Where the Orchard Ends

De: Sefi Wells

Narrado por: Erika LeonGuerrero

A poignant middle grade novel for fans of The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise, Because of Winn-Dixie, and Pax

Some silences are louder than words. Some friendships are deeper than wounds.

Twelve-year-old Wren Harper hasn’t spoken a word in seventy-three days. Not since the morning she found her mother unresponsive in their Arizona apartment. Now she’s been sent to live with a grandmother she barely knows, in a rain-soaked orchard that feels more like a prison than a home.

Grief hangs heavy in the air. Wren finds solace only in her sketchbook, until a storm leads her to a hidden ravine and a terrified, injured Appaloosa mare. Scarred, starving, and half-wild, the horse is everything Wren understands: broken, voiceless, and forgotten.

As Wren secretly cares for the horse she names Talowa, a fragile bond begins to form, one built with trust, silence, and soul-deep understanding. But when a mysterious man comes looking for a missing mare, Wren realizes Talowa’s past may be darker than anyone guessed. Now Wren must find the courage to speak, for the creature she’s vowed to protect.

A quiet, powerful story about:

• A girl navigating grief, trauma, and healing
• The transformative bond between a child and a rescued horse
• Finding your voice after unspeakable loss
• Intergenerational connection and rural life
• Art, emotional resilience, and choosing kindness

Where the Orchard Ends will resonate with listeners ages 9–14 who loved Wishtree or The One and Only Ivan.

A perfect addition to classroom libraries, book clubs, and family libraries. Includes discussion themes around selective mutism, loss, empathy, and animal care.

Heartbreaking and hopeful in equal measure, this unforgettable novel is a tribute to the quiet, the survivors, and the healing that begins where words run out.

©2025 Novane Publishing, LLC (P)2025 Novane Publishing, LLC

Where the Orchard Ends

“To the ones still finding their way through the dark.”

This story stayed with me. I lost my mom when I was young, and Wren’s journey felt incredibly personal. Her silence, her grief, and the slow path to healing were portrayed with real honesty and care. What I appreciated most is how the book shows that grief looks different for everyone. Healing does not follow a schedule, but it does come, even if it is quiet. Sefi Wells writes with warmth, and her words feel like a gentle hand reaching out.

Narrated flawlessly by Erika LeonGuerrero, who perfectly captured the emotion of the book.

I would recommend Where the Orchard Ends to anyone who has been through loss or simply needs a story that understands what it means to keep going.

Healing, Horses, and Hope with Wren Harper

I really enjoyed this book. The overall message is strong and hopeful, and the execution lands. Wren Harper felt genuinely relatable to me: an artist, quiet and observant, who cares deeply about life and the living things around her. Watching her overcome trauma with the steady support of her community and the bond she forms with the rescued horse, Talowa, was powerful. The way helping the horse becomes a path to her own healing is beautifully handled, written with honesty and hope.

Wells gives space to hard feelings without wallowing, and the relationships are textured and warm. I loved seeing Wren grow comfortable in her skin again, finding small pockets of happiness as she rebuilds trust. The art thread fits naturally, adding dimension to her character and to the theme of noticing and nurturing.

For readers who like thoughtful, character-driven middle grade books, this is an easy recommendation. It resonated with me as an adult, and I would have loved it as a kid.