Book Reviews
that were published but were not posted online at Joplin Globe's website

Click our logo to go back to our http://www.joplinpubliclibrary.org/ home page or click your browser back button to go back to the JPL Book Reviews page.

Below are reviews on books and database reviews written by the Joplin Public Library's librarians that were not posted on the Joplin Globe.

June 22, 2008 - Book Review: Paint the Wind by Pam Muñoz Ryan

4-8th Grade

Eleven-year-old Maya has lived a sheltered life since the death of her parents six years before. Since that time, she has been living with her paternal grandmother in a posh California community, but due to her grandmother’s overbearing personality and strict rules, Maya feels like a captive. However, all of that changes when Maya’s grandmother has a fatal stroke and arrangements are made for her to live in Wyoming, with her maternal relatives—her grandfather Moose, her great-uncle Fig, and her great-aunt Vi.

Maya barely remembers her parents, much less the relatives she is traveling thousands of miles to live with. She has an even harder time transitioning since her grandmother, who despised Maya’s mother, told her many lies about that side of her family. Maya arrives at the ranch in Wyoming filled with fear and trepidation, but despite her fear, Maya slowly settles into her new life and soon learns to ride horses and even develops a relationship with her bratty cousin.

A unique aspect of the story is the intermingling of chapters between what is taking place in Maya’s life and scenes from the life of a wild mustang named Artemisia. As readers will surely guess, Maya’s and Artemisia’s paths cross, with the two developing a bond that allows them to survive a harrowing experience. Despite this bond, Maya must eventually make a heartbreakingly, painful decision about Artemisia’s fate.

Award-winning author Pam Muñoz Ryan, who also wrote Esperanza Rising, Becoming Naomi Leon, and Riding Freedom, has crafted another stunning novel. The suspense combined with the allure of a mysterious, wild horse makes for a moving read. Readers will drink in every last word of this latest addition to the ever-popular, horse story genre.

June 22, 2008 Book Review: Riding Lessons by Sara Gruen

Adult Fiction Eighteen-year-old Olympic hopeful Annemarie Zimmer’s dreams were shattered along with her body when her beloved horse Harry was put down after a horrific jumping accident. Her body is eventually restored, but her equestrian dreams are forever placed on hold when she marries and moves from New Hampshire to Minnesota.

Almost twenty years later she finds herself without a job, due to being laid off; without a husband, since Roger left her for a twenty-three year-old intern; and without a way to rein in her strong-willed, fifteen-year-old daughter Eva. With little tying her down, she decides to move home, but upon telling her mother, finds that her father has been diagnosed with ALS.

Annemarie arrives to find her father rapidly deteriorating, and in an effort to help, takes over managing the family farm, with disastrous results. Meanwhile, she acquires a damaged horse, who has the same unusual brindled markings as Harry. She is soon focusing most of her energy in finding out the mystery horse’s true identity.

Sara Gruen, who is the best-selling author of Water for Elephants, has written a complex, moving novel. The mass appeal of horses may be the initial draw, but readers will soon discover there is much more involved in this multifaceted narrative. Regardless of how one stumbles upon this gem, it will be a struggle to put it down.