Tales of Sasha

Tales of Sasha: The Big Secret
Alexa Pearl
Paco Sordo, Illustrator
Little Bee, 2017 98 pages
Grades 2-4
Fantasy/Animal

Sasha is not like the other horses. She has way too much energy and, although she desperately wants to follow the rules, tends to veer way off course. Sasha doesn't even fit in with her two sisters, who are so much like each, yet so different from Sasha. At least her best friend, Wyatt accepts and likes her for who she really is, even though he too is different than Sasha. One day a sparkly spot appears on Sasha's small white patch on her back and she is feeling more itchy than usual. Finally after getting in trouble, yet again, in school Sasha's parents confess a secret: Sasha is not their biological offspring, although they love her as though she was born to them. This revelation makes sense to Sasha as she tries to decide whether or not to share her secret. The decision is made for her when one day while hiking with Wyatt the itchy, sparkly feeling returns and Sasha discovers wings sprouting from her back. She has the power to fly! Wyatt pledges to keep her secret and Sasha is determined to find other flying horses just like her.

First released in January, 2017, the Tales of Sasha series is coming out quickly. The ninth installment is set to be released later in the month with number ten slated for December. This is perfect for emerging chapter book readers, who find comfort and skill building in series reading. This new series is perfect for the intended audience. The print is large, the vocabulary low, the interest is high and margins are wide. Cartoon-like illustrations can be found on every page, further welcoming the unconfident reader. Horse lovers will especially appreciate this story, as well as kids who enjoy light fantasy and magical creatures, which has been a recent trend. Children who also march to the beat of a different drummer will relate to Sasha and be reassured that traits that may set them apart from their peers may actually turn out to be an asset. Who knows? Maybe what makes us different will lead to the power of flight. A sweet, gentle fantasy that will amuse newly emerging readers and help their imaginations take flight.