Secrets in the Sand

Anne Hutchings, a former elementary-school teacher-librarian with the
Durham Board of Education, is an educational consultant.

Gallop to the Sea is the first in a new Saddle Island series by Sharon
Siamon, author of the Mustang Mountain series. In Nova Scotia,
13-year-old Kelsie McKay and her 12-year-old brother, Andy, have come to
Dark Cove to stay with their great-aunt while their widower father goes
to find work in a remote diamond mine. Driving though dense fog on their
way to Aunt Maggie Ridout’s, they nearly run into Caspar, a beautiful
but rebellious white horse who loves to “gallop to the sea.”

Kelsie meets Jen Morrisey, a stablehand at Harefield Farm, and the two
quickly become friends. Kelsie and Andy also meet good-looking, older
Gabe Peters, who, knowing that the kids are unfamiliar with the ocean
and its dangers, takes them “under his wing.” From Gabe, Andy hears
tales of the mysterious, deserted Saddle Island, once home of the Ridout
family and his rumoured-to-be smuggler ancestor.

When Caspar causes havoc once too often, causing his bad-tempered
owner, Hank Harefield, to make good on his threat to sell Caspar at
auction, Kelsie plots to save the high-spirited horse. With the
assistance of Jen and Andy, Kelsie plans to kidnap Caspar, swim him to
Saddle Island, and hide him there.

Predictably, the rescue doesn’t go as smoothly as planned. A sudden
violent storm and the pursuit by an irate Harefield jeopardize its
success, not to mention their lives. The story ends happily, however,
and Kelsie finds herself the proud owner of a large white horse.

Secrets in the Sand begins just two weeks later. Caspar is ailing—a
result of his cold, dangerous swim and loneliness. To make matters
worse, Dad has lost his job, so money is scarce. When charming newcomer
Paul Speers offers to give Kelsie the remaining horses from Harefield
Farm and to help with the funds and materials necessary to turn Saddle
Island into a refuge for horses, it seems like a dream come true.

With Gabe’s help the horses are ferried to the island and work
begins. Andy uses his time on Saddle Island to search for the treasure
he is certain is buried there. Winds, freak storms, tides, and dangerous
rocks result in hair-raising adventures and narrow escapes for the three
friends. When the promised help from Speers fails to materialize, it
seems the island refuge is doomed to failure. To make matters worse,
Aunt Maggie is hospitalized and Dad wants Kelsie and Andy to join him in
Fort McMurray.

Once again, however, there is a happy ending: Andy finds the treasure,
Aunt Maggie recovers, Gabe helps build a stable for the horses, and Dad
moves to Dark Cove.

Fast-paced with plenty of action, adventure, and suspense and a hint of
romance, these novels will be enjoyed by pre- and early teen readers.
Recommended.