Sofia's Surprise

Book excerpt: Nine-year-old Sofia Ruiz has just one Christmas wish—a horse of her own. But without winter boots or fuel to heat her run-down trailer, she would settle for just being warm. With Christmas only days away, Mom arranges for Sofia to spend two weeks alone with her grandmother, a stranger she hasn't seen in six years. A painful rift separates Mom from Gramma Lisa, but neither will talk about what happened. Sofia's dread turns into delight when she discovers Gramma Lisa owns a Morgan horse named Delilah. Sofia learns about caring for Delilah and eagerly volunteers to do the chores, hoping Gramma Lisa will allow her to ride. As Sofia and Gramma Lisa pursue their shared passion for horses, Sofia feels increasingly conflicted. She wishes she and Mom could move in with her grandmother, but Mom's strained relationship with Gramma Lisa stands in the way. If they cannot forgive, will they force Sofia to choose between them? Winnie Award winner, Young Adult Overall Runner-up, Equus Film and Arts Festival