A young adult novella for horse lovers, SUNDANCE teaches responsibility and friendship. This is a prequel to the Sofia’s Story series.

Malachi Adams is a kid who’s a bit shy and isolated at school. We aren’t sure why, but his family broke up and now he and his mom live with his new stepdad, which may have something to do with it. Malachi stutters so he finds making friends hard, and he gets teased by idiots in his class. Losing his elderly dog Sunny seems the last straw. Walking alone in the woods near his home, Malachi hears a horse whinny. Turns out to be a golden mare in need of help. Her field has been eaten bare and there’s no water in the trough. Malachi knows nothing about horses, but he can take care of a pet, and some things are obvious.

Amelia Morales shares some of Malachi’s classes, and he agrees to work on a project with her. Luckily, Amelia loves horses and takes riding lessons at Whimsical Stables. He decides to share the secret of the mare, who he calls Sunshine, and starts absorbing stable management and horse care right away. With nobody coming to check on the mare, the duo has to make big decisions, and the least of them might be naming a new foal SUNDANCE.

Laura Holt-Haslam is terrific at seeing through a young person’s eyes; the awkwardness and self-consciousness, the blossoming friendships, and self-taught courage. I’ve been impressed by her book Sofia’s Surprise which is the first in this series, and features a Morgan horse. SUNDANCE carries on the tradition, with Quarter Horses so real I can hear them nicker. Great for young readers from ten years up to fifteen, and for horse lovers of any age.