Name: After the Storm
ISBN: 9780439130226

Lauren Brooke

Although Amy is helping out with the horses at Heartland again, she still feels guilty about her mother's death. To make matters worse, she is trying to care for Spartan, the horse she and her mother rescued before the accident. For Amy, Spartan is an everyday reminder of the wreck. And Amy is a reminder for Spartan as well. Finally, Amy realizes that Spartan will never forgive her until she forgives herself.

After the Storm

Briar's Reviews

Ahh, Heartland. This middle grade series gives me series nostalgic vibes with all of it's wonderful writing. Lauren Brooke has crafted such a wonderful and sweet story all mashed in one little middle grade novel. These books make my heart swell and take my back to my childhood (even if I didn't read them back in the day).

I highly recommend this series for anyone looking to get their children into middle grade novels. This book is serious cuteness overload - there's horses, drama and education - all throughout this book. It's well written and far better than a lot of the books I was forced to read in my elementary school days. I wish this series was one of the books that was littered throughout my elementary school's library because I would have ate them up.

This book focuses on family and friendships. Amy and her sister Lou, her Grandpa, her friends, Ty, the horses - so many good relationships are presented in this book and they make them all grow and feel so real. While there are dramatic moments in this book, everything grows and feels so affectionately real. The importance of love and friendships is so heavily focused yet it doesn't cheapen the book. And the character development is also starting to take off more... Hopefully it continues with the next book in the series.

Is this book accurate? Not 100%. I don't think a young girl could easily tame a horse as easy as Amy did, but I wouldn't use that against this book. It's for middle grade readers and it's not a horse training non-fiction book. It's a work of fiction. 

When I was looking through other reviews I had a good chuckle because Amy talks about how much she misses her Mom. I lost my Dad just before I turned 18, and as a mid-twenty-something I still think everyday how much I miss my dad. Clearly those reviewers have never lost anyone (let alone as a PRE-TEEN and a sudden death...) or don't have an empathetic bone in their body. 

Overall, this book is a wonderful little read. It's quick, easy to read and a fun middle grade novel. Being able to enjoy this book as an adult is an absolute gem! It only took me about an hour and a half to read. I can't wait to find the next book in this series and binge the rest of it!

P.S. If you like this book, or this series, watch the television show! It's just as lovely and it's a Canadian production!

Four out of five stars.