Review: The Truth About Horses

 

Fourteen-year-old Reese’s dream of winning the Black Elk race is shattered when her beloved horse, Trusted Treasure, falls at the last jump and the vet suggests they put him down. While still reeling from that loss, her family suffers a second tragedy—one that results in the end of their family business, the sale of Trusted Treasure, and irreparable damage to Reese’s relationship with her father.

Heartbroken and still longing to find Trusted Treasure, Reese meets Wes, a selective mute, whose way of training horses is unlike anything she’s ever seen. If anyone can win the Black Elk, it’s Wes—but he’s struggling with his troubled past, and having a teenage girl hanging around his barn isn’t exactly what he’d planned. Through heartaches and triumphs, Reese must prove her worth if she wants to heal her family, help Wes, and show them all that some dreams are worth fighting for. - Summary from publisher

My Thoughts: I love horse books and I really enjoyed this one. But it did have some tough moments. There were terrible animal scenes - one in particular that maybe didn't need to be there. Reese lashes out a lot and makes terrible choices. Her actions make her a hard character to like, but you can't help but root for her to get her act together. Much of her behavior is dealing with grief. I liked how everything came together in the end. While Reese is 14, it does feel like an adult book.

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: ARC sent for review

Library Recommendation: Add this one to your public library collection.