The Truth About Horses by Christy Cashman
Publisher: SparkPress
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 256
Publishing: August 15th, 2023
Source: Serena Ippolito from Wunderkind PR
Opening Line: "It'd be a miracle if he raced again, the vet told mom."
Fourteen-year-old Reese has always dreamed of one of her families horses winning the Black Elk race. This year they had their hopes on Trusted Treasure, but when he his bumped and falls on the last jump, their plans to turn the horse farm around are also lost. While still reeling over Treasure's loss in the race, a second tragedy hits the family, a massive car accident that kills Reese's mom. It's been two years since that day, and now the farm that they lease is up for sale. Reese's dad even has to sell off their horses, including her beloved Trusted Treasure and he takes a job in town. Heartbroken, Reese has a falling out with her dad and now they essentially live as strangers in the same house. Reese still keeps tabs on Trusted Treasure's whereabouts and searches all the online horse sales to try and get him back. Each day Reese takes her bike down to the big green barn, it comforts her to be so close to a place her mom was. It's also how she finds out that Wes has taken over the barn and started to train his own horses. At first Reese is very leery of Wes, she doesn't think he has a clue about what he's doing. The more that she hangs around the barn the more convinced she is that he needs her help. Wes may have a talent for teaching horses, but Reese knows all the ins and outs about where to get the best feed and how to handle the business. At first, Wes seems to be ignoring her, brushing off her attempts to try and work for him. Reese assumes the worst of him, but then is surprised when she finds out that Wes is actually mute, which is by his choice. Eventually they come to an understanding and Reese starts performing some of the chores, of which she never asked permission from her dad for. Then the exciting news that Reese has been waiting for comes, Trusted Treasure is up for sale and she just has to get him back.
Early on in the story Reese see's and hears a heard of horses. The horses only appear to her and I'm not sure if they're meant to be a symptom of PTSD or not, but Reese takes it as a sign that she's on the right track. Her dad however becomes a little concerned and she ends up seeing a therapist. Reese isn't very open with her therapist and basically tells her what she thinks she wants to hear. But Reese is obviously in a lot of pain. She's also a very angry girl, who curses a lot throughout the story to basically tick off her dad. She tries to communicate a few things to him, but he doesn't seem to listen. Or as she points out, he isn't even looking at her anymore, and senses him not seeing her. Which is really sad. Her dad even starts to date around, which further angers her. At one point he even moves in his latest girlfriend and her two boys, which is like the last straw. You really get a sense of her emotional abandonment from her dad and how she's still reeling over the loss of her mom. She has a lot of hardships that hit her all at once. Reese struggles throughout the book, trying to be a good daughter but also trying to regain the things that she loves, the barn and her horse. Working for Wes is like the bright spot of her day. It's the place that she can freely talk, where she can spill out all her thoughts and Wes just listens. It's really a beautiful, heart wrenching story about loss, love and trying to hold onto the important things to you. It's also about a family healing and finding their way back together. I'd recommend this to teens who like reading about the care of horses, riding, jumping hurdles and reading about a girl who is resilient, creative and one heck of a problem solver. It's a feel good story and will defiantly make you laugh and cry.
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