The Outside of a Horse

A parent might reach for this book when their family is navigating the difficult return of a parent from military deployment, especially one dealing with physical injury and PTSD. The story centers on thirteen-year-old Hannah, whose father comes back from the Iraq War a changed man: an amputee, he is angry, distant, and suffering from post-traumatic stress. Hannah finds an escape by volunteering at a horse rescue, where she forms a bond with an abused horse. This powerful novel explores themes of family trauma, resilience, and the profound healing power of the human-animal connection. It's an honest, sensitive, and ultimately hopeful story for older middle-grade readers (10-14) that provides a mirror for those in similar situations and a window for others to build empathy.