About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is processing a significant loss or feels overwhelmed by circumstances beyond their control. Set in the rugged 1890s Washington Territory, it follows twelve-year-old Joseph Johnson, who has lost his entire family to illness and accident. When his beloved pony, his last link to his past, is sold illegally, Joseph embarks on a high-stakes journey to get her back. This is a story about the grit required to keep moving when your world falls apart. It explores themes of profound grief, restorative friendship, and the quiet bravery found in perseverance. While the historical setting provides adventure, the emotional core offers a roadmap for resilience, showing children that while they cannot always choose what happens to them, they can choose how they respond. It is an ideal bridge for readers moving toward more complex emotional themes in middle grade literature.
