About This Book
Parents should reach for this book when their child is carrying a heavy emotional burden or struggling to talk about a family crisis. It is especially helpful for children who feel isolated by a sibling's illness or who use caretaking as a way to process their own unspoken pain. The story follows Honey, a girl at Chestnut Hill boarding school, who keeps the secret of her twin brother's serious illness hidden from her new friends. When a pony is injured, Honey pours her repressed anxiety and love into nursing the animal back to health. This realistic fiction title gently explores themes of empathy, the weight of secrets, and the healing power of the human-animal bond. It is a compassionate choice for middle-grade readers (ages 8 to 12) who need to see that it is okay to share their struggles and ask for support.
