Paint The WindBy Pam Munoz RyanReview by Ruth MercedesThis book is a great story about a girl named Maya and how quickly her life is changed and the events that occur during this change. The story begins with Maya a girl who wants to be free from the tight boundaries of her very formal and strict grandmothers house.And learn more about her mother and what she was like. At a very young age Maya’s parents die from an accident that the story doesn’t tell you but somehow Maya’s Grandmother blames horses for the accident that killed them even though her parents loved them. The only thing Maya has close to her mother is the plastic toy horses that were once hers that Maya hides from her grandma. Maya studies horses and thinks they're fascinating creatures. The plot changes when Maya’s Grandmother has a stroke and dies, now Maya is going to be in the care of her rumored to be cocky uncles. Maya discovers that her uncles aren’t so bad after all but only when its about time to leave. to go to her Aunt Violet’s horse camp on the Mountains. But now Maya desperately wants to stay at her uncles house than go to a horse camp she makes up lies about getting severe pressure sickness but she has to go anyway.At the horse camp her Aunt Violet insists on teaching her to ride and on top of that she has a annoying boy nammed Poiyei to worry about whos always putting mice in her tent. Maya wanted freedom but she never imagined it would be like this. That all changes when Maya, Poiyei and Violet ride down the ravine to watch a band of wild horses. When Maya learns that the lead Mare was the horse her mother used to ride named Artemisa she feels a connection with the horse and she starts to enjoy her new life.Maya almost every day visits the house and even befriends Poiyei . One day when Poiyei needs to go to the Dentist because his tooth gets knocked outthat leaves Maya alone at camp. She rides into the forest so she can give Poiyei a rare feather she noticed earlier. When in the forest she hears a strange rumbling sound and the earth begins to shake Maya falls to the ground and is Unconscious.When Maya wakes up she finds that her surroundings look all different Maya is lost and to make matters worse she can’t walk her ankle is twisted from the fall .Maya feels feverish and goes to sleep again. But this time when she wakes up she finds the herself face to face with Artemisa her way out. Maya knows with Artemisas help she could cross the one thing that was familiar, the river and perhaps find her way back.Read the book to find out if Maya finds her way back or notThis book I thought was a incredible survival and bonding story. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes horses or horse back riding. I think the lesson in this book is before you try to find out about someone else you should first know who you are.
Book: Paint the WindAuthor: Pam Munoz RyanGenre: Realistic Fiction Length: 325 pagesDate Finished: 1/26/13 Paint the Wind tells two stories at once, which link together at the end. One is about a horse named Artemesia. At the beginning of the story, she gives birth to a foal, Klee. Sometime later, she senses danger and returns to her family. One day, Artemesia hears a helicopter. She knew that there would be a gather so she and Klee left from the area. But the rest of the family was still in the area and Artemisia looses them from the gather. Alone, Artemisia tried to protect Klee, but it was very hard without a family. The othe story is about Maya. Paint the Wind focuses more on this story than the oth one. Maya's parents died when she was very young, so she lived with her grandmother. One day, Maya's grandmother died from a stroke. So Maya went to live with the relatives on the other side of her family, Moose, Fig, Aunt Vi, and Peyton. There, Aunt Vi taught Maya how to ride horses. They did many different activities, all relating to horses. At first Maya and Peyton couldn't get along. But as time went by, they learned how to get along with each other. One day, Aunt Vi, Maya, and Peyton saw Artmesia's group of horses in a gather. But they didn't see Artemisia nor Klee. Aunt Vi had always kept an eye out for Artemisia because she used to be Maya's mother's favorite horse who'd later on got released into the wild. Afterwards, the three of them tried to find Artemesia and Klee. After several weeks of searching, they were still unsuccessful. One day, Moose, Fig, Aunt Vi, and Peyton are all out. Maya spotted Artemesia while she was alone on the ranch and went out Artemisia. Maya found Artemisia, but Klee was already dead. Right when she does, there was an earthquake. Maya got hurt and was stranded in the area. During that time, Maya developed a close relationship with Artemnesia. One day, Maya decided that Artemisia trusted her enough and rides Artemesia back to the ranch. Once there, Maya was taken to the hospital to get her wounds treated. At the end, Maya released Artemesia back into the wild because she thought that Artemesia would be more happy there. I rated this book as five stars because it was touching. It really stirred my emotions. I was sad when Klee died, and happy when Maya and Artmesia returned to the ranch. When Maya let Artemesia into the wild I was sad and happy at the same time. Sad that Maya couldn't be with Artemesia anymore, but happy that Aremesia could be free. Paint the Wind really gave me the satisfaction of a good book.
What do You think about Paint The Wind (2007)?
This book was a series of surprises, as in..."huh...that's not what I thought would happen" or "that is not what I thought this story was going to be about", but all in a good way. Although I will say that a little over 1/4 of the way through I thought...do I even like this book? But I am glad I kept reading, because yes, I really liked the book...it ended up being a strong female character book. There was a lot of hard truths in it, within her characters. As much as "Esperanza Rising" has been on my classroom bookshelf, and on the bookshelf here at home, I have never read it (although will someday soon), so when I say this book on CD, I thought...I have always wanted to read this author. It is a story of a little girl who lost her parents, along with the story of a female horse, and whose stories overlap after a bit. Their is sadness within situations, harshness within selfish actions, and the inter-dynamics of "family" that would make this book a good classroom read, upper elementary, because of the discussions that could come from it. A lot of self reflection, moral questions. It would definitely need supported at the beginning, because it leans more towards a girl book, and even after the beginning, but the support can easily be there. It would also make a good 5th grade choice book when starting lit circles.
—Kalynda
This book was a selection for our Mother/Daughter book club. Most of the girls are 8-9 years of age. The story is told from the Maya's (main character) perspective, and alternates with Artemisia's (a wild horse) tale. My daughter, who loves horses and horsebackriding, is captivated by it so far. Since I heard some girls have struggled reading this book, I make sure to check in with her; asking what she likes, what she doesn't understand, and prodding her to make predictions. The story is filled with adventure and engaging.Overall, the issues of death, loss, love and different ways people love are well presented. I loved Esperanza Rising...maybe when the girls are a little older, we will read that together, too :)
—Lizabeth
This epic horse story, in the tradition of BLACK STALLION, marks exciting new territory for one of our most treasured and celebrated novelists.A puzzling photograph, a box filled with faded toy horses, and a single fractured memory are all that Maya has left of her mother. In Grandmother house, she lives like a captive, tethered by rules... until a shocking event changes e...more This epic horse story, in the tradition of BLACK STALLION, marks exciting new territory for one of our most treasured and celebrated novelists.A puzzling photograph, a box filled with faded toy horses, and a single fractured memory are all that Maya has left of her mother. In Grandmother house, she lives like a captive, tethered by rules... until a shocking event changes everything. A world away, in the rugged Wyoming wilderness, a wild mustang called Artemisia runs free, belonging only to the stars. In a land where mountain lions pose an ever-present threat, she must vigilantly defend her foal... until a devastating act separates them from their band. Like a braided rein, Maya's and Artemisia's lives will ultimately intertwine.
—Christy
