G1207 Book Review of In the heart of a mustang by M.J Evans
Author: M.J Evans
ISBN: 978-0-9966617-0-6
Publisher: Dancing Horse Press
Type of book: Horses, healing, lies, serets, family, friendships, leadership, trouble, bond, Wyoming,
Year it was published: 2015
Summary:
A boy is told that his father was a brave and virtuous man, a soldier who traded his life to save the lives of countless others. He was the man that Hunter needed to emulate. The only problem is the whole story is a lie, all of it. The truth, which Hunter discovers as he begins his sophomore year of high school, is that his father has actually spent the boy’s entire life in jail, paying his debt to society, but not mending his ways. A wild mustang mare, is rounded up by the BLM. The spring rains had been sparse, the forage on the plains even more so. The mare and her herd are rescued from certain starvation and placed for adoption. In a sandy corral at Promise Ranch, a home for troubled teenage boys, the boy and the mare meet. A weathered, old cowboy brings them together – a mentor for one, a trainer for the other. The bond that forms between boy and horse becomes one that saves the lives of both.
Characters:
Main characters include Hunter and Mustang Sally. Hunter is a fifteen year old boy who recently had a troubling revelation about his father, which caused him to spiral downward. Fearing for his life, his family decides to send him to Promise Raunch where he begins working with horses, in particular with one mare he names Mustang Sally. Mustang Sally, from what I gather, has known nothing but freedom until she was caught by BLM ( Bureau of Land Management) and sold to Promise Ranch. It's there that boy and horse meet one another and help one another heal. There are secondary characters as well, but I get the sense they aren't explored as I wished they could be.
Theme:
Animals perform miracles
Plot:
The story is written in third person narrative from a lot of characters' points of view, although the primary speaker is Hunter. First of all the story is written for YA, but without the popular romance angle that many other YA novels employ. The only "romance" that is offered in this book is love and bond between Hunter and Mustang Sally. Layers of complexity aren't explored in or given much attention in this book, at least in mine opinion, but for readers who are looking for a safe, cozy and comfortable read, then this should be enjoyable.
(From iRead Book Tours)
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Book Depository ~ IndieBound
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Meet the Author:
Award-winning author M.J. Evans grew up in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Upon graduation from Oregon State University, she spent five years teaching high school and middle school students. She retired from teaching to raise her five children. Mrs. Evans is a life-long equestrian and enjoys competing in Dressage and riding in the beautiful Colorado mountains. She has published fourteen books, most of which are fiction.
Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads
Opinion:
I was never a girl that loved or cared for horses; I grew up without pets because my mother wasn't fan of dogs or cats or any critters ( am happy to report that she and my dad are dachshund parents!) What I also do is observe my son having interaction with the dachshund, and I have to say that I am of opinion that pets and animals, if we open up our hearts, have strong ability to heal and help people become caring and empathetic, which is what this tale offers. While I am of opinion that a number of things in this book tend to be glossed over, or else painted in caricatures, what really impressed me is the love and bond between Hunter and Mustang Sally, which caused me to change my outlook about horses.
This is for iRead Book Tours
4 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)
Amazon.com ~ B&N ~ Books-A-Million
Book Depository ~ IndieBound
Add to Goodreads
Meet the Author:
Award-winning author M.J. Evans grew up in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Upon graduation from Oregon State University, she spent five years teaching high school and middle school students. She retired from teaching to raise her five children. Mrs. Evans is a life-long equestrian and enjoys competing in Dressage and riding in the beautiful Colorado mountains. She has published fourteen books, most of which are fiction.
Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads
I was never a girl that loved or cared for horses; I grew up without pets because my mother wasn't fan of dogs or cats or any critters ( am happy to report that she and my dad are dachshund parents!) What I also do is observe my son having interaction with the dachshund, and I have to say that I am of opinion that pets and animals, if we open up our hearts, have strong ability to heal and help people become caring and empathetic, which is what this tale offers. While I am of opinion that a number of things in this book tend to be glossed over, or else painted in caricatures, what really impressed me is the love and bond between Hunter and Mustang Sally, which caused me to change my outlook about horses.
This is for iRead Book Tours
4 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)
Thank you so much for reading "In the Heart of a Mustang." Yes, horses are healers. I'm so glad you liked the book. Sincerely, M.J. Evans
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