For 13-year-old Jessie, living with her family on the Wild Hawk Ranch in Nevada is often lonely. But she loves the horses her father and brother break in each summer to sell to local ranchers and rodeo competitors. This year, she is determined to help train the horses, especially when she lays eyes on the wild paint filly she names Storm Chaser. When Jessie's father tells her she is still too young, she deliberately disobeys him by working with the filly behind his back. Then a fire destroys the barn and Jessie's family reluctantly turns their home into a vacation dude ranch to earn much-needed money. ( )

Jessie is a thirteen year old girl who lives on Wild Hawk Ranch in Nevada. Her best friend Marybeth is two years younger than she is. When her brothers and friends bring in the herd of horses that have been roaming free on the range, Jessie spots a beautiful paint that she would love to have. Her horse Rusty is getting so old that she will soon have to stop riding him. She wants an opportunity to break the paint that she has named Storm Chaser but her father says she is still too young. Her brother Duncan doesn't agree with his father so he starts secretly helping her train Chase. When the barn burns down after a storm they have no choice but to open the ranch up as a tourist spot to help pay for what they lost. It is one of their first guests, Ariel, who turns out to be the person to take Chase away from Jessie.
I don't usually read books about horses. I grew up on a farm but didn't have horses. I identified with getting the hay in and feeding the animals and the myriad of chores that goes along with the farm. I did love this book. I found that it kept me waiting until the very end to see how it was going to turn out. I have several students who love horse books and will love the fact that I have added this to my shelves. ( )