Deborah Kent

When her father dies suddenly, 15-year-old Lexie McDonald is left an orphan in the Wyoming territory. Her brother, Callum, is on the run, accused of a crime he didn"t commit, and plans are in place to send Lexie to live with an aunt in New York City. Rather than be separated from her beloved horse Cougar, Lexie disguises herself as a boy and sets out along the dangerous Pony Express trail to find Callum and clear his name.

I found the book exciting and fast paced, an excellent choice for anyone who enjoys children's books. Set in they Wyoming Territory, Lexie McDonald is threatened with being sent to live with an aunt in New York City after the death of her father. For a child in love with the wilds of Wyoming, New York City, even in the days of the Pony Express, is a death sentence. She would join her brother Callum, but he is in hiding after being falsely accused of theft. Lexie decides to "become a boy" and show more ride her beloved pony Cougar following the Pony Express trail to find her brother. The daughter of a Pony Express Station Master and sister of a Pony Rider, the idea is not so far fetched as it would be for any other girl. Along the way Lexie meets friends and encounters dangers that keep the story moving along well. show less

A straightforward, well-researched and compelling, yet thoroughly depressing account of Western civilization's attempts to deal with madness throughout history. If there is any moral to this story, it's that none of the treatments really work all that well, and we still have a long way to go towards curing mental illness and ending the stigma associated with it.

This book is an excellent chapter book that illustrates that blind individuals are very capable of participating in sports, school, and life. It shows blind children who have learned to play instruments, participate in sports, and go on adventures. It covers issues dealing with service animals, braille, and challenges blind individuals must overcome but it also shows that blind individuals lead fulfilled and very satisfying lives.