HORSE CAMP

When the beloved horse belonging to a “former frenemy” disappears, can first-time camper Willa solve the mystery?

Having moved frequently for her mother’s military career, 14-year-old aspiring #HorseGirl Willa only started taking riding lessons a year ago. When she gets a scholarship to the Colorado English-riding horse camp all her stable besties attend, it’s an “OMGEEEEE” and “!!!!!!!!” moment. She’s surprised, though, that wealthy Amara gets to break camp rules and bring her own horse. Apparently, Amara’s parents’ donation has bought her that privilege—and Amara taunts Willa with the revelation that they’ve even funded Willa’s attendance, which Willa thought was awarded for merit. When Amara’s horse goes missing, Willa, feeling guilty for possibly leaving a gate open, determines to find Silver Streak herself. But even after she figures out it was a horsenapping, Willa keeps investigating. She’ll prove she belongs at Juniper Ranch! Enthusiastic, dramatic, and awkward, Willa peppers her narrative with exuberant punctuation, hilarious parenthetical asides, handwritten notes, and more. Horse lovers will appreciate the equine activities and details (including plentiful informative footnotes), mystery fans will enjoy the solid plot and fast pace, and those who like realistic fiction will love the friend drama and Willa’s crush on fellow camper Pasquale. Though the main characters have some depth, white-presenting Willa reads younger than 14, and the secondary characters are thinly sketched. The happy ending is more aspirational than realistic but still satisfying.

A fun, breezy, and enthusiastically punctuated camp mystery for readers who devour horse stories.