Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce

"Thirteen-year-old Daine has always had a knack with animals, but it's not until she's forced to leave home that she realizes it's more than a knack -- it's magic. With this wild magic, not only can Daine speak to animals, but also she can make them obey her. Daine takes a job handling horses for the Queen's Riders, where she meets the master mage Numair and becomes his student.

Under Numair's guidance, Daine explores the scope of her magic. But she begins to sense other beings too: immortals. These bloodthirsty monsters have been imprisoned in the Divine Realms for the past four hundred years, but now someone has broken the barrier. It's up to Daine and her friends to defend their world from an immortal attack."

Ahem. Tamora Pierce alert. That means, unquestionably, that this is going to be a good review. Tamora Pierce is my spirit animal.
I remember reading this in middle school, and the enjoyment stays exactly the same at any age. There's good characters, an original idea, some trademark magic-doing, and all-around good writing. I think the Alanna and the Circle of Magic series hold special places in my heart, and this isn't quite at that level, but it isn't dislikable by any stretch of the imagination. I enjoyed it, definitely. I love the emphasis on female characters that she has in all her books. In any case, try this one out. Even if it's doesn't get the top spot in my opinion, it's still quality. Read it if you're into fantasy, incredibly well established universes, animals, magic, or all of the above. There's a copy at Kettleson, Sitka High, Blatchley, and MEHS.