Paint the Wind

Pam Muñoz Ryan's "Paint the Wind" tells the story of Maya, an orphan who has lived a sheltered life with her overprotective grandmother in California. When her grandmother suffers a stroke, Maya is sent to live with her estranged mother's family on a remote Wyoming ranch. This sudden change thrusts Maya into a world of wide-open spaces, hard work, and the captivating beauty of wild horses. As she learns about ranch life and forms a special connection with a wild mare, she also uncovers secrets about her mother's past and begins to forge her own identity. This book is ideal for readers aged 10-14, offering a poignant exploration of grief, belonging, and the exhilarating journey of self-discovery.

After her overprotective grandmother has a stroke, Maya, an orphan, leaves her extremely restricted life in California to stay with her mother's family on a remote Wyoming ranch, where she discovers a love of horses and encounters a wild mare that her mother once rode.