Books like Half broke horses by Jeannette Walls

Set in 1970s California, the story follows Bean Holladay, twelve, and her sister Liz, fifteen, after their artistic mother, Charlotte, abruptly departs, leaving the girls with just enough money to survive for a short time. The girls flee to Virginia, where their widowed Uncle Tinsley lives in a crumbling family estate. While staying with him, Bean uncovers pieces of her family’s past, including revelations about her father and the reasons behind her mother’s abandonment. With finances tight, the sisters take on babysitting and office work for Jerry Maddox, a harsh mill foreman who exerts control over workers, tenants, children, and his own wife. Liz, known for her sharp wit and love of word games, becomes increasingly withdrawn, while Bean adapts more readily to school and the challenges of growing up. The narrative explores themes of adolescence, family dynamics, resilience, and the stark contrasts between California’s small-town life and the rugged setting of the American frontier.

First publish date: 2009