Thunderhead captures the tension between a boy and a wild, white colt that refuses to be tamed. Ken deals with adult pressures on a Wyoming ranch while preparing his headstrong horse for a high stakes race. Books in this family share a gritty realism, a focus on the untamable spirit of animals, and a protagonist facing serious consequences.
Reach for this book when your child is grappling with the realization that effort and love do not always lead to total control over an outcome. It is a profound choice for a middle-grader who is becoming more independent but struggling with the weight of responsibility and the sting of disappointment. The story follows Ken McLaughlin as he attempts to train Thunderhead, a magnificent but wild and stubborn white colt who seems destined for the racetrack but feels the pull of the wild. Through Ken's journey, the book explores the grit required to see a project through, the patience needed to handle an unpredictable spirit, and the maturity to accept an animal (or a person) for who they truly are. It is a realistic and often rugged look at ranch life that honors the complex bond between a boy and his horse while setting expectations for the hard work of growing up.
