Hannah's Journey

Hannah Gardner knows she was born to race horses, just like her adopted aunt Spupaleena.  Her mother fears for her daughter’s future, and her father is frustrated by Hannah’s rebellious ways. Torn between trying to teach her to be a lady and allowing their daughter to find her own path, they threaten to send Hannah to her proper aunt in Montana.  When Hannah runs away to the Sinyekst village to train with Spupaleena, she learns lessons — in racing and in life — that she never expected. Will Hannah follow Spupaleena's example, or choose a different path all together?

The second book in the Gardner Sibling trilogy, “Hannah’s Journey” is a young adult tale of self-discovery.  Hannah is stubborn, and aptly termed rebellious, and the journey is her attempt to determine what she wants in life. The conflict centers on her desire to race and her romantic pursuits are the method she uses to continue doing so. Unfortunately, the conflict is predictable, and most of Hannah’s troubles are self-inflicted, which makes the story a bit more drawn out than necessary. Still, since the novel is told from Hannah’s perspective (with a teenage "coming of age" slant), the story provides a different and friendlier view of early settlers and their native neighbors on the frontier, which makes it unique in period writing. Overall, it is a good read for teens that may be searching for their own path.

Sarah E Bradley