Best Horse Books for 12 Year Olds (2026): 5 Compared

The best horse books for 12 year olds mix classic adventures, riding-school series and puzzles. We compared five listings, from a 4-book Black Stallion box set to a puzzle book, on page counts, reading ages and what each listing actually states. Every figure below comes from the Amazon listings, not from our own reading logs.

ShelfAnswers earns a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.

The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	The Black Stallion Adventures!	9.6/10	Buy
2	Canterwood Crest Boxed Set	9.6/10	Buy
3	The Black Stallion by Farley	9.5/10	Buy
4	The Forgotten Horse by Heney	9.5/10	Buy
5	Horse Games & Puzzles	9.5/10	Buy

1

The Black Stallion Adventures!

Walter Farley·9.6/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 4-book box set of Black Stallion classics, 288 pages, ages 7 to 12; suits series starters.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• 4 classic novels in one set
• 288 pages
• Ages 7 to 12 stated

Cons

• Box set, a commitment
• 2005 edition
• Classics may feel dated

2

Canterwood Crest Boxed Set

Jessica Burkhart·9.6/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 4-book boxed set, 1088 pages, ages 9 to 11; suits riding-school fans.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• 4 books, 1088 pages
• Ages 9 to 11 stated
• Boxed set

Cons

• 1088 pages, a big commitment
• 2014 edition
• Series may continue beyond the set

3

The Black Stallion by Farley

Walter Farley·9.5/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Book 1 of 20, 187 pages, ages 7 to 11; suits classic adventure fans.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• Book 1 of 20
• 187 pages, the shortest novel here
• Ages 7 to 11 stated

Cons

• 1991 reissue
• Older language
• Series is long

4

The Forgotten Horse by Heney

Elaine Heney·9.5/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Book 1 of 6, 147 pages, ages 9 to 11, EQUUS award winner; suits new series readers.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• EQUUS award winner stated
• Book 1 of 6
• 2022, the newest here

Cons

• 147 pages only
• Ages 9 to 11
• New series, fewer books out

5

Horse Games & Puzzles

Cindy A. Littlefield·9.5/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

102 puzzles and games, 144 pages, ages 8 to 11; suits horse-crazy kids who like activities.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• 102 puzzles and games
• 144 pages
• Ages 8 to 11 stated

Cons

• Activity book, not a novel
• 2004 edition
• No series to continue

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

More picks to compare

• A Horse of Her Own288 pages, ages 10 to 14.Check on Amazon
• Mystic and the Midnight Ride208 pages, ages 9 to 12.Check on Amazon
• The Book of Horses72 pages, ages 6 to 11.Check on Amazon
• My Friend Flicka352 pages, ages 8 to 12.Check on Amazon
• Horse Diaries #11208 pages, ages 8 to 12.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Specifications are as listed, collected 19 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs keyword fit, literary standing, value, and listing completeness. The Black Stallion Adventures box set leads with four classics. The Canterwood Crest set follows with 1088 pages. The Forgotten Horse scores on its EQUUS award. For more, browse our horse books for 5 year olds.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best horse books for 12 year olds

Classics or new series

The Black Stallion Adventures box set gathers four classics in 288 pages, ages 7 to 12; the single Black Stallion is Book 1 of 20 at 187 pages. The Forgotten Horse is the new option: Book 1 of 6, 147 pages, a 2022 EQUUS award winner. Classics suit readers who want the canon; the new series suits readers who want to grow with the books.

Reading age fit

Reading ages are stated on all five: 7 to 12 for the Adventures set, 9 to 11 for Canterwood Crest and The Forgotten Horse, 7 to 11 for The Black Stallion, and 8 to 11 for the puzzle book. A 12-year-old sits at the top of these ranges; the box sets give the most reading per purchase for a strong reader.

Format and length

The Canterwood Crest boxed set is the longest at 1088 pages across four books. The Adventures set is 288 pages. Single books run 144 to 187 pages. The puzzle book is 144 pages of activities, not a novel. Box sets suit committed fans; single books suit sampling.

Before you buy

• Match the reading age to the child; 12 sits at the top here.
• Box sets are a commitment; singles suit sampling.
• Check whether the series continues past the set.
• Note the puzzle book is activities, not a novel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which suits a 12-year-old best?

The box sets: the Adventures set at ages 7 to 12 or Canterwood Crest at 9 to 11, both with hundreds of pages.

Which is the longest?

The Canterwood Crest boxed set at 1088 pages across four books.

Which won an award?

The Forgotten Horse, winner of the Best International Equine Fiction Award at the EQUUS Film and Arts Fest 2022.

Still deciding? Our top pickThe Black Stallion Adventures!

Check price on Amazon

Related lists

See every middle grade list and all kids and teens lists.

More lists: horse books for 5 year olds.