LITTLE PEARL

Changes come to the Bakers’ peach farm in this sequel to Liberty Biscuit (2022).

Katherine “Kip” Baker, nearly 15, can’t believe that one year ago, she was a lonely only child, stuck in the middle of nowhere. Since rescuing donkey Liberty Biscuit and horses Raven and Fire, much has changed. Her daddy let her keep the animals, she enjoys a close relationship with her formerly reclusive uncle, and she has a new baby brother. Kip still loves learning, especially how to tend and care for horses, but she’s anxious about starting high school. At the farm, she has the freedom to be herself; at school, she struggles with sitting still, being stuck indoors, and paying attention to directions. A teacher told Mama that Kip wasn’t trying hard enough, so now she’s reluctant to talk to her parents about her challenges. When Kip finds another neglected horse, she must come up with a plan to solve all her issues. Kip is of mixed race, with a Black mom and white dad; as in the previous entry, her voice feels inconsistent and the conversations about race are surface level. The book’s strength lies in its depiction of the ways Kip’s mind works differently from her peers’. Bowles doesn’t diagnose Kip and shares in a foreword that she struggled in the same way as a young person. This intentional ambiguity feels powerful, offering readers a chance to see themselves and feel accepted.

A solid work that affirms neurodiversity.