Publishers Weekly
When her imperious grandmother dies suddenly, 11-year-old Maya, an orphan, is sent to Wyoming to live with her mother's family-strangers to her, thanks to her grandmother's high-handed notions. There Maya discovers a love of horses, especially those raised and trained by her great-aunt Vi. A skilled actress, McInerney captures Maya's longings and her growing confidence. The narration adroitly shifts from childlike to a more serious tone as segments are told from the perspective of the wild mare, Artemisia, whose path will intertwine with Maya's. Others of Maya's relatives, such as her grandfather Moose and great-uncle Fig, speak with a twang that firmly places the story "out west." As a bonus, Ryan reads from the trail diary that inspired the book. Ages 10-up. Simultaneous release with the Scholastic hardcover (Reviews, Aug. 20). (Oct.)
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School Library Journal
Gr 4-8 Maya, an orphan, copes with her strict grandmother's harsh rules by lying and sabotaging a revolving stream of housekeepers. Upon her grandmother's sudden death, the 11-year-old is sent to Wyoming to live with her mother's family, strangers whom she has been told are wild and worthless. Maya soon discovers that she was badly misled and that her relatives are warm and loving, teaching her not only about their remuda horses but also about the wild mustangs of the surrounding hills and plains. One mare in particular attracts her attention, for it was the horse tamed and loved by her mother before it was returned to the wild. When disaster strikes, the bond between the girl and the horse is tested, and at this point the book morphs into a survival story. Against enormous odds, Maya makes it to safety with the help of Artemisia, and through these experiences her connection to her family and to the natural world are secured. Both the descriptions of the mustangs' life and of Maya's growth from an angry self-centered liar into a kind and honest girl capable of making difficult decisions are handled with skill and realism. Admirers of Ginger Kathrens's Cloud: Wild Stallion of the Rockies (BowTie, 2001) and others of its ilk will love this exciting horse tale.-Ann Robinson, formerly at Moultonborough Academy Library, NH
From the Publisher
Awards and Praise for Paint the Wind:A Cybils Awards NomineeKeystone to Reading Book Award WinnerNautilus Book Award Silver Medal"A fun adventure." — The Washington Post"A breathtaking horse story in the enduring tradition of Marguerite Henry." — Ann M. Martin"Readers will learn much about horses, and even those who know nothing about them will cheer as Maya learns to walk, jog, lope and gallop." — Kirkus Reviews"There’s lots of adventure here (both human and equine), and the pace never lags for an instant." — Booklist"It is a story about the connection of all living things, and one can be thankful for the writers who recognize the importance of actualizing that concept." — VOYA
