Shuffleboard

Previously published as Only My Horses Know Same beloved book new package Life on a Montana horse ranch has always been the best for twelve year old Kylie Hannigan She bonds with the horses rides them with her best friend Joey and helps her mom train them Plus she barrel races her favorite horse Kiwi and with plenty of practice and grit they will definitely beat her rival Olivia this year But then something starts happening with Kylie s mom She sleeps all the time and Kylie has to do the chores the training and all the care for the horses and it s too much At least it s summer so she doesn t have to worry about school and she can spend time talking to her favorite animals One day a strange behaving horse with an even stranger name shows up for training but is only ignored by Kylie s mom Training a difficult horse used to be a fun challenge Kylie could share with her mom but that s not even happening now Then her mom changes again and she s up doing everything including cooking and cleaning in the middle of the night Kylie still gets no rest because Mom thinks Kylie should be able to do it all too So when school starts and Mom s behavior goes back and forth and back and forth and then embarrasses Kylie in front of Joey times than she can count Kylie decides the only thing she can do is hide everything from everyone except her horses Kylie s life spins out of control along with her mom s She can t train for the barrel races with Kiwi or keep up with homework or talk to her best friend What will it take to get her life back to the way it used to be Or is that even possible Shuffle Hope and Horses Book 1 Shuffle is a compelling faith based middle grade novel and the first book in the Hope and Horses series It thoughtfully addresses the complex topic of mental illness The protagonist Kylie grapples with her mother s erratic behavior oscillating between bouts of lethargy and hyperactivity which includes reckless spending Amidst this turmoil Kylie finds herself assuming her mother s responsibilities at home and with the training of the horses on their farm. Shuffleboard What resonated most with me in this narrative is the portrayal of Kylie s isolation Even as her faith wavers the story illustrates that she is not alone despite her struggles to seek help This is a common challenge for those touched by mental health issues either personally or in a loved one Shuffle does an admirable job of emphasizing the necessity for open conversations about mental health and the power of voicing one s struggles 161 Really well done Love the illustrations Great read for your youngsters 161