Description

Hailed as "raw and heartbreaking" (School Library Journal) and "beautifully evoked" (Wall Street Journal), Raesha's devastating quest for perfection will leave readers breathless.

Lighter. Leaner. Faster.

Raesha will to do whatever it takes to win Nationals. For her, competing isn't just about the speed of her horse or the thrill of the win. It's about honoring her mother's memory and holding onto a dream they once shared.

Lighter. Leaner. Faster.

For an athlete, every second counts. Raesha knows minus five on the scale will let her sit deeper in her saddle, make her horse lighter on his feet. And lighter, leaner, faster gives her the edge she needs over the new girl on the team, a girl who keeps flirting with Raesha's boyfriend and making plans with her best friend.

So she focuses on minus five. But if she isn't careful, she's going to lose more than just the people she loves, she's going to lose herself to lighter, leaner, faster…

"Sit quietly with this book. Feel the wind, the dusty air. Taste the sorrow and the wonder. Listen to the heart that is beating on every page. Then be grateful that Catherine Alene gave us this stunning story. It's a thing of beauty." —Kathi Appelt, Newbery Honor and National Book Award Finalist

About the Author

Catherine Alene lives in Bend, Oregon, with her daughter and received her master of fine arts from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her resume includes jobs as an animal control officer, a fisheries biologist, and, most recently, a language arts teacher in an alternative high school. Visit catherinealene.com.