One of the special-needs children riding horses at Keystone Stables during the summer has Down syndrome and when his affection for Skye embarrasses her, she begins to treat him harshly.

Although Skye has looked forward to teaching Katie, a blind camper, about riding and handling horses, Katie's bitterness over being blind and her parents' upcoming divorce challenge Skye's ability to teach and to share God's love.

The Mexican American author Gary Soto draws on his own experience of growing up in California's Central Valley in this finely crafted collection of eleven short stories that reveal big themes in the small events of daily life. Crooked teeth, ponytailed girls, embarrassing grandfathers, imposter Barbies, annoying brothers, Little League tryouts, and karate lessons weave the colorful fabric of Soto's world. The smart, tough, vulnerable kids in these stories are Latino, but their dreams and desires belong to all of us. Glossary of Spanish terms included. Awards: ALA Best Book for Young Adults, Booklist Editors' Choice, Horn Book Fanfare Selection, Judy Lopez Memorial Honor Book, Parenting Magazine's Reading Magic Award, John and Patricia Beatty Award

With a sickening dread Linda suddenly realizes that she holds little Jed's survival in her own burned hands. The inferno that exploded their quiet world has left her eight-year-old son with severe burns over more than half of his body, most of them third degree. But with neither vehicle nor phone how will they escape from the remote mountain? Rainbow in the Flames is not only the touching survival story of young Jed Franklin's courageous uphill battle, physically and emotionally, from a severe burn injury, but it also includes the struggle of his parents to relate to their life-altering reality. Laugh and cry with the Franklin Family as they take their first steps toward healing. "Once in a great while I stumble onto a great book. One that celebrates life and courage and hope and constancy, parenthood overcoming overwhelming obstacles, and true enduring marital love. Linda Franklin's Rainbow in the Flames is just such a treasure to read." -Joe L. Wheeler, Ph.D. Editor/Compiler of 71 books including several series: Christmas in My Heart, The Good Lord Made Them All, Great Stories Remembered, and Forged in the Fire.