Member Review
Review by
Ellen S, Reviewer
An exciting, feminist take on the world of early rodeo in the United States, 'Sunny Gale,' is an atmospheric treasure of a novel. This book gave me so many different feelings as I was reading along, from intrigue, to joy, to despair and back around again! I was so wrapped up in it that I couldn't put it down all day!
The story of 'Sunny Gale' begins with a young girl living in the late 1800s in Nebraska. Hannah's family moved to the area to try to make their way as farmers, but they soon realize that surviving in mostly undeveloped Nebraska is not as easy as they had been made to think.
Restless and full of dreams, Hannah begins trying to tame a wild horse that shows up one day on their property. She never gets to ride it however, as her step-father shoots the animal after he discovers it. Hannah is distraught, and pushes this discontent into a drive to learn to ride a horse somewhere else.
Luckily, she makes a friend in the form of a local boy who offers to teach her. As time goes on, the local boy, Luke, and Hannah eventually marry and have a child together. Hannah's love of horses grows into a successful career as a rodeo star, which Luke detests.
He wants her to stay home and care for their child, but Hannah cannot give up her dream and the ensuing story makes for a very interesting look at early feminism in western America.
I think this book will go over very well with people who enjoy novels about empowered women in historical settings. Jaime Lisa Forbes is the kind of writer that only comes around every once in a long while, and I fully intend to read more of her novels to see what else she can do!
The story of 'Sunny Gale' begins with a young girl living in the late 1800s in Nebraska. Hannah's family moved to the area to try to make their way as farmers, but they soon realize that surviving in mostly undeveloped Nebraska is not as easy as they had been made to think.
Restless and full of dreams, Hannah begins trying to tame a wild horse that shows up one day on their property. She never gets to ride it however, as her step-father shoots the animal after he discovers it. Hannah is distraught, and pushes this discontent into a drive to learn to ride a horse somewhere else.
Luckily, she makes a friend in the form of a local boy who offers to teach her. As time goes on, the local boy, Luke, and Hannah eventually marry and have a child together. Hannah's love of horses grows into a successful career as a rodeo star, which Luke detests.
He wants her to stay home and care for their child, but Hannah cannot give up her dream and the ensuing story makes for a very interesting look at early feminism in western America.
I think this book will go over very well with people who enjoy novels about empowered women in historical settings. Jaime Lisa Forbes is the kind of writer that only comes around every once in a long while, and I fully intend to read more of her novels to see what else she can do!
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