Acclaimed author Dusti Bowling takes the bull by the horns in this moving novel about a boy struggling to keep his family together while facing the side effects of bull riding.

Thirteen-year-old Canyon loves bull riding, but the sport doesn't exactly love him back. His body is in constant pain and doctors have warned him about the dangers of his repeated concussions, but bull riding is the only thing he and his dad connect on ever since Canyon's mom died. Canyon is convinced winning the Junior World Bull Riding championship will be the thing to bring them together again, that once he has that shiny belt buckle all the pain will be worth it. Besides, Canyon has a secret way to help his hurt: playing the fiddle.

When Canyon is unexpectedly chosen for a music competition show, a new dream begins to form. But Dad is getting worse, and Canyon feels more pressure than ever to hold his family together--even if it means choosing to hurt himself bull riding over healing through music. Soon Canyon begins to wonder if he's holding on to all the right things, or if there are some he needs to let go of.

Author: Dusti Bowling
Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Published: 10/07/2025
Pages: 240
ISBN: 9781547616060


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 07/14/2025
Kirkus Reviews 07/15/2025
School Library Journal 08/01/2025 pg. 76
Booklist 08/01/2025

About the Author

Dusti Bowling is the award-winning, Publisher's Weekly bestselling author of ten middle grade and chapter books. Her books have garnered fifteen starred reviews and have won multiple awards including the Reading the West Award, the Sakura Medal, a Golden Kite Honor, the William Allen White Children's Book Award, and have been nominated for over fifty state awards (having won several). Her books are Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selections and have been named best books of the year by the Chicago Public Library, Kirkus, Bank Street College of Education, A Mighty Girl, Shelf Awareness, and many more.

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