Outside of a Horse by Ginny Rorby

Rorby, Ginny, Outside of a Horse, Penguin Group, 2010. Pgs. 352. Language: G, Violence: G, Sexual Content: G

When Hannah Gale’s father returns from Iraq as an amputee and someone suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, she has a hard time adjusting to her new life with him. To help her escape from her troubled home, she volunteers at a stable for horses that have been abused. As she works at the stable, she comes up with the idea to use one of the horse, a filly named Rega, as a therapy animal for her father. When her horse friend suffers an injury, however, Hannah must find the strength within to make a difficult decision. Will she be able to make it? Will her father get better?

A touching story about a girl and her horse. The characters are memorable. The plot is slow-moving, but still manages to keep the reader’s interest. Readers who like horse stories and realistic fiction will enjoy reading this book. EL (4-6), MS. ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Jessica M, Library Media Specialist, Olympus Jr. High.