The Big Secret (Tales of Sasha #1)

Gr 1-3—A young horse who feels different from the rest of her community uncovers a family secret in this series debut. Sasha doesn't look like her sisters, and she can't seem to suppress her urge to run and jump when all the other horses are walking obediently in line. When the white patch on her back starts to itch and then to sparkle, her parents confess that she was actually found during a lightning storm and adopted into their family. Determined to unearth clues about her past, Sasha and her friend, Wyatt, climb to the top of the mountain where Sasha was discovered as a baby. While they don't find any answers, Sasha does realize that she has the ability to fly, and ends this first volume of her tales with a plan to explore beyond the forest border of her home. Controlled vocabulary, large print, and frequent illustrations make this an appealing title for beginning chapter book readers. However, the plot unfolds slowly and rather predictably. Most of the narrative follows Sasha through mundane activities that aren't improved by Pearl's slight world-building. Repeated emphasis on Sasha's white patch and inability to act like the rest of the horses clearly indicates the story's eventual arc; by the time Sasha learns that she is extraordinary, few readers will be surprised. The ending hints at further adventures and opportunities to flesh out Sasha's world, but students may not be engaged enough in the thinly drawn characters to continue the journey. VERDICT An unsatisfying series opener, suitable for large libraries that can't keep early chapter books on the shelves.—Chelsea Couillard-Smith, Hennepin County Library, MN