All Gib ever wanted was to be adopted, but life with a family isn’t quite what he thought it would be. Gib was sent to an orphanage when he was six years old, and with each year, he knows it becomes less likely that he will be adopted into a loving family.

Gibson Whitaker lives at the Lovell House Home for Orphaned and Abandoned Boys. At eleven years old, he doesn’t have much in past memories and hopes only that he will be adopted by a real family and become a part of it.

It’s the early 1900s and the outlook for orphans is pretty dim. If not adoption, there is always the possibility of being “farmed out.” Not the best option, as the outcome is the boy winds up being cheap/free labour for the family to takes him, rather than being considered “family.”

Gib finds himself being farmed out to the local bank president’s family. Though the family structure is one he has dreamed of, he isn’t 100% family, but he learns to be a wrangler and also the fact that he can “talk” to the horses. Something he wasn’t really aware of, but he knew he loved working with them.

During his years there he feels there is a tension and that there are secrets. Some of those secrets are part of his past, but the family isn’t forthcoming on the secrets. He only gets dibs and dabs that make him even more curious.

At 18 Gib is returned to Lovell House — something that isn’t a usual event. That is when things start to come together and his past comes into view.

I’ve read a number of books by Zelpha Keatly Snyder and enjoyed each one. She writes mainly for kids, but her characters and situations are well done enough that adults can get something out of her books. ( )

Niceish story - there are parts I enjoyed a lot (especially the horses!), and the events of orphanage life are realistically nasty (and based on real life, the author's father). I had to keep reminding myself that this was a ten-year-old (or so) boy. But the end is so...pointless? Gib doesn't do much of anything, aside from refuse to give up the saddle, and it wouldn't have mattered much if he did. The solution was completely outside his actions. It's sort of a happy ending, with a sad-ish reason for the happy ending - and we never get any idea of why, on so many levels and for so many of the characters (Thornton, Livy, Mrs. Thornton for that matter...). As a kid's book, not bad, but not satisfying to an adult reader. There is a sequel, and I'll be checking that out. ( )

I read this book a little while ago.. I can't really remember much about this book. It can get very sad at times and I feel bad for the boy main character. The bond between the boy and the horse is so strong that I don't think anyone could ever break that apart. There are also some happy moments in this book that make you want to cry of joyfulness! I absolutely love this book! ( )

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