Children's Literature

Lidie has been waiting five long years to join her father and older brother, Rafael, in New York. When the time finally comes to pack up and leave her Aunt and Uncle in Brazil, Lidie has high expectations for what her American future will hold. None of these expectations, however, include a baby pink bedroom and a family that views her as the little girl she was when they left. Worst of all, they have no idea that she too shares the family passion for horses. America does not seem to hold the answer to all of her wishes and prayers, and life with her father and brother seems far from the homecoming that she imagined. Everything begins to change, however, when her father brings home a new horse—appropriately named Wild Girl—and Lidie begins to find her niche in the family and is slowly able to open up the lines of communication and trust that seemed so closed before. Patricia Reilly Giff will not disappoint her fans with this newest addition to her collection, though the interest in the book will peak with a smaller selection of older elementary and middle school students who share Lidie's passion for horses. Reviewer: Jeanna Sciarrotta