. The only thing they have in common is they each purchased a toy from Mr. Figgletoes' Toy Emporium on the day they disappeared. The children are being help captive by an angry witch in her underground chambers while she awaits the next child sent to her by Mr. Figgletoes. This is a slightly scary fantasy for Middle-grade readers that addresses the results of bullying and the healing power of love.

Mr. Figgletoes' Toy Emporium

Science Fiction & Fantasy

Review\nReviewed By Marta Tandori for Readers' Favorite 
The Skullington Family Boney Fingers by M.J. Evans is an imaginative children's story that provides a unique and entertaining take on the typical nuclear family. The Skullington family is an ordinary family just like all the others in the neighborhood except for one unique difference - they're a family of skeletons. Mr. Skullington is an orthopedic surgeon (naturally!), Mrs. Skullington looks after the family, runs the household, and is a talented sculptor, to boot. They have three children; daughters Tibia and Ulna and son Maxilla, otherwise known as Max. Life appears to be perfect for the Skullington family except in one significant way - Mrs. Skullington does ALL the chores around the house and looks after the children. She works her fingers to the bone until she decides one day that she simply can't do it anymore...\nLike most children's books, The Skullington Family Boney Fingers teaches young children some valuable life lessons. Teaching children about chores within the family dynamic fosters responsibility from a young age. M.J. Evans effectively delivers the message in a fun and funny way, making it seem less like "chores" shared among the family and more like them being another form of "fun". She also teaches that doing chores well fosters pride in a job well done and by helping to do things around the house, each member of the family contributes their small part to the household. The fact that the Skullington family is a little different from most delivers the message that looking different doesn't mean that you are different.\nEvans does a great job incorporating "bone" references throughout the story, from the occupation of the father to even the names of the children. Sometimes it's risky introducing characters such as skeletons to young children because some may be afraid. However, Karpenko's illustrations are colorful and come across as engaging rather than threatening. They provide a glimpse into everyday life to which all children will be able to relate. The Skullington Family Boney Fingers is a great story, sure to be enjoyed by children and parents alike.\n★Mrs. Skullington is working her fingers to the bone and all she gets in return is BONEY FINGERS!★Meet Mr. and Mrs. Skullington and their three children, Tibia, Ulna and Maxilla. They are a family of skeletons, but they have the same problems every family has. Find out how Mrs. Skullington gets her family involved in helping with household chores. Children ages 3 to 5 will love this humorous and fun picture book filled with jokes and puns. Parents will learn a great way to teach their children life skills and get help at the same time!Click on the "Look Inside" button to start reading now!\nFrom the Author\n"The Skullington Family-Boney Fingers" is the first in a series about family issues. As the mother of five, I know all about the challenges families face. This book deals with over-worked moms and the way I dealt with it in my own family. It worked! Every body has a skeleton so everybody can relate! Have fun with this book. M.J. Evans

The Skullington Family - Boney Fingers: A Funny Book for Preschool Kids About the Importance of Helping at Home

Humor

?Mrs. Skullington is working her fingers to the bone and all she gets in return is BONEY FINGERS!?Meet Mr. and Mrs. Skullington and their three children, Tibia, Ulna and Maxilla. They are a family of skeletons, but they have the same problems every family has. Find out how Mrs. Skullington gets her family involved in helping with household chores. Children ages 3 to 5 will love this humorous and fun picture book filled with jokes and puns. Parents will learn a great way to teach their children life skills and get help at the same time!

The Skullington Family - Boney Fingers

Humor & Entertainment

2021 Maincrest Media Historical Fiction Award Winner "The Sand Pounder is one of those rare historical novels with a charm that appeals to both young and old readers." -Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite "M.J. Evans does an excellent job of winding the era's history and the lesser-known job of the Sand Pounders into a realistic story of a mature teen's determination to make a difference in her world." -Diane Donovan for Midwest Book Review "A gripping YA historical novel packed full of twists, turns and memorable characters. Highly recommended!" -Wishing Shelf Book Review (UK) Fearing an invasion by German and Japanese forces during World War II, the U.S. Coast Guard enlisted horsemen to patrol the beaches along the east and west coasts. The unit was called "The Sand Pounders" and they rode their horses up and down the beaches from 1942 to 1944. In Tillamook, Oregon, a young equestrian decided to join them. There was only one problem...they were only accepting men. That didn't slow her down. The Sand Pounder is a Young Adult historical fiction set during World War II. &#8203; &#65279;

The Sand Pounder: Love and Drama on Horseback in WWII (Horses in History)

The Skullington Family Bone Appetit

Growing Up & Facts of Life

Inspired by a true story, The Stallion and His Peculiar Boy will touch your heart as no other horse story has before. 
World War II is raging. Hitler is hiding away the world's most beautiful purebred horses in a little village in Czechoslovakia. Lipizzaners, Thoroughbreds, and the prize Polish Arabians are being used in his experiments to create the perfect war horse. 
A peculiar twelve-year-old boy from the village named Teodor becomes the groom for one of those special horses - Witez II, one of the most famous Arabian stallions of all time. Witez helps the boy face his challenges and find his voice at a time when little is known about the condition now called "Autism." 
The Stallion and His Peculiar Boy blends the suspense of a World War II military rescue operation with the subsequent challenges of resettlement in a new land. 
Click "Buy Now" on the right to begin the adventure!

The Stallion and His Peculiar Boy: Based on the Life of the Famous Arabian Horse Witez II (Horses in History)

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