C. S. Adler

Horse story where the whole narrative arc is about how to procure treatment for an injured horse. It has a lot of difficult things going on: Jan's father has recently died in an accident, she and her mother are still grieving. They had to give up their large ranch house to live in the small "casita" that used to be for hired hands. Her mother still makes a living boarding and caring for other's horses, and taking guests on trail rides, while their original house has been converted into an show more assisted living home for the elderly. When Jan's horse goes lame it turns out to be more serious than just a bruise or sprain- he needs an operation. Jan's mother takes a second job but it still isn't enough for the cost. The girl is desperate to find a way to save her horse but can't think of anything. She's more distracted than usual from school, and can't relate to the other kids who don't seem to have any of the same worries (though one girl is nice to her and that might turn into a friendship). One day she's outside with her horse and meets two old ladies from the assisted living home, out for a walk. Mattie commiserates with Jan over the horse's condition, says she used to have a horse when she was young, and invites Jan to the house to see photos. Reluctantly Jan complies and to her surprise finds she rather likes the older woman. She visits her now and then, while still trying to figure out what to do: can she get a job herself? could she lease a "share" of her horse to someone who wants to ride and doesn't own one? It turns out that Mattie might have an answer to her problem, but then she worries about the morality of accepting the offer. This story surprised me with its depth, for such a short book it sure hits some serious issues. And I didn't even mention all of them! Have to leave the reader something to find out. There was only one conversation near the end of the book that struck me as awkward, the rest felt very real and easy to read.

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For a year, Tess has been trying to get used to her new stepfamily, but it just isn’t working. When a school project that she labored over is accidentally destroyed by her stepsister, and her dad and stepmom don’t seem to care at all, Tess has finally had it. She decides to run away and go live with her mom on the other side of Tucson. On the long walk there she acquires an unexpected companion: a gray-striped cat that follows her along the desert road. But nothing goes as planned after show more Tess and the cat finally reach Mom’s condo. Her mother seems more concerned with herself than with Tess, and she has a definite aversion to cats. Luckily for Tess, her new feline companion proves to be a reassuring presence as she struggles to face some difficult truths about herself and her family. show less

A many-layered book about a lonely latch-key child; a favourite book of my oldest daughter when she was in middle school. Is Amanda's fantasy world, where Pink Pig is her best friend and an evil wizard threatens the Little World inhabited by her collection of glass miniatures, really more divorced from reality than her elegant mother's fantasy world in which Amanda's older brother Dale, a less-than-stellar scholar and a competent team player, will win an athletic scholarship or qualify show more academically for an Ivy League college? show less

Caitlin’s family adopted Simon, a Korean boy, just before Caitlin’s father left their family. Caitlin thinks she, her mother, and Simon form a perfect family. But when Simon’s older sister, Youn Hee, turns up in a Korean orphanage, Caitlin agrees that adopting her is the right thing to do, and she’s sure it will be fun to have a sister her age. But when Youn Hee joins the family, Caitlin learns it’s rewarding, but not easy, to have a new sister.