Finding Home is a heartwarming story of a wild Mustang horse and the young teen girl who loves it.
Book Title: FINDING HOME by Corinne Joy Brown and Ginny McDonald
Category: Middle-Grade Fiction (Ages 8-12), 130 pages
Genre: General Fiction
Publisher: Loose Cayuse Productions
Release date: June 2019
Tour dates: August 3 to 21, 2020
Content Rating: G
Book Description:
For every girl or boy who owns a horse, or wished they did, “Finding Home” brings all the drama and beauty of America’s wild horses to the middle-grade reader.
For every girl or boy who owns a horse, or wished they did, “Finding Home” brings all the drama and beauty of America’s wild horses to the middle-grade reader.
A coming-of-age story and a tale about friendship, trust and understanding, both horse and owner have powerful lessons to learn. Together, young Jesse Nolan from Colorado and her wild mustang, Curly Girl, rounded up in Wyoming, discover what it means to rely on oneself, as well as those who love you most.
My Review:
reviewed by Laura Fabiani
Finding Home is a heartwarming story of the wild Mustang Pahaska (a young filly) and 13-year-old Jesse, who loves wild horses and wishes to own one. The story is told in alternating views, both that of Pahaska (renamed Curly Girl) and Jesse.
When Pahaska, born in the flatlands of Wyoming, gets captured along with her herd, she faces being sold for hard labor or even as food, but luckily she is adopted by Jesse who buys her at an auction as a gift from her parents who unfortunately are separated. Jesse's uncle tames Curly Girl so that Jesse can ride her, but both Curly Girl and Jesse go through some growing up experiences before they finally find their way home.
I truly enjoyed the fact that the story was told from the point of view of both Curly Girl and Jesse. And I think I even preferred the horse's point of view the most, as it was original and helped me to appreciate the life of a wild horse. I felt for Curly Girl who lost her freedom and her herd. She had to learn a whole new way of life. Jesse's story was good too, although the family issues could have been handled with a bit more depth perhaps. I found the dialogue a bit awkward at times. Apart from this, the story brings to light the plight of wild horses in a way that will appeal to a young audience and teach the young reader the issues of animals in the wild.
The illustrations made with colored pencils enhanced the story well and were appropriate for this intended audience. Most of them were of Curly Girl (she's a beauty!) and the other animals in the story. Curly Girl was the star character in the novel.
Finding Home will appeal to animal lovers, but especially those of horses. Truly these beautiful, powerful creatures deserve our respect and awe as they roam the flatlands of America, and have to adapt to being captured and tamed.
Ginny McDonald is an award-winning, professional Colorado illustrator and a longtime advocate for wild horses. She is the adopter of an American Curly mare, and more recently, a second mustang named "Lil Bit". Ginny's skill in the use of Prismacolor pencils brings this story to life with rich detail and heartfelt emotion.
Denver native Corinne Joy Brown is a multi-published, award-winning Colorado author, magazine editor and freelance writer focused on the West ." Recent publications include "Young Rider", "Cowboys & Indians," and "Working Ranch." She's also been a horse owner most of her life. Corinne is committed to teaching the next generation about the power of horses to teach and heal. "Finding Home" is her eighth book.
Enter the Giveaway!
Ends Aug 28, 2020
i've seen this one around and i think everyone has enjoyed it
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
I loved reading the POV of a wild horse.
DeleteThanks so much for a lovely review.We're so glad you enjoyed our book.Hope you'll join us for the next one!
ReplyDeleteCorinne J. brown, Ginny and Curly Girl
That would be great! Thanks for stopping by. :-)
Delete