SWEET, TART

An earnest, horse-filled middle-grade debut that tackles difficult emotions.

After seeing the racehorse Carver d’Esprit suffer a devastating injury at the track, white-presenting sixth grader Halle can’t shake the haunting memory. Discovering that the horse came from nearby Oak Creek Stables, she gathers the courage to visit, hoping to understand what happened to Carver. There, she encounters forlorn pony Rocky, who shared a special bond with Carver, and finds purpose in helping him overcome his sadness. As Halle navigates typical middle school challenges—making new friends, growing apart from old ones—and a changing relationship with her older sister, the stables provide solace. When developers make a bid for the property, Halle desperately searches for solutions to save her newfound sanctuary. Halle’s first-person perspective shows her learning about horses—from proper grooming techniques to understanding horse communication—making the equine world engaging to both experienced equestrians and newcomers alike. Halle’s poems—responses to her language arts teacher Mrs. Delgado’s prompts—appear throughout, showing how she processes her feelings about change and renewal. While Halle’s voice occasionally wavers between childlike wonder and surprisingly adult insights, the story ultimately finds its rhythm in her authentic exploration of grief and hope. The small-town Minnesota setting adds a distinctive regional flavor, authentically showcasing contemporary Midwest life from sledding hills and frozen lakes to the landscape of rural farmland bordering suburban neighborhoods.

A tender tale showing how loss can create space for new connections.