The Truth About Horses by Christy Cashman on August 15, 2023
Genres: Fiction, Young Adult
Pages: 392
Format: Paperback
Source: Publicity team
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Fourteen-year-old Reese’s dream of winning the Black Elk race is shattered when her beloved horse, Trusted Treasure, falls at the last jump and the vet suggests they put him down. While still reeling from that loss, her family suffers a second tragedy—one that results in the end of their family business, the sale of Trusted Treasure, and irreparable damage to Reese’s relationship with her father.
Heartbroken and still longing to find Trusted Treasure, Reese meets Wes, a selective mute, whose way of training horses is unlike anything she’s ever seen. If anyone can win the Black Elk, it’s Wes—but he’s struggling with his troubled past, and having a teenage girl hanging around his barn isn’t exactly what he’d planned. Through heartaches and triumphs, Reese must prove her worth if she wants to heal her family, help Wes, and show them all that some dreams are worth fighting for.
A young teenage girl is a horse gal and only this can get her through multiple tragedies in her young life. Christy Cashman pens a stunning debut novel that touches on the messy devastating truth of loss and grief, but the everyday world of horses and horse people in a South Dakota community are brought vividly to life.
The Truth About Horses is told first person from young Reese’s perspective so the reader is right there with her for her deep despair, many stumbles, and comeback. There are no sudden silver linings, but the new guy who takes over the barn where she still puts Treasure turns out to be a kindred spirit. Wes is mute, but he has a connection with horses that helps Reese and Treasure both. So, there is a gradual understanding and eventually healing process taking place through the whole book.
And, then there is the mystical side to this story. Reese is guided by a ghostly herd of horses led by a wild and fierce great black stallion that only she can see. At pivotal times throughout the book, the horses are there for her. I did wonder whether Reese is seeing illusions or if the experience was real. Reese’s deep pain and anger lash out in bad ways and particularly toward her dad, his latest girlfriend and her sons. Whew, that was a dumpster fire of a mess and low point even for Reese. Some people say they aren’t people persons, but with Reese, she really, really wasn’t- not during this time of her grief.
This wasn’t an easy book to read and challenging emotionally. Definitely not my usual fair, but I’ve always loved stories that have a strong horse presence and this one does. Not the glamorous side, but the stall work, care, training, and exercising that gets one dirty and sweaty. But, yes, also the riding out in the open areas of South Dakota ranch country and the dream of the Black Elk race.
In the end, I’m glad to have been offered this book and the experience with the South Dakota ranch country and horses setting, Reese, Wes, her dad, Treasure, and the unpacking of their struggles. This was an amazing debut effort and I hope Christy Cashman produces more. The Truth About Horses is YA, but I think adults who like Literary Fiction would enjoy this too.
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
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I loved reading horse & girl books growing up. I don’t read a lot of YA any more ,but I might have to check this one out. 😀
I was the same. I read every horse book I could get my hands on as a young girl. Hope you get the chance at this one, Lark. 🙂
I love books about horses. I was watching steeplechase on the olympics
Yes, the Olympic equestrian events are some of my favorites. I think you’d enjoy this one since racing is the heroine’s dream.
“Reese is guided by a ghostly herd of horses” oooo!
Yes! A bit of magical realism in this one, Carole. 🙂
I love it when horses are a big part of a story. Sounds like an emotional and moving read.
Same here! Love the horse stories.
Oh yes, the author wrote grief in all its ugly tears sloppy glory.
Sounds like she has a hard time of it but I like the ghostly herd of horses element of this.
Yes, she really had to work her way out of a tough emotional hole. Those ghostly horses were a great extra touch. They always came right when something big was about to go down.