Trail Rides and Starry Eyes

Gr 6 Up–A teen romance filled with family drama, funny moments, cute animals, and big dreams. Cassidy loves life on the ranch but sometimes wonders about the rest of the world. Her family split in two after her Uncle Alex left the ranch. Now a talent agent in California, Alex needs a favor. One of his clients must learn how to ride, so he asks Cassidy to show the young actor the ropes. Wilder Nash has been in teen movies and a handful of commercials, but he’s looking for his big break. His agent lies about his horseback-riding skills to land him a plum acting job. Since filming doesn’t start until fall, he’s sent to a ranch to learn everything he can. Life at the ranch doesn’t start off well. Cassidy doesn’t have time to coddle him; she has lots of chores to do in between teaching him how to ride. She convinces Wilder to help with the chores, so they have more time to focus on his skills. The more time they spend together, the more Cassidy and Wilder develop feelings for each other. Wilder is a fish out of water on the ranch, which makes for some entertaining moments. He’s chasing big dreams and putting the foundations beneath them, while Cassidy struggles to figure out her future. Life on a ranch is authentically portrayed, and the family conflict adds a layer that will resonate with teens. Characters are cued white.