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“The Truth About Horses” by Christy Cashman is a powerful and wondrous coming-of-age novel. In this multi-layered novel, the genres are Fiction, Family Fiction, and Coming of Age. Christy Cashman magically weaves a well-written story and vividly describes the plot, scenery, and dramatic and colorful characters. The characters are complex, complicated, flawed, and dysfunctional. The horses have distinct personalities and also are complex and complicated, and there is symbolism. Most of the characters have tragic stories and backgrounds.
Reese is a 14-year-old young girl when her world collapses. Her horse Trusted Treasure has an accident and doesn’t win the Black Elk Race as expected. The vet feels that Trusted Treasure won’t ride again, and her father sells him. Then her mother tragically dies. Reese believes that she will find Trusted Treasure but is very lost. Reese becomes angry with her father.
Wes is a selective mute, a horse trainer who leases the barn that Reese’s family had. The last thing he needs is a teenager looking to find herself, but Reese pushes herself into Wes’ life. Reese is determined to prove her worth to Wes and her father by caring for the horses. She is still on a quest to find her beloved horse.
I was cheering Reese on through all her setbacks and successes. This is a heartfelt, memorable, and thought-provoking novel that I highly recommend to other readers. The author discusses the importance of family, friends, neighbors, love, and hope. There is a magical feeling of seeing your dreams come to life and never giving up hope. I suggest having a few Kleenex on hand. Happy Reading!
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