Hello again from me! Now, this month's theme didn't make sense to me at all because I don't understand what this Hogsmeade is, but someone told me there is a coffee shop there, and I love the colour pink. The coffee shop is pink as well so I think we'll close our eyes and imagine we are there and not in the Hobbit Library.
The chosen book this month is The Girl Who Rode The Wind written by Stacy Gregg and follows 12-year-old Lola Campione, who lives in New York, and her nonna Loretta as they head to Siena in Italy where Loretta grew up and left during the Second World War. I thought this was a rather interesting time to set the book... well, partly to set the book. I say that because the story switches between 1941 and the present day.
I loved that this story switched between the two periods of time as it showed the connection and special bond that Lola and her grandmother have, both with themselves and the horses they meet along the way. It also proved a bit of a history lesson as both Lola and myself learnt about the Palio Race of Siena. This is a fast and furious event where riders race around the Piazza del Campo, and are often thrown from their horses while making the treacherous turns. Lola finds it hard to believe that her nonna entered the races and even earned herself the nickname of 'The Daredevil' after one particular race.
I found myself unable to put the book down as I kept reading. It was rather interesting to learn that Loretta needed to go back to get forgiveness for something that she did in the past and that the past was directly influencing the present. Lola develops a bond with a beautiful horse called Nico... just as Loretta had done many years earlier with a horse called Stella, who was trained initially by her older brother..
As the story progresses, the history of Siena is revealed, and the city is split into districts, I want to say and they are all based upon animals. The Palio Race is all about which district wins the race and brings honour to that district. Loretta had belonged to the Wolf district, so that is who Lola is affiliated with... if that is the right choice of word.
Lola makes friends with a local boy and his family, who own some of the horses that will take part in the race, and that is how she meets Nico. Eventually, the two form a bond, and Loretta reveals the reason she's come back to Siena is because she needs to get forgiveness as she thinks she caused her brother's death. Later on, we learn that this isn't true, and her story has a happy ending as she is reunited with her childhood friend, who has been hidden in plain sight the whole time.
Eventually, Lola is chosen to represent the Wolf district at the race and to ride on Nico. Now all I will say is happy endings all around, but I will not say how, as this is a spoiler-free book corner. If you want to know the rest, then you will have to get a copy yourself and finish the story yourself. Briellerose will be back next month for another book corner.
Lots of love,
Cissarose xx
