Between Brothers

Elizabeth S. Masih is the editor of Write On: The Newsletter for Young
Canadian Writers and Readers.

When popular 17-year-old Greg Kepler finds out he is going to have to
spend several days on a trail ride through the Rockies looking for a
horse lost by his absent-minded brother, he is furious. Greg views it as
a typical Kepler family situation: his brother Michael screws up and he
ends up suffering for Michael’s mistake. To make matters worse, Greg
learns that Holly Wilson, a less-than-glamorous 15-year-old neighbor,
will be accompanying Mr. Kepler and his two sons on the trail ride.

Over the course of the ride, Greg endures a near drowning, saddlesore
muscles, his brother’s endless Shakespeare quotes, and what he
perceives as his father’s favoritism toward Michael. Even more
uncomfortable for Greg are the warm feelings he begins to experience for
Holly—a girl with very special qualities, but someone who would never
fit in with his sophisticated crowd of friends.

On the brighter side, Greg begins to notice the incredible scenery
along the trail and undergoes a transformation through which he comes to
appreciate the natural beauty in his surroundings and, more importantly,
in the people around him. As the brothers’ search for the lost horse
continues, Greg also begins to realize that he and his brother work well
as a team, and that it is possible for his father to appreciate his sons
in different ways and still love them both.

Greg’s personal transformation happens rather quickly and perhaps too
easily, but Between Brothers moves with a quick, smooth pace and manages
to weave all the elements of outdoor adventure, relationships, and
personal growth into a tight package that offers readers some valuable
thoughts on what is really important. Although this novel will be of
particular interest to readers who have an interest in the outdoors and
some knowledge of horseback riding, it will also appeal to those who
like to explore the different kinds of relationships in a young
person’s life.