Phoenix

By: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Narrated by: Emma Ladji

Growing up is a bumpy ride.

The first book in a fresh, uplifting series about a young girl learning to find joy again through the love of an unexpected horse—from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The War That Saved My Life and Fighting Words.

“Not just for horse lovers; it is for anyone navigating major life changes and grappling with learning to forgive.” —School Library Journal

Harper’s life has just exploded. Her parents are getting a divorce. And she suspects her best friend, Cat, may have known the reason for it long before she did. Now Harper and her mom are starting over in a cramped house, in a new town, where everything feels unfamiliar, including the riding barn next door. Harper’s never been around horses before. And no, she does not want to learn to ride—

Until a truck dumps a starved and neglected horse right in Harper’s yard.

Harper has no idea what to do with a live horse, let alone a nearly dead one. But one look at this horse’s huge eyes and skinny body, and something inside Harper unlocks. The horse is named Phoenix, she decides. And she will not give up on him. Neither, it turns out, will Phoenix give up on her. She doesn’t know it yet, but this is Harper’s first step—toward new friends, new challenges, new adventures. Toward riding.

From two-time Newbery Honor–winning author and bona fide horse lady Kimberly Brubaker Bradley comes a beautiful and authentic horse series, sure to transport any reader who’s ever felt lost and wished to be found.

Critic reviews

“Impossible to put down.” —The Week Junior

“Phoenix is a story of hope rising stubbornly above despair. Beautiful, authentic, and so moving, it’s a gripping and heart-expanding read. I read it in one sitting—it is wonderful.”
—Carrie Seim, author of Horse Girl and Horse Camp: A Horse Girl Mystery

"Phoenix has all the charm, wit, and fierce intelligence readers have come to expect from Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. She makes bold choices as she both educates and entertains. You don't have to love horses to love this book, but you just might find you do after reading Phoenix."
—Holly Goldberg Sloan, New York Times bestselling author of Counting by 7s and Finding Lost

★ “Beautifully written and completely engrossing, this story is sure to stick with readers long after it concludes and leave them anxiously awaiting the next installment. Brubaker Bradley has a gift of storytelling . . . This book is not just for horse lovers; it is for anyone navigating major life changes and grappling with learning to forgive. . . . Highly recommended.” —School Library Journal, starred review

★ "Bradley deftly weaves humor into even the darkest moments, [and] the barn community feels authentically diverse and welcoming . . . A potent, heartrending story about surviving upheaval and discovering that some rescues work both ways." —Kirkus, starred review

★ "[A] classic-feeling girl-saves-horse story . . . Harper’s relentless belief in Phoenix and herself buoys this optimistic series launch." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Very relatable and thoughtfully written [showing that] learning responsibility and empathy are Harper’s pathway to healing. . . . Ideal for readers looking for short books about strong animal bonds." —Booklist