But feelings of hate and anger toward others need to stop somewhere. Let it be with you. Love and acceptance need room to grow. Let it be with you.
― Melanie Sue Bowles, Little Pearl
I’m excited to share with you a new book for Book Club! Recently published in December 2024 Little Pearl is written by Melanie Sue Bowles as a sequel to her previous novel Liberty Biscuit. I have yet to read Liberty Biscuit so if you haven’t either don’t worry; you can still read this out of order.
You can get your copy directly here at Trafalgar Square books!
This novel is a nice light read…mainly geared for the younger reader (9-13 years) but there’s no reason an adult cannot enjoy it, either. It’s light-hearted and a genuine fiction for any horse lover. This story follows a young teen named Katherine Pearl Baker (better known as “Kip”) on her rural peach farm.
Kip lives on a large property and is lucky to have and grandfather and uncle both living on adjoining acreage. Throughout the book she interacts and learns from her family members. One day while Kip and her grandfather are running errands they come across an emaciated mare in a field alone. Grandpa knows the owner and before long the mare is brought to their property for some needed TLC. After putting in the work to join up with her previous rescues and rehabbing her new mare “Pearl” Kip realizes her life ambition to rescue horses.
Her uncle teaches Kip about joining up with horses. Before Pearl the family had rescued two horses and a donkey; there’s an entire book dedicated to Liberty Biscuit the donkey that serves as a prequel to this book.
Kip navigates uncomfortable feelings as she experiences several changes in her young life. School problems, becoming an older sister, her grandfather seeing somebody, her uncle making changes, her parents making changes.
“There has always been something deep down inside of me, from all the way back to when I was a young child, just beginning to be aware of my thoughts, that told me I knew I was meant to be with horses.”
― Melanie Sue Bowles: Little Pearl
Young Kip reminds me a lot of myself when I was younger; more interested in animals and nature than in humans. She has a favorite spot in the woods where she writes and talks to crows. Kip is Introverted. Curious. She’s incredibly smart and loves to learn but struggles to sit still at school. Parts of her still resonate with me even now.
“I needed time to myself. I needed to be in my woods or down by Busby Creek, alone. I needed moments of quiet, no one talking to me.”
-Melanie Sue Bowles: Little Pearl
According to Kirkus, this novel highlights neurodiversity … I don’t personally subscribe to this “neurodivergent/neurotypical” ideology; maybe you do and that’s okay. In my mind, however, if so many people can relate how can that be “divergent”? Because society says so? Because it’s a “hot topic”? Because some people don’t fit into the cookie cutter shape society dictates is “normal”?
Personally, I think a lot of the beauty and creativity of humanity is destroyed when people and children are forced to reshape themselves into that mold. How many people would experience the world differently if they weren’t stifled by the “normalcy” the world seems to prioritize?
Kip seems like a girl who was given the freedom to explore her surroundings, the space to find her calling, the love and support to provide her security; she was never stifled and always supported. If that makes her “neurodivergent” who would want to be “neurotypical”?
Life is for learning. Don’t beat yourself up over mistakes. You got plenty more to make.
-Melanie Sue Bowles: Little Pearl
One thing I admire…especially with this book being geared for the young reader is the life lessons and wisdom received by Kip from her family. Kip acts rudely and her grandfather handles her misstep with tact and forgiveness.
Kip loses her cool in front of her family several times. Her family treats her with empathy…understanding…or working to understand the root cause to help her work through complicated emotions.
Kip is also a product of a biracial family. I wonder why the author chose this detail; what was the prompt or motivation here? Regardless of the reason it helped to illustrate some important lessons that some children and young teens might be able to learn and use in today’s society about love, kindness, and forgiveness.
The word of the day is enchanted. And I have learned that being enchanted is not just being in awe on monumental and magnificent things such as the constellations, the moon and the stars, or the birth of a child, or a towering redwood tree. It is being in awe of the simple things that are right in front of us.
-Melanie Sue Bowles: Little Pearl
Final Word:
Little Pearl is a quick and easy read; normally targeted for young readers. It presents common struggles youths may face in their life and how Kip navigates her complicated emotions. The author is knowledgeable about horses, but the horses seem secondary to the lessons learned. It is refreshing to read a fictional novel where the horses are represented accurately.
I do think this book is best accompanied by the first book in the miniseries…Liberty Biscuit. As it happens Trafalgar Square is offering the two books as a set for a discounted rate. I’ve added the link below. They’d make great gifts for the young reader in your life.
As an adult I very much enjoyed reading this book as it was a break from the heavy educational books I normally read. I also typically enjoy biographies…especially before bed when learning isn’t my priority. This book was one of the excellent pre-bedtime books. I would have loved more character development, and I would have loved to dig deeper into the issues and emotions. I thought the ended seemed rushed…but I remember this is intended for youth…and I think it was written perfectly for youth.
We are capable of unlimited love. Love doesn’t go in a box till it’s full and you can’t fit any more inside.
-Melanie Sue Bowles: Little Pearl
I also want to add that I buy most of my horse books from Trafalgar Square Books. I’m excited to say that I am an affiliate with the publisher, and so proud to be. Trafalgar Square embodies the spirit of horse people…. they ARE horse people. The operation is based in an old barn in Vermont and run by only a few people…people you can talk to and meet in person at events. It’s not a big corporate conglomerate, and for that I am grateful. This happens to be one of such books. You can find your copy through my affiliate link here, it’ll let TSB know I sent you!
Liberty Biscuit and Little Pearl Bundle Set by Melanie Sue Bowles
Published by Trafalgar Square books, North Pomfret, VT
If you have any questions, comments, or would like further information, please contact:
contact@trafalgarbooks.com / (802) 356 6706
The Green Horseman 
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