Friends Like These (Horse Country #2)

by Yamile Saied Méndez

Overview

Trouble in Paradise? In this second installment of Horse Country, critically acclaimed author Yamile Saied Méndez welcomes readers back to the ranch.

Carolina's hope of opening up Paradise Ranch to everyone is coming true: the Unbridled Dreams program is ready to welcome its first sponsored student!

Gisella Bassi seems like the perfect fit -- on paper, that is. When she arrives at Paradise Ranch, she's not as excited as everyone expects. She might even be... scared of the horses? But if their first student isn't a success, there's no way the program will continue. Can Caro and her new friend, Chelsie, agree on how to rope Gisella in?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781338749496
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	06/28/2022
Series:	Horse Country
Sold by:	Scholastic, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	885,285
File size:	18 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Yamile (sha-MEE-lay) Saied Méndez is the author of Blizzard Besties, Random Acts of Kittens, Wish Upon a Stray, and many other books for young readers, including Furia, a Reese's YA Book Club selection and winner of a Pura Belpré YA Author Medal. She was born and raised in Rosario, Argentina, and now lives in Utah with her family. A Walter Dean Myers Grant recipient, she is also a graduate of the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Connect with her at yamilesmendez.com.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Horse Country #1: Can’t Be Tamed:

"The book's descriptions of ranch life are immersive and realistic. The thoughtful protagonist, who brings heartfelt passion and dedication to every aspect of caring for horses — even the messiest parts — will especially appeal to young animal lovers... An enjoyable read about horses, friendship, and second chances." — Kirkus Reviews

Praise for Wish Upon a Stray:

"An entertaining and endearing tale of resilience in the face of change and loss as well as the opportunities that can come when challenges are met. A sweet tale of dealing with estrangement and finding belonging." — Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2022-03-16
A sixth grader contends with both a stubborn horse and the reluctant first student in her ranch’s new scholarship program.

In this sequel to Can’t Be Tamed (2022), ranch manager’s daughter Carolina Aguasvivas continues adjusting to changes at their Idaho ranch. Her friendship with Chelsie, the new owner’s daughter, has cemented, and the two are excited about launching the scholarship program they initiated for kids who can’t afford riding lessons. Carolina is anxious, fearing that its success will hinge on its first recipient’s providing a rave review to the program’s sponsor; unfortunately, things get off to a rocky start when 10-year-old Gisella turns out to be afraid of horses. Originally from Venezuela and homesick after moving from Miami, Gisella also seems to prefer hanging out with Chelsie, who is patient with her nerves and whose Spanish is strong thanks to her Argentine dad. Though she knows some Spanish from her own father’s side of the family, Carolina feels left out of Chelsie and Gisella’s Spanish conversations. Making things worse, Shadow, the horse Carolina’s been assigned to ride, refuses to take direction from her. But nothing is as bad as it seems, and things look up when Carolina realizes she can communicate in more ways than simply by telling others what to do—including by paying close attention to unspoken signals and teaching by example. This heartwarming story thoughtfully presents tween relationships alongside appealing animal content.

A compelling read about learning to work well with others. (Fiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews