"After a bit more discussion, but not much,
Miss Chelsea and Harper's mom agreed to
table the conversation. It meant they'd wait
to decide about Harper keeping Phoenix -
though how long they would wait, Harper
didn't know. At least it gave her time to
show how hard she could work, and how
excellent Phoenix could be once he'd
gotten healthy again. As long as he got
healthy quickly enough."
What an admirable start to a new series this is! Harper has just been hit by a BOMB. She learns through middle school gossip about her father's affair with her best friend's mother. Now, her parents are divorcing and her mother has decided that the two of them will move to a new place for a new start. Their move from urban Knoxville to the small rural town of Sommer Springs is a shocker. Their new home is a tiny house, cramped for the two of them and very unappealing to Harper. It is located close to a riding barn, owned by Miss Chelsea who is renting them their new accommodation. Harper cares about none of it.
When a starved and terribly neglected horse is dropped at the stable from a kill truck, life changes for both horse and girl. Harper names him Phoenix, and determines to do all it takes to bring the horse back to good health. She does not know that she needs rescuing as much as Phoenix does. Her mother and Miss Chelsea don't want her to get her hopes up as Phoenix is very sick. It's too late for that advice. Harper works around the barn, takes lessons, learns what she needs to know to care for Phoenix as best she can. As Harper deals with the pain of betrayal and divorce, she helps her horse deal with mistreatment and his own pain.
There's an admirable cast of characters: Miss Chelsea, the barn owner; Dante and Night, both riders at the stable and classmates of Harper; Emma, a young rider with great confidence, Harper's mother and eventually her father, and her former best friend, Cat. So much is broken; only time can help mend the hurts. Real and relatable, the story is compelling and a powerful introduction to a brand-new series. It will find many fans beyond those who love stories about horses.
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