The Horse Whisperer

The Horse Whisperer. Nicholas Evans. New York: Delacorte Press, 1995. 404 pp.
This thrill capturing story is about a fifteen year old girl, Grace Maclean, who loses her leg while involved in a freak accident with a semi involving her horse Pilgrim and best friend, Judith, who dies with her horse, Gulliver. Grace goes through emotional stress after loosing her right leg and decides to never ride again and sell Pilgrim back to his old owners in Kentucky. Grace’s parents, Annie and Robert Maclean, are worried Grace will convince herself that she will never be able to live a normal life again. Annie decides to quit her job as a magazine editor and finds out about a “Horse Whisperer” in Montana by the name of Tom Booker. Annie decides to take a chance and take Grace and Pilgrim to Montana to see if Tom can heal the horse and hopefully give Grace the confidence of riding again. While there, Annie falls in love with Tom. After two months of being in Montana, Annie invites Robert to see Grace and her and meet the Bookers, As Tom decides its time for Grace to ride Pilgrim. As time draws to a close at the Double Divide, Annie wants to have one last ride with Tom. What will happen?
In The Horse Whisperer, Mr. Evans does a wonderful job describing the worries equestrians go through when something so tragic happens at times like these. On a scale of one to ten, as ten being the best, I give The Horse Whisperer a nine. With its extravagant description of Montana, it puts you in the mood to go. This book is more focused towards adults and older teens.
Reviewed by Cecilia D