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The Truth About Horses: A Novel

Description:

A brave 14-year-old girl races against time to save her horse, her farm, and her relationship with her father while honoring her mother’s memory.

“A sumptuously written novel about love, loss, and horses. I devoured this book!”—Elin Hilderbrand, author of The Perfect Couple

Winner of the 2024 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Gold Award for General Fiction and Silver Awards for Best New Voice and Teen Fiction, this best-selling debut novel weaves a spellbinding tale in which everyone has magical powers within them just waiting to be discovered.

REESE TUCKER’S family lives a simple, hardworking existence on their farm in Birdwood, South Dakota. Their love for the horses they raise and train is the only thing that keeps their business afloat. But their fortunes could change if they find a horse special enough to win the Black Elk race. Reese’s mom believes that horse is Trusted Treasure.

But two connected tragedies set Reese’s world spinning. Just when victory is mere feet away, Trusted Treasure takes a fall at the Black Elk finish line. While still reeling from that loss, the family is given hope when, during a drive, they encounter a near-mystical herd of wild horses led by a mysterious black stallion. But just when they’ve begun to dream again, the drive ends in a disaster that results in the sale of the family business and their beloved horse, Trusted Treasure, decisions for which fourteen-year old Reese may never forgive her father.

Heartbroken and still longing for the life she loved, Reese meets Wes, a stranger who’s just come to town. His way of training horses is unlike anything she’s ever seen. If anyone can win the Black Elk, it’s him—but he’s struggling with his own troubled past.

Amid heartaches and triumphs, Reese must prove her worth, heal her fractured family, help a new friend with a troubled past, and show everyone that some dreams are worth fighting for. As she struggles to do all this she discovers that even in the darkest of times, love and resilience can light the way.

The Truth About Horses will have you laughing and crying—sometimes on the same page—all the while rooting for Reese, the most unlikely of heroes.


Editorial Reviews

Review

2024 NYC Big Book Awards Winner in Death and Dying
2024 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards Gold Winner in Fiction: General
2024 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards Silver Winner in Teen: Fiction (13-18)
2024 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards Silver Winner in Best New Voice: Fiction


“What an irresistibly readable novel Christy Cashman has written! Her young heroine Reese is an astonishing creation, warmly sympathetic, impulsive, unpredictable, brash, loyal and loving, endearing, exasperating, most of all memorable—a triumphant portrait of tumultuous adolescence in our time.
The Truth About Horses plunges us into a beautifully evoked rural world in which horses are both magnificent beasts requiring human love and devotion, and iconic creatures out of mythology.”
—Joyce Carol Oates, novelist, short story writer, and essayist

“From its first gripping pages, this beautifully written, vividly imagined novel had me hooked. Anyone who remembers being a teen, loving horses, or losing a loved one will find deep meaning in this book.”
—Sy Montgomery, New York Times best-selling author of How to Be a Good Creature and The Soul of an Octopus

“With all of the unpredictable thrill of a horseback ride,
The Truth About Horses took me deep into the mind of a teenage girl searching for her post-traumatic truth. It is a beautiful, moving story that I'm glad to know and certain to remember.”
—Harry Connick Jr., Emmy Award–winning actor and Grammy Award–winning musician

“This is a heartwarming novel about facing down the perils of adversity. It's also an examination of how and why we become stronger at the broken places. Christy Cashman has written a book for everyone, young and old, who wants to know about the elemental gallop of the heart.”
—Colum McCann, author of Apeirogon and Let the Great World Spin

“Original, deftly crafted, brilliant, and a compelling page-turner of a read from start to finish,
The Truth About Horses showcases author Christy Cashman’s genuine flair for the kind of memorable narrative storytelling style that keeps young readers riveted from beginning to end.”
Midwest Book Review

The Truth About Horses had me hooked on page one. I set aside everything else and just kept reading, sleep be damned. It is a timeless story about growing up in a world that is less than perfect and trying to figure out who you are through all of those challenges—something each of us faces at some point. Reese’s strength, wit, wisdom, and vulnerability offer up a multi-faceted character and a person I would like to know. The novel is a tour de force.”
—Judith Laster, executive director, The Woods Hole Film Festival

“In Christy Cashman's first novel
The Truth About Horses, the author proves herself to be a worthy successor to Harper Lee. Cashman's protagonist, Reese, instantly captures the reader in the same way that Scout does in To Kill a Mockingbird—and takes the reader with her into her world for a magical examination of the human heart.”
—Arthur T. Vanderbilt II, author of Fortune's Children: The Fall of the House of Vanderbilt

“The truth about
The Truth About Horses is that it is impossible to put down. With simple ingredients of hay and humor, family and fury, Christy Cashman has spun an unstoppable feast. She shows us how hooves and hearts beat the same truth to light and reminds us laughter and tears need not be served as separate courses.”
—Sally Taylor, singer, songwriter, and founder of Consenses

“Christy Cashman has written a beautiful, thrilling tale about a teenaged girl’s journey from fear to courage, from anger to forgiveness, from broken-heartedness to openness.
The Truth About Horses is so much about the mysterious forces, within us and around us, that are always there to guide us, and the way in which people enter our lives exactly when we need them—if only we’ll let them.”
—Jane Seymour, actress, designer, and author of The Road Ahead

The Truth About Horses is a beautifully written and engaging story. Christy Cashman easily sets the tone with her terrific descriptions of the land, the horses, and her teenaged protagonist, Reese. This is a tale of loss, grieving, believing in dreams, and being true to yourself. Reese’s voice is spot on, and you will find yourself alternately worried, frustrated, and awed by her. I quickly became invested in the story and anxious to read on!”
—Judith Belushi Pisano, producer, uke enthusiast, author of Samurai Widow, and coauthor of Blues Brothers: Private

The Truth About Horses is a fast-moving, emotionally compelling story about friendship, courage, and healing. Christy Cashman knows a lot about girls and horses, and also about loneliness and grief, and she writes with admirable honesty and insight.”
—Tom Perrotta, author of Election and Tracy Flick Can’t Win

“Christy Cashman’s
The Truth About Horses tells a riveting story about a teenager dealing heroically with a terrible loss. In over three decades of working with young adults, I have never read anything that better embodies the voice of someone that age. One minute our hero is painfully self-destructive, but then she has us laughing out loud and in awe of her strength and her wit. Like me, you may want to race through to see how it all turns out, but don't do it! Every sentence counts.”
—The Rev. John H. Finley IV, cofounder and Head of Epiphany School

“Each character, major or minor, is very much alive. Vivid images resonate long after the reading is over. Cashman’s heroine evokes the passions, struggles, and grace in all of us.”
—Fontaine Dolls Dubus, choreographer, playwright, producer, and performer

“There are few people who won’t be swept away by this beautiful, gritty, and gripping story about the renewal of life and relationships. Reese takes the reader on a jour- ney of raw emotions, from pain to joy, in this wonder of steadfast perseverance. Being a midwesterner myself, I could almost smell the sacred and magical farmland in her pages.
The Truth About Horses is a must-read.”
—Shannon Pastuszak, media executive, publisher, and founder of The Newbury Cup

“Christy Cashman has written a powerful story about loss and grief. Wonderfully evocative and with the author’s passion for horses shining through every page, this is a rich and deeply felt novel. Eschewing easy answers,
The Truth About Horses is strong on how even the small choices we make, sometimes rashly, can so easily hurt those most important to us, and how struggling on through each day can bring enough hope to light the path toward redemption and new beginnings.”
—Kieran Crowley, author of The Misfits and Mighty Dynamo

“What a ride!
The Truth About Horses is the terrific story of a young girl dealing with the trauma of grief while finding herself and a place for her own dreams in the unpredictable world of horses. A really enjoyable roll- er-coaster journey that never lags—there is always a surprise waiting for Reese and the reader.”
—Alan Devine, actor in Netflix’s Valhalla and BBC’s The Tudors

“Don’t waste another moment reading these simple lines of praise. Go straight to the horse’s mouth. By the way, it’s a winner.”
—Carly Simon, musician, singer, songwriter, and author

Book Description

SparkPress

Reviews:

5.0 out of 5 stars Following your heart and passion lead to our life's destiny.

J.B. · April 17, 2024

I absolutely loved this book! .... and the protagonist. With great anticipation, I always looked forward to the next time I could turn the page! The storyline touched my soul and had me experience many emotions. I learned much about horses and horse-people who are savvy, perceptive and so very special. The shared pearls (of wisdom) passed down through generations and other horse-people was moving. Lessons learned: following your heart and intuition and doing what you love and loving what you do is one of life's greatest gifts. Count on challenges, pain, heartache, frustrations and sacrifices along the way. This book put a spotlight on the perspective teenagers face growing up THEN versus today. Independence, making her own job based on her fortitude, perseverence and merit vs using connections, .... riding her bike to get to work vs being chauffeured by parents ... embracing obstacles, listening to your inner voices verses feelings of entitlement/s were pronounced. Traditional family values help shape young adults trying desperately to find their way in today's society and compete. Despite her mother's physical absence, her presence was felt constantly. Her daughter's sense of independence, resilience and tenacity... i.e. going back to the auction to get Treasure back was heartening. She learned how to support herself and not have to depend on her parents. Even though her mother had passed, the emphasis on the very strong bond and her memorable teachings; their relationship was compelling and clearly played a key role in life choices, behavior and developing her daughter's character. Ultimately, this book suggests that following your heart and passions lead to our life's destiny.

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my all time favorite fiction novels!!!

A.C. · August 11, 2025

A wonderful novel!! It really caught me at about a quarter of the way through. After that, I could hardly put it down!! Very well written! It's an exciting and emotional ride! Great story!

4.0 out of 5 stars Horses, Girl, Good Read.

J.A.B. · September 3, 2025

Realistic characters, especially the daughter and father in their situation. Wes was an intriguing character in the way he handled his grief and it worked well in the story. Solid YA novel. Story pulled me through. As a horse person, and I read that the author is as well, I would have liked a bit more accurate information about the horses. What breeds? What kind of race is the Black Elk? Seemed like a mashup of cross country, steeplechase and thoroughbred racing. The whole horse aspect of the book led up to the race at the end, yet it was vaguely and quickly written. This is a good book, worth the read, just wish real life horse part was more accurate. Loved the magical aspect of the horse herd!

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, great author, a keeper in my library!!!

K.R.W. · September 20, 2025

Wonderful book full of events that occurred in my life as a horse trainer in a small barn in NH. It was alive for me!! Christy Cashman is a horseperson and writes with empathy and passion like only a horse lover can.

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT READ A MUST BUY

N.G. · September 27, 2025

Amazing read kept me engaged and interested the whole time hard to put down!

5.0 out of 5 stars Intrigue, hilarity, educational

S. · July 12, 2025

Looking for a good read for a 13 year old, this book came up. Thought i should preview it before gifting, and got caught up in the story! Very few books keep me to the end, but this one did! I laughed out loud often, and loved the inner conflict depiction of the main character, and all character development. Excellent work!

3.0 out of 5 stars Not endorsed due to language.

w. · August 9, 2025

Just started this book with my 12 year old granddaughter. Story line good, language not so good. Not sure why a good story must be ruined with four letter words.

4.0 out of 5 stars Horse story

M. · October 6, 2025

It was a good story

Nice one

A. · July 23, 2025

This book beautifully captures the struggle of navigating grief and rediscovering purpose. The main character’s voice feels raw and honest, especially when confronting personal guilt and fractured relationships. The horse imagery adds a peaceful layer to the turmoil, and there’s something very healing about how it all unfolds. It’s not a dramatic story—it’s a quiet, emotional unravelling. And sometimes, that’s what we need most. A deeply reflective and meaningful read that stays with you.

A good read

L. · July 16, 2025

Horse books usually aren't my thing, and I worried it would be too predictable. Wrong on both counts. The plot takes unexpected turns that never feel forced. Reese's character development impressed me most. She grows throughout the story without suddenly becoming perfect. Her relationship with her father feels painfully real. They both make mistakes, both have valid points, both need to change. The horse racing world was more interesting than expected. Strategy, technique, and psychology all play roles. The writing avoids melodrama while still packing emotional punch.The rural setting never feels condescending or romanticized. Just honest portrayal of people doing their best with limited options.

Very adorably written

P.B.S. · July 4, 2025

A powerful and moving story of self-discovery and growth, this book is a testament to the undying human spirit. The lead characters journey is inspiring, and the lessons learned about following one's passion and intuition are invaluable. The author's portrayal of the challenges and triumphs of growing up is so relatable, raw and authentic. The bond between the protagonist and her mother is particularly compelling, showcasing the lasting impact of strong family values. Must read for a cosy day!

Good

A.K. · July 23, 2025

I went in expecting a simple horse story, but got something much deeper. The emotional arc is complex, and the writing captures subtle human dynamics—especially between family members—so well. The horse-human bond added a sense of stillness and reflection that I really enjoyed. The themes of identity and inner conflict were treated with care. It’s the kind of story that builds slowly but stays with you long after. A quiet, beautifully written novel worth reading.

Go for it

K. · July 23, 2025

The main character’s journey is so well-developed. You feel her grief, her guilt, and slowly—her healing. What impressed me was the emotional realism. No instant solutions, no magic moment—just steady, believable growth. The surrounding characters feel fleshed out, each carrying their own emotional weight. The bond with the horses is written with care and deep understanding. It’s subtle, but powerful. A great example of character-driven storytelling done right. It’s gentle but leaves a lasting mark.

The Truth About Horses: A Novel

Product ID: U1684632129
Condition: New

4.5

AED10435

Price includes VAT & Import Duties
Type: Paperback
Availability: In Stock

Quantity:

|

Order today to get by 7-14 business days

Delivery fee of AED 20. Free for orders above AED 200.

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Imported From: United States

At BOLO, we work hard to ensure the products you receive are new, genuine, and sourced from reputable suppliers.

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The Truth About Horses: A Novel

Product ID: U1684632129
Condition: New

4.5

The Truth About Horses: A Novel-0
Type: Paperback

AED10435

Price includes VAT & Import Duties
Availability: In Stock

Quantity:

|

Order today to get by 7-14 business days

Delivery fee of AED 20. Free for orders above AED 200.

Returns & Warranty policies

Imported From: United States

At BOLO, we work hard to ensure the products you receive are new, genuine, and sourced from reputable suppliers.

BOLO is not an authorized or official retailer for most brands, nor are we affiliated with manufacturers unless specifically stated on a product page. Instead, we source verified sellers, authorized distributors or directly from the manufacturer.

Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.

If you ever have concerns regarding the authenticity of a product purchased from us, please contact Bolo Support. We will review your inquiry promptly and, if necessary, provide documentation verifying authenticity or offer a suitable resolution.

Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.

All product information, images, descriptions, and reviews originate from the manufacturer or from trusted sellers overseas. BOLO is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an authorized retailer for most brands listed on our website unless stated otherwise.

While we strive to display accurate information, variations in packaging, labeling, instructions, or formulation may occasionally occur due to regional differences or supplier updates. For detailed or manufacturer-specific information, please contact the brand directly or reach out to BOLO Support for assistance.

Unless otherwise stated, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.

BOLO operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of United Arab Emirates. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in United Arab Emirates are listed on our website.

All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.

All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.

Description:

A brave 14-year-old girl races against time to save her horse, her farm, and her relationship with her father while honoring her mother’s memory.

“A sumptuously written novel about love, loss, and horses. I devoured this book!”—Elin Hilderbrand, author of The Perfect Couple

Winner of the 2024 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Gold Award for General Fiction and Silver Awards for Best New Voice and Teen Fiction, this best-selling debut novel weaves a spellbinding tale in which everyone has magical powers within them just waiting to be discovered.

REESE TUCKER’S family lives a simple, hardworking existence on their farm in Birdwood, South Dakota. Their love for the horses they raise and train is the only thing that keeps their business afloat. But their fortunes could change if they find a horse special enough to win the Black Elk race. Reese’s mom believes that horse is Trusted Treasure.

But two connected tragedies set Reese’s world spinning. Just when victory is mere feet away, Trusted Treasure takes a fall at the Black Elk finish line. While still reeling from that loss, the family is given hope when, during a drive, they encounter a near-mystical herd of wild horses led by a mysterious black stallion. But just when they’ve begun to dream again, the drive ends in a disaster that results in the sale of the family business and their beloved horse, Trusted Treasure, decisions for which fourteen-year old Reese may never forgive her father.

Heartbroken and still longing for the life she loved, Reese meets Wes, a stranger who’s just come to town. His way of training horses is unlike anything she’s ever seen. If anyone can win the Black Elk, it’s him—but he’s struggling with his own troubled past.

Amid heartaches and triumphs, Reese must prove her worth, heal her fractured family, help a new friend with a troubled past, and show everyone that some dreams are worth fighting for. As she struggles to do all this she discovers that even in the darkest of times, love and resilience can light the way.

The Truth About Horses will have you laughing and crying—sometimes on the same page—all the while rooting for Reese, the most unlikely of heroes.


Editorial Reviews

Review

2024 NYC Big Book Awards Winner in Death and Dying
2024 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards Gold Winner in Fiction: General
2024 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards Silver Winner in Teen: Fiction (13-18)
2024 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards Silver Winner in Best New Voice: Fiction


“What an irresistibly readable novel Christy Cashman has written! Her young heroine Reese is an astonishing creation, warmly sympathetic, impulsive, unpredictable, brash, loyal and loving, endearing, exasperating, most of all memorable—a triumphant portrait of tumultuous adolescence in our time.
The Truth About Horses plunges us into a beautifully evoked rural world in which horses are both magnificent beasts requiring human love and devotion, and iconic creatures out of mythology.”
—Joyce Carol Oates, novelist, short story writer, and essayist

“From its first gripping pages, this beautifully written, vividly imagined novel had me hooked. Anyone who remembers being a teen, loving horses, or losing a loved one will find deep meaning in this book.”
—Sy Montgomery, New York Times best-selling author of How to Be a Good Creature and The Soul of an Octopus

“With all of the unpredictable thrill of a horseback ride,
The Truth About Horses took me deep into the mind of a teenage girl searching for her post-traumatic truth. It is a beautiful, moving story that I'm glad to know and certain to remember.”
—Harry Connick Jr., Emmy Award–winning actor and Grammy Award–winning musician

“This is a heartwarming novel about facing down the perils of adversity. It's also an examination of how and why we become stronger at the broken places. Christy Cashman has written a book for everyone, young and old, who wants to know about the elemental gallop of the heart.”
—Colum McCann, author of Apeirogon and Let the Great World Spin

“Original, deftly crafted, brilliant, and a compelling page-turner of a read from start to finish,
The Truth About Horses showcases author Christy Cashman’s genuine flair for the kind of memorable narrative storytelling style that keeps young readers riveted from beginning to end.”
Midwest Book Review

The Truth About Horses had me hooked on page one. I set aside everything else and just kept reading, sleep be damned. It is a timeless story about growing up in a world that is less than perfect and trying to figure out who you are through all of those challenges—something each of us faces at some point. Reese’s strength, wit, wisdom, and vulnerability offer up a multi-faceted character and a person I would like to know. The novel is a tour de force.”
—Judith Laster, executive director, The Woods Hole Film Festival

“In Christy Cashman's first novel
The Truth About Horses, the author proves herself to be a worthy successor to Harper Lee. Cashman's protagonist, Reese, instantly captures the reader in the same way that Scout does in To Kill a Mockingbird—and takes the reader with her into her world for a magical examination of the human heart.”
—Arthur T. Vanderbilt II, author of Fortune's Children: The Fall of the House of Vanderbilt

“The truth about
The Truth About Horses is that it is impossible to put down. With simple ingredients of hay and humor, family and fury, Christy Cashman has spun an unstoppable feast. She shows us how hooves and hearts beat the same truth to light and reminds us laughter and tears need not be served as separate courses.”
—Sally Taylor, singer, songwriter, and founder of Consenses

“Christy Cashman has written a beautiful, thrilling tale about a teenaged girl’s journey from fear to courage, from anger to forgiveness, from broken-heartedness to openness.
The Truth About Horses is so much about the mysterious forces, within us and around us, that are always there to guide us, and the way in which people enter our lives exactly when we need them—if only we’ll let them.”
—Jane Seymour, actress, designer, and author of The Road Ahead

The Truth About Horses is a beautifully written and engaging story. Christy Cashman easily sets the tone with her terrific descriptions of the land, the horses, and her teenaged protagonist, Reese. This is a tale of loss, grieving, believing in dreams, and being true to yourself. Reese’s voice is spot on, and you will find yourself alternately worried, frustrated, and awed by her. I quickly became invested in the story and anxious to read on!”
—Judith Belushi Pisano, producer, uke enthusiast, author of Samurai Widow, and coauthor of Blues Brothers: Private

The Truth About Horses is a fast-moving, emotionally compelling story about friendship, courage, and healing. Christy Cashman knows a lot about girls and horses, and also about loneliness and grief, and she writes with admirable honesty and insight.”
—Tom Perrotta, author of Election and Tracy Flick Can’t Win

“Christy Cashman’s
The Truth About Horses tells a riveting story about a teenager dealing heroically with a terrible loss. In over three decades of working with young adults, I have never read anything that better embodies the voice of someone that age. One minute our hero is painfully self-destructive, but then she has us laughing out loud and in awe of her strength and her wit. Like me, you may want to race through to see how it all turns out, but don't do it! Every sentence counts.”
—The Rev. John H. Finley IV, cofounder and Head of Epiphany School

“Each character, major or minor, is very much alive. Vivid images resonate long after the reading is over. Cashman’s heroine evokes the passions, struggles, and grace in all of us.”
—Fontaine Dolls Dubus, choreographer, playwright, producer, and performer

“There are few people who won’t be swept away by this beautiful, gritty, and gripping story about the renewal of life and relationships. Reese takes the reader on a jour- ney of raw emotions, from pain to joy, in this wonder of steadfast perseverance. Being a midwesterner myself, I could almost smell the sacred and magical farmland in her pages.
The Truth About Horses is a must-read.”
—Shannon Pastuszak, media executive, publisher, and founder of The Newbury Cup

“Christy Cashman has written a powerful story about loss and grief. Wonderfully evocative and with the author’s passion for horses shining through every page, this is a rich and deeply felt novel. Eschewing easy answers,
The Truth About Horses is strong on how even the small choices we make, sometimes rashly, can so easily hurt those most important to us, and how struggling on through each day can bring enough hope to light the path toward redemption and new beginnings.”
—Kieran Crowley, author of The Misfits and Mighty Dynamo

“What a ride!
The Truth About Horses is the terrific story of a young girl dealing with the trauma of grief while finding herself and a place for her own dreams in the unpredictable world of horses. A really enjoyable roll- er-coaster journey that never lags—there is always a surprise waiting for Reese and the reader.”
—Alan Devine, actor in Netflix’s Valhalla and BBC’s The Tudors

“Don’t waste another moment reading these simple lines of praise. Go straight to the horse’s mouth. By the way, it’s a winner.”
—Carly Simon, musician, singer, songwriter, and author

Book Description

SparkPress

Reviews:

5.0 out of 5 stars Following your heart and passion lead to our life's destiny.

J.B. · April 17, 2024

I absolutely loved this book! .... and the protagonist. With great anticipation, I always looked forward to the next time I could turn the page! The storyline touched my soul and had me experience many emotions. I learned much about horses and horse-people who are savvy, perceptive and so very special. The shared pearls (of wisdom) passed down through generations and other horse-people was moving. Lessons learned: following your heart and intuition and doing what you love and loving what you do is one of life's greatest gifts. Count on challenges, pain, heartache, frustrations and sacrifices along the way. This book put a spotlight on the perspective teenagers face growing up THEN versus today. Independence, making her own job based on her fortitude, perseverence and merit vs using connections, .... riding her bike to get to work vs being chauffeured by parents ... embracing obstacles, listening to your inner voices verses feelings of entitlement/s were pronounced. Traditional family values help shape young adults trying desperately to find their way in today's society and compete. Despite her mother's physical absence, her presence was felt constantly. Her daughter's sense of independence, resilience and tenacity... i.e. going back to the auction to get Treasure back was heartening. She learned how to support herself and not have to depend on her parents. Even though her mother had passed, the emphasis on the very strong bond and her memorable teachings; their relationship was compelling and clearly played a key role in life choices, behavior and developing her daughter's character. Ultimately, this book suggests that following your heart and passions lead to our life's destiny.

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my all time favorite fiction novels!!!

A.C. · August 11, 2025

A wonderful novel!! It really caught me at about a quarter of the way through. After that, I could hardly put it down!! Very well written! It's an exciting and emotional ride! Great story!

4.0 out of 5 stars Horses, Girl, Good Read.

J.A.B. · September 3, 2025

Realistic characters, especially the daughter and father in their situation. Wes was an intriguing character in the way he handled his grief and it worked well in the story. Solid YA novel. Story pulled me through. As a horse person, and I read that the author is as well, I would have liked a bit more accurate information about the horses. What breeds? What kind of race is the Black Elk? Seemed like a mashup of cross country, steeplechase and thoroughbred racing. The whole horse aspect of the book led up to the race at the end, yet it was vaguely and quickly written. This is a good book, worth the read, just wish real life horse part was more accurate. Loved the magical aspect of the horse herd!

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, great author, a keeper in my library!!!

K.R.W. · September 20, 2025

Wonderful book full of events that occurred in my life as a horse trainer in a small barn in NH. It was alive for me!! Christy Cashman is a horseperson and writes with empathy and passion like only a horse lover can.

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT READ A MUST BUY

N.G. · September 27, 2025

Amazing read kept me engaged and interested the whole time hard to put down!

5.0 out of 5 stars Intrigue, hilarity, educational

S. · July 12, 2025

Looking for a good read for a 13 year old, this book came up. Thought i should preview it before gifting, and got caught up in the story! Very few books keep me to the end, but this one did! I laughed out loud often, and loved the inner conflict depiction of the main character, and all character development. Excellent work!

3.0 out of 5 stars Not endorsed due to language.

w. · August 9, 2025

Just started this book with my 12 year old granddaughter. Story line good, language not so good. Not sure why a good story must be ruined with four letter words.

4.0 out of 5 stars Horse story

M. · October 6, 2025

It was a good story

Nice one

A. · July 23, 2025

This book beautifully captures the struggle of navigating grief and rediscovering purpose. The main character’s voice feels raw and honest, especially when confronting personal guilt and fractured relationships. The horse imagery adds a peaceful layer to the turmoil, and there’s something very healing about how it all unfolds. It’s not a dramatic story—it’s a quiet, emotional unravelling. And sometimes, that’s what we need most. A deeply reflective and meaningful read that stays with you.

A good read

L. · July 16, 2025

Horse books usually aren't my thing, and I worried it would be too predictable. Wrong on both counts. The plot takes unexpected turns that never feel forced. Reese's character development impressed me most. She grows throughout the story without suddenly becoming perfect. Her relationship with her father feels painfully real. They both make mistakes, both have valid points, both need to change. The horse racing world was more interesting than expected. Strategy, technique, and psychology all play roles. The writing avoids melodrama while still packing emotional punch.The rural setting never feels condescending or romanticized. Just honest portrayal of people doing their best with limited options.

Very adorably written

P.B.S. · July 4, 2025

A powerful and moving story of self-discovery and growth, this book is a testament to the undying human spirit. The lead characters journey is inspiring, and the lessons learned about following one's passion and intuition are invaluable. The author's portrayal of the challenges and triumphs of growing up is so relatable, raw and authentic. The bond between the protagonist and her mother is particularly compelling, showcasing the lasting impact of strong family values. Must read for a cosy day!

Good

A.K. · July 23, 2025

I went in expecting a simple horse story, but got something much deeper. The emotional arc is complex, and the writing captures subtle human dynamics—especially between family members—so well. The horse-human bond added a sense of stillness and reflection that I really enjoyed. The themes of identity and inner conflict were treated with care. It’s the kind of story that builds slowly but stays with you long after. A quiet, beautifully written novel worth reading.

Go for it

K. · July 23, 2025

The main character’s journey is so well-developed. You feel her grief, her guilt, and slowly—her healing. What impressed me was the emotional realism. No instant solutions, no magic moment—just steady, believable growth. The surrounding characters feel fleshed out, each carrying their own emotional weight. The bond with the horses is written with care and deep understanding. It’s subtle, but powerful. A great example of character-driven storytelling done right. It’s gentle but leaves a lasting mark.

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