Finding Somewhere

Gr 7–10—Hattie, 18, and Delores, 16, love a retired horse that is scheduled to be euthanized. Neither teen is willing to accept this fate for Speed, so they borrow a horse trailer, load him up in the middle of the night, and head west to find pastureland where they can leave him to live his final days as a horse, not a pony ride. Of course, their parents are worried and constantly call to reprimand them, and they risk being found by the police and arrested for theft. Fortunately, they don't encounter too much trouble along the way, and they meet more fellow horse lovers than people trying to sabotage them. They camp and sleep in the cab of the truck, and even have enough money occasionally to sleep in hotels. This is a story for all who have deeply loved an animal and felt like they needed to help it. While the initial defiance by the teens is not something to encourage, the end result is positive.—Jessica Lorentz Smith, Bend Senior High School, OR