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Touch of Gold

When thirteen-year-old Jamie Francis's parents divorced, she and her mother moved from Halifax to the small town of River Bend, Nova Scotia. Jamie doesn't have any friends and isn't sure how she'll ever make any when she comes across a neglected-looking horse in a field: a golden palomino she names Peach.

After befriending Peach's widowed owner, Jamie learns that her newfound friend is being sold to notorious horse trainer, Valerie Scott, at nearby Tamarack Stables. Jamie offers to pitch in, mucking out stalls and doing chores around the barn and becomes enchanted with the world of competitive horseback riding. She even makes a few friends, including Val's cute red-headed son, Nick, and Naomi, a popular girl from school. But she still isn't sure if she fits in. If only she could ride Peach herself...

Will horseback riding be the key to Jamie's happiness, or will it gallop off into the sunset without her?

Spirit of Summerwood

It’s finally summer, and for twelve-year-old Aislinn that means two sweet, uninterrupted weeks at her favourite place in the world–Summerwood Farm. At Summerwood’s all-girl Horse Camp, Aislinn is surrounded by all the things she loves most: her horse, Firefly; her best friend Jill; and her mentor, Grace. But this year, things are different from day one. There’s a boy at camp, Grace seems tense, and rumours swirl about the stable’s land being sold. Not to mention, Aislinn keeps seeing things no one else can–a fox, an owl, and even a ghostly boy who seems to need her help–and her visions are starting to affect her riding and her friendships. So one starry night, Aislinn sneaks out to meet the ghost boy and hear his story. She also learns about the Indigenous history of the land around Summerwood, and what life was like for residents of a former Poor Farm that was in the same area. But, as Aislinn soon finds out, all actions have consequences, and she faces serious punishment for breaking Summerwood’s rules. With stumbles and false starts, we follow Aislinn as she strives to become an environmental activist, an Indigenous ally, and a better rider and friend.