Summer Farm - Gail Folkins

For any young horse-crazy reader—and every girl who has ever felt invisible—Summer Farm tells the story of one girl’s journey to find her voice, fight for her friends, and discover the courage to save the barn, herd, and land she loves.

For fourteen-year-old Kim Silva, the Cascade Farm stable is the first place she has ever felt like she belongs. Awkward and shy, she quickly forms an unbreakable bond with Dusty, a tall chestnut lesson horse with a perpetually twitching nose and a gentle heart. Kim begins earning extra rides by working at the barn, eager to spend every possible moment with her new friends, and her quiet confidence starts to grow—but then she overhears a secret that threatens to destroy everything: the farm is slated for rezoning and commercial development.

With the future of the barn, its herd, and the vast fields they ride in hanging in the balance, Kim finds herself navigating a high-stakes conflict that’s even more challenging than mastering posting the trot. She must learn to balance her friendship with independent Lily against the demands of the barn’s more established riders, Jenn and Zoe. When the fight to save the barn and land—which holds decades of history—requires a united front, Kim realizes she needs to find the courage to speak up and bring together a divided group of riders.

What begins as a single lesson quickly escalates into a summer of defining moments: from racing on a hidden track to catching runaway horses and organizing a high-profile protest ride. As the City Council’s final vote approaches, Kim must step out of the shadows, proving that one seemingly quiet voice, fueled by true friendship and an unwavering loyalty to Dusty, can make the loudest difference. Gail Folkins’s YA fiction debut, Summer Farm is a timeless and compelling story of discovering your true self and fighting for the people and places you love most.