Changes for Kaya: A Story of Courage (American Girl: Kaya #6) by Janet Beeler Shaw

 

Summary (from the publisher): Speaking Rain has returned to Kaya's family, but Kaya still has one last fear--that she'll never see her beloved horse, Steps High, again. When Kaya hears of a heard of Nimíipuu horses running wild in the mountains, she hopes Steps High is one of them. Kaya soon has a chance to find out for herself when she joins the elk-hunting party traveling into the mountains. Kaya is filled with excitement and hope, but Speaking Rain is troubled by the smoke she smells on the wind--smoke from mountain fire. As Kaya searches for her beautiful horse, she has to face a fear greater than any she's ever known.

Review: This final book in the Kaya series had some very dramatic scenes thanks to a wildfire. Tension was so high during these chapters, and the book had such vivid descriptions of the fire and their run to escape it. 

However, I was disappointed in the plot overall! This didn't have much of a central narrative, other than Kaya seeking her horse and running into the fire. The ending felt abrupt and without real resolution. I was disappointed that we didn't even get to see her older sister finally marry Cut Cheek, an even that was hinted out literally throughout the whole series! It just sort of felt like book petered out and stopped rather than tying up any loose ends or telling us anything new about the characters. 

I did appreciate that the peak into the past section did provide an overview of the sad history of Kaya's people in the years after the book would have ended. Although it is such a tragic story of them being cheated out of their land and forced into yet ever smaller reservations, I appreciated that my children got to learn more about it.

Stars: 3

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