October 7, 2025 by Bloomsbury Children's Books
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Canyon Cress is a bull rider. It's been a huge part of his identity ever since his father Austin first put him on a bull. His two best friends, Dakota and Tate, whose father figure, Uncle Ty, works with Canyon at the Rodeo, understand this. Dakota (on whom Canyon may have a crush!) is a barrel racer isn't thrilled that her sport isn't given the attention it deserves, and Tate is in direct competition with Canyon. The two boys hope to qualify for the Junior World Bull Riding Championship that will be held in Las Vegas. It's especially important to Canyon, because he thinks the prize money might help his family get out of the trailer in which they are living. Austin was a bull rider who did very well until he and Canyon's mother were in a car accident. They were hit by a drunk driver, and the mother was killed. While her mother is very supportive of both Canyon and his younger sister Josie, the accident has completely knocked Austin for a loop. He is finally back at work, leaving for construction jobs at 3 a.m., but is back to drinking, not buying groceries, and relying on Canyon to get Josie off to school. Grandma helps by being at the bull Riding competitions and feeding the children, but Canyon doesn't want to let on how bad things have gotten at home. Canyon is also a talented fiddle player like his mother, who was a violinist with the Phoenix Symphony. Bull riding is a tough sport, and its toll on Canyon's body is harsh. He's had at least three concussions, and now even the slightest fall or jostle causes him to have horrible headaches. Again, he keeps this to himself. His music teacher encourages him to pay more attention to his music, and Canyon even uploads a video of his playing for the American Superstar competition, and fills out the application, although in a fit of despair, throws it away. When a bull named Wonderstruck head butts him in competition, Canyon ends up in the hospital. The doctor warns him that any other head trauma could be very serious, but Canyon feels he needs to "cowboy up" because injuries are all part of the sport. Thanksgiving doesn't go well, with Austin behaving erratically. Drunk, he fights with Canyon and forces both Canyon and Josie into the truck to go to the mother's grave. Josie manages to get out of the car to call Grandma, but at the cemetery, Austin hits Canyon, who runs away. Grandma has said that if Austin drove drunk or hit the children, she would not let him near them, and Austin ends up in jail. Canyon still hopes to compete in the bull Riding championship, but after Tate is assigned Wonderstruck and is "hung up" during his ride and has his arm shattered by the bull, it's harder than ever to continue. Tate, however, begs Canyon to go in his place. Grandma takes the children to Las Vegas for the bull riding championship, and Canyon gets a taste of the American Superstar scene as well. When it turns out that his application was sent in with a touching letter of recommendation from Ray, Canyon's long time spotter (and friend of Grandma's), Canyon has a choice: will he continue the dangerous life of a bull rider, or turn to the safer passion of music?
Strengths: Bowling can certainly tell an interesting tale, and I can't think of a single other book that involves bull riding. This is exactly the type of sad book my students gravitate toward-- the neglect and abuse that causes the character to step up and care for himself and a sibling. It was good that the children had a support network that included family friends like Dakota (who was living with Tate's family because her mother was also an alcoholic) and Tate, Uncle Ty, and Ray. The grandmother is fantastic. She's trying not to overstep and intervene with Austin (who is not her son), but has a firm line when the children are in danger, and steps in immediately to care for them. The details about bull riding are fantastic; Ms. Bowling has clearly been to a few rodeos, and probably gotten on a bull herself, since there are vivid descriptions of little things like exactly how to hold onto a rope while on the back of a bull! The dangers of concussions are made very clear, but the hard-to-kick ideas about what constitutes "manly" behavior are clearly laid out with pros and cons.
Weaknesses: While I love seeing books about children who DO things, I can't say I've ever had a student ask for a book about bull riding, and it sounds so dangerous that it's not something I would want to encourage. A story about showing horses Western style IS something I desperately need, though! The number of dead parents in middle grade literatute, and the astonishing number of parents who can't deal with grief to the detriment of their children, continues to wear on me personally.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like the mix of problematic family life and a bit of adventure found in Hautman's Answers to Dog or Wallace's Nowhere Special, or fans of Bowling's other work. If you still have students who read Wojciechowska's 1965 Newbery winner Shadow of a Bull, there are some interesting parallels with following a father's footsteps and making ones own choices.
Weaknesses: While I love seeing books about children who DO things, I can't say I've ever had a student ask for a book about bull riding, and it sounds so dangerous that it's not something I would want to encourage. A story about showing horses Western style IS something I desperately need, though! The number of dead parents in middle grade literatute, and the astonishing number of parents who can't deal with grief to the detriment of their children, continues to wear on me personally.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like the mix of problematic family life and a bit of adventure found in Hautman's Answers to Dog or Wallace's Nowhere Special, or fans of Bowling's other work. If you still have students who read Wojciechowska's 1965 Newbery winner Shadow of a Bull, there are some interesting parallels with following a father's footsteps and making ones own choices.
Windy Creek Stables #2
November 11, 2025 by Feiwel & Friends
E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus
Harper is excited to be attending a competition at the Kentucky Horse Park, but is apprehensive about seeing riders with whom she worked at her previous stable, since they were so mean to her. She loves working with her friend Presley, and is eager to introduce her to competition. Harper's sister Marnie is creating content for Young Rider, an equestrian magazine, and is hoping to interview an Olympic rider who is at the competition. Natalie, the daughter of Tracie, who owns Windy Creek, is along for the competition, but a bit apprehensive, since she is very allergic to horses. Harper is eager to compete with Isolde, so when her horse is colicking in the middle of the night, she is disappointed that the two can't take part, although the health of her horse is the most important thing. When another horse comes down with similar symptoms, the girls decide to investigate to see if something nefarious is going on. The girls from Foxcroft Stables are incredibly mean to both Harper and Presley, even stooping to racial comments, since Presley is black. Are the girls so competitive that they would stoop to sabotage? With the help of Marnie, Harper and her friends identify the culprits and get footage of them. How will this affect the competition?
This is a great book for horse fans, and has tons of details about caring for horses, competition, and even equipment and clothing. There's some diversity with Harper and Minerva's two mothers, and even a tattooed Olympic athlete. The covers are great, and I'm sure that my readers who love horses will check these out frequently. I try to add a few horse related titles every year, so this is definitely a series I will purchase.
November 11, 2025 by Feiwel & Friends
E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus
Harper is excited to be attending a competition at the Kentucky Horse Park, but is apprehensive about seeing riders with whom she worked at her previous stable, since they were so mean to her. She loves working with her friend Presley, and is eager to introduce her to competition. Harper's sister Marnie is creating content for Young Rider, an equestrian magazine, and is hoping to interview an Olympic rider who is at the competition. Natalie, the daughter of Tracie, who owns Windy Creek, is along for the competition, but a bit apprehensive, since she is very allergic to horses. Harper is eager to compete with Isolde, so when her horse is colicking in the middle of the night, she is disappointed that the two can't take part, although the health of her horse is the most important thing. When another horse comes down with similar symptoms, the girls decide to investigate to see if something nefarious is going on. The girls from Foxcroft Stables are incredibly mean to both Harper and Presley, even stooping to racial comments, since Presley is black. Are the girls so competitive that they would stoop to sabotage? With the help of Marnie, Harper and her friends identify the culprits and get footage of them. How will this affect the competition?
This is a great book for horse fans, and has tons of details about caring for horses, competition, and even equipment and clothing. There's some diversity with Harper and Minerva's two mothers, and even a tattooed Olympic athlete. The covers are great, and I'm sure that my readers who love horses will check these out frequently. I try to add a few horse related titles every year, so this is definitely a series I will purchase.
No comments:
Post a Comment