Synopsis
Twelve-year-old Claire Barton doesn't like the "flutter feeling" that fills her chest when she worries about the future, but she knows what she loves: the land that's been in her family for three generations; her best friend Maya; her family's horses, Sunny and Sam; and her older brother Andy. That's why, with Andy recently sent to rehab and her parents planning to sell the horses, Claire's world feels like it might flutter to pieces.
When Claire learns about equine therapy, she imagines a less lonely future that keeps her family together, brother and horses included. But, when she finds what seem to be mysterious wild horses in the woods behind her house, she realizes she has a bitmore company than she bargained for. With this new secret -- and a little bit of luck -- Claire will discover the beauty of change, the power of family, and the strength within herself.
Review
What an amazing story! I wish that I would have had access to a book like this when I was much younger. Stories that dealt with real issues such as anxiety and addiction we’re usually reserved for adults. The themes deemed too serious for kids to read about.
This book brings a spotlight to the the fact that kids experience anxiety and a range of other emotions and difficulties as well. All the while telling an immensely fun tale with all the magical and silly elements a kids book should have. The “flutter feeling” is something I am familiar with all too well, even now as an adult. Claire‘s experiences are very relatable and the difficulties she experiences are heartbreaking. It’s hard to think about young children suffering in any way, however, it needs to be thought about and talked about so we can work together to help them deal with those things.
this was a brilliant story that I believe will help a lot of young people see that they are not alone in these feelings. I look forward to sharing this book with my own children.
The Author:
Sarah R. Baughman is an author whose debut middle grade novel, THE LIGHT IN THE LAKE, is forthcoming from Little, Brown Books For Young Readers in 2019. A former middle and high school English teacher currently working as an educational consultant, Sarah graduated from Grinnell College and the University of Michigan, where she studied English, German, and Education. Sarah is represented by Katie Grimm at Don Congdon Associates. When she’s not writing, she’s probably reading, running, or getting outdoors with her family.
Tour Schedule https://tbrandbeyondtours.com/2020/08/16/tour-schedule-the-wild-path-by-sarah-r-baughman/