Name: The Wild Path
ISBN: 9780316422475

Sarah R. Baughman

Twelve-year-old Claire struggles to cope while her eighteen-year-old brother, Andy, is treated for drug addiction and her family prepares to sell her beloved horses, but finally accepts that change can be good.

The Wild Path

Candyce Kirk

The Wild Path is a beautifully written book that deals with difficult subjects in a way for this age group to understand. I think it may even help children to realize they're not the only one who has had to deal with addiction and how this affects a family as a whole.

Our main character Claire is having a hard time since her brother was sent to rehab after a DUI. This was an interesting aspect of the story. What is addiction? What happens to someone? Why are they at rehab? I feel the author dealt with these subjects in a very age appropriate way. I appreciated the fact that she showed a family doesn't go back to normal when someone goes to rehab and they all need to find their new normal. It was clear Claire has a special relationship with her brother, so this wasn't easy for her. I think through Andy's letters, time with the horses and the support group she goes to were very important to her processing everything.

Horses play a big part in The Wild Path and that made this story very special. I know horses are very sensitive to someone's emotions and I loved how big a part they played during this story. I've heard of equine therapy before and it's really amazing. I loved Claire doing her best to try and win money to keep their horses for equine therapy. I loved the wild horses she found and the story she researches during the book. It felt like this was something Claire needed while processing everything happening at home.

All in all, an amazing story that shows us what happens when a family deals with addiction. I also loved the side characters. The friendships Claire has were amazing and I loved seeing the support group she went to. Making it clear that the addiction wasn't their fault and that they can't change anything is such an important lesson. The author also describes the anxiety Claire is feeling in an interesting way. I would've like to have seen a bit more of this in the book, but it doesn't make it less amazing.

Alexis 

4/5 stars 

This was a very moving middle-grade book. It's dealing with a subject (substance abuse) that isn't easy for anyone to talk about. I absolutely loved the way it was done. I really don't want to say too much because I don't want to take away from the reading experience, so I just highly recommend giving it a read if you are at all interested.

Paige Green

Disclaimer: I received this arc and e-arc from the publisher for a tour! Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: The Wild Path

Author: Sarah R. Baughman

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 5/5

Recommended For...: middle grade, people who like horses

Publication Date: September 1, 2020

Genre: YA Middle Grade

Recommended Age: 12+ (alcohol, broken family)

Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Pages: 336

Synopsis: Twelve-year-old Claire Barton doesn't like the "flutter feeling" that fills her chest when she worries about the future, but she knows what she loves: the land that's been in her family for three generations; her best friend Maya; her family's horses, Sunny and Sam; and her older brother Andy. That's why, with Andy recently sent to rehab after a DUI, and her parents planning to sell the horses, Claire's world feels like it might flutter to pieces.

When Claire learns about equine therapy, she imagines a less lonely future that keeps her family together, brother and horses included. But, when she finds mysterious wild horses in the woods behind her house, she realizes she has a bit more company than she bargained for. With this new secret-and a little bit of luck-Claire will discover the beauty of change, the power of family, and the strength within herself.

Review: I thought this was a very sweet book and I really liked how the author created the story. The plot was very engaging to the reader and even though it is a sad book I think that it will connect with a lot of middle grade readers. The book is also a classic horse girl book and I am here for it LOL.

The only issue I had with the book was that I wish that the world building was a little bit better and that we spent more time with the side characters from the book.

Verdict: It was a sweet book!

The Wild Path

Reviews

Highlights