A parent might reach for this book when their child is navigating the return of an absent parent or dealing with complex, strained family dynamics. Thicker Than Water follows sisters Amy and Lou as they grapple with the sudden reappearance of their estranged father, years after a family tragedy. As Amy works to heal a traumatized horse, she confronts her own feelings of abandonment and anger. This story explores themes of forgiveness, loyalty, and what it truly means to be a family. It's a gentle yet honest look at how relationships can be messy but also resilient, making it a great choice for horse-loving readers aged 9 to 12 who are working through their own feelings about belonging and family bonds.
The central sensitive topic is parental abandonment and the resulting family trauma. The mother's death in a car accident (which occurred prior to this book but is a constant presence) is a key backstory element. The approach is direct and emotional, focusing on the characters' feelings. It's a secular exploration of grief and forgiveness. The resolution is hopeful but realistic; the relationship with the father is not magically fixed, but a path toward healing begins.
Ideal Reader
A sensitive, animal-loving child aged 10 to 12 who is experiencing feelings of disappointment or confusion about a parent's actions. This is for a child grappling with the idea that parents are imperfect and that family loyalty can be complicated. It is also perfect for any kid obsessed with horse stories who is ready for more emotional depth.
Parent Prep
Parents should be prepared to discuss the concept of forgiveness and why people sometimes make choices that hurt others. The mother's death is a recurring theme, so if the child is sensitive to parental loss, that context is important. No specific pages need previewing, but awareness of the emotional weight is key. The child has been asking difficult questions about an absent or estranged family member ("Why doesn't Grandpa visit anymore?"). Or the parent overhears the child expressing feelings of being let down or abandoned by a loved one.
Age Experience
A 9-year-old will likely focus on the exciting horse story: taming the wild Spartan and the drama of the farm. A 12-year-old will connect more deeply with Amy's emotional turmoil, the complexity of her feelings toward her father, and the themes of forgiveness and rebuilding trust.
What Makes It Special
While many horse books exist, the Heartland series, and this book in particular, uses the horse-human bond as a powerful, direct metaphor for emotional healing. It doesn't shy away from the messy, complicated feelings of family trauma, making it more emotionally resonant than a simple "girl and her horse" adventure story.
Read plot summary
Amy Fleming, a teen with a gift for healing horses, is working to save her family's horse farm, Heartland, after her mother's death. Her life is disrupted by the return of her estranged father, Tim, who left after a rodeo accident. Amy struggles with feelings of anger and betrayal towards him, while also trying to gentle a wild and dangerous stallion named Spartan. The two plotlines intertwine as Amy's journey with Spartan mirrors her emotional journey with her father, forcing her to confront her past to build a future.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Amy is very angry at her father, Tim, when he returns. Why do you think she has trouble trusting him? What would you do if you were in her situation?
2
The book's title, 'Thicker Than Water,' refers to a saying about family bonds being the strongest. Do you think Amy believes this at the start of the book? How does her perspective change by the end?
3
Amy's work with the wild horse, Spartan, seems to help her understand her own feelings. In what ways are Amy and Spartan similar? How does helping him end up helping her?
4
Lou and Amy have very different reactions to their father's return. Why do you think the sisters handle his reappearance so differently? Whose reaction did you understand more, and why?
