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American Girl Mysteries
The Ghost Wind Stallion: A Kaya Mystery
Kaya's people tell a story about unusual silver stallions of long ago that had powerful medicine -- a strong connection to the spirit world. Now Kaya's blind sister, Speaking Rain, has dreamed of a stallion like none she's ever met. Then the two girls come upon a silver stallion in the woods. Could he be a Ghost Wind Stallion of legend?
224 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2016
6 people are currently reading
312 people want to read
About the author
Emma Carlson Berne
317 books145 followersEmma Carlson Berne is the author of the YA thrillers STILL WATERS and NEVER LET YOU GO (coming Fall 2012 from Simon & Schuster). She has also written the thrillers FIGMENT and CHOKER under the pen name Elizabeth Woods. She lives and writes in Cincinnati. Learn more about Emma and contact her directly at her website, www.emmacarlsonberne.com. Or check out Emma Carlson Berne Books on http://www.facebook.com/EmmaCarlsonBe... or follow her on Twitter.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
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March 17, 2016Of the three mysteries put out by AG this year, Kaya's falls in the middle for me. On the one hand, it's a Kaya book that ends rather happily. On the other hand, the part of Speaking Rain will be played by Felicity Merriman today. The taming of Ghost reminded me a lot of Felicity's taming of Penny, only without Jiggy Nye popping in to drunkenly scare people.
I didn't mind too much because for Speaking Rain, Ghost represents freedom and also having something/someone that is hers and hers alone.
Also, if you remember The Neverending Story (movie), you might have flashbacks during a particular scene.
I didn't mind too much because for Speaking Rain, Ghost represents freedom and also having something/someone that is hers and hers alone.
Also, if you remember The Neverending Story (movie), you might have flashbacks during a particular scene.
April 15, 2021
This is one of those AG stories that can only happen because nobody speaks to their parents, or any trustworthy adults. Which is, of course, realistic, if a little frustrating for an adult to read. I can forgive it because it is realistic that these girls would keep the horse a secret, and I liked seeing Speaking Rain get more agency than she usually has in the Central Series. The character of Tall Branch almost works, but she's a little over the top to be made as sympathetic as Berne ultimately wants her to be.
February 11, 2018
This takes place several years after Kaya's first story and I have to admit, I like her slightly older better. I think the writers have a done a good job of showing Kaya really learning and growing, rather than being perfect and gifted and mature from the beginning. It's also nice that this book actually focuses a great deal on Speaking Rain, who also finally shows some personality!
October 19, 2016
This one didn't seem like much of a mystery at first but then got substantially better. It wound up being genuinely exciting, and imparted good lessons (about not giving up, being sensitive even towards prickly people, and following your dreams) along the way.
September 14, 2025
If AG still did the Best Friends line, this would’ve been Speaking Rain’s book! Yes, Kaya was in this and she had here story, but Speaking Rain was definitely in the spotlight here!
August 25, 2024
The great AG marathon continues. Again, reading for the first time as an adult.
This one has two things going on from an interpersonal level:
1. Speaking Rain, who is blind, has been dreaming of horse riding and independence. Kaya sees that her sister is chafing at always being the one who is led or protected.
2. Kaya's aunt, recently widowed, comes to live with the family. She seems to take an instant dislike to Kaya (to what initially seems like an excessive degree, though it softens at the end). Eventually we get a window into the trauma and grief that are leading her to act this way - a valuable reminder to young readers that sometimes it really isn't all about you.
Along the way, Kaya and Speaking Rain do a pretty good impression of "Meet Felicity": We have to win over and ride this horse to prove a point. In this case, it's a beautiful silver stallion who shows up as if wild, but shows signs of having been trained in the past.
There's a lot of "we have to keep this secret" business, especially related to the horse - an element that feels completely standard for middle grade fiction, but all wrong for Kaya, who tends to consult her grandmother or another adult about most things. Eventually she starts to do that here, but she's still holding a lot back. Generally it feels like Kaya's character development has taken a step backward (bummer). This also marks the first time Kaya is written by someone other than Janet Shaw and you can tell. Still doesn't seem to be a Native writer, though, grumble.
More Kaya babble
Meet Kaya | Kaya’s Escape | Kaya’s Hero | Kaya and Lone Dog | Kaya Shows the Way | Changes for Kaya
Kaya and the River Girl | Kaya’s Short Story Collection
The Silent Stranger | The Ghost Wind Stallion
The Roar of the Falls
This one has two things going on from an interpersonal level:
1. Speaking Rain, who is blind, has been dreaming of horse riding and independence. Kaya sees that her sister is chafing at always being the one who is led or protected.
2. Kaya's aunt, recently widowed, comes to live with the family. She seems to take an instant dislike to Kaya (to what initially seems like an excessive degree, though it softens at the end). Eventually we get a window into the trauma and grief that are leading her to act this way - a valuable reminder to young readers that sometimes it really isn't all about you.
Along the way, Kaya and Speaking Rain do a pretty good impression of "Meet Felicity": We have to win over and ride this horse to prove a point. In this case, it's a beautiful silver stallion who shows up as if wild, but shows signs of having been trained in the past.
There's a lot of "we have to keep this secret" business, especially related to the horse - an element that feels completely standard for middle grade fiction, but all wrong for Kaya, who tends to consult her grandmother or another adult about most things. Eventually she starts to do that here, but she's still holding a lot back. Generally it feels like Kaya's character development has taken a step backward (bummer). This also marks the first time Kaya is written by someone other than Janet Shaw and you can tell. Still doesn't seem to be a Native writer, though, grumble.
More Kaya babble
Meet Kaya | Kaya’s Escape | Kaya’s Hero | Kaya and Lone Dog | Kaya Shows the Way | Changes for Kaya
Kaya and the River Girl | Kaya’s Short Story Collection
The Silent Stranger | The Ghost Wind Stallion
The Roar of the Falls
October 8, 2016
i thought this book was great. if i had'nt read this book i would'nt have been so inspired by
kaya to love horses like her.
sydney
age 8
bye!
kaya to love horses like her.
sydney
age 8
bye!
November 25, 2022
"The Ghost Wind Stallion" is one of three mystery novels American Girl commissioned for Kaya's collection. Longer than the original introductory Kaya chapter books, "The Ghost Wind Stallion" challenges Kaya to help her blind sister Speaking Rain's desire to ride a mysterious stray stallion they name Ghost, when he might be bringing trouble to their camp and Kaya gets blamed when things start going awry. The plot and emotional maturity of this middle grade novel is certainly richer and more nuanced than I expected.
This is a great horse book, a good American Girl doll novel, and a wonderful addition to the other Kaya works. I'm so glad I read this. In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, I appreciated the respect with which this book depicts Kaya's way of life and her family's values. In addition to the story being a good one, I loved the inclusion of Nimipuu (Nez Perce) words within the text, in a glossary at the back, and an historical context Author's Note explaining Nimipuu relations with their brother horses.
For instance, before reading that Author's Note, I had not known that the Nimipuu had bred the speckled, versatile horse breed that would become the widely spread and much-loved Appaloosa. Though the Nimipuu lost most of their horses after the Nez Perce War of 1877, the breed was preserved, became formally recognized in 1938, and in 1975 became the official state horse of Idaho. I once rode a very beautiful Appaloosa on a trail ride in Colorado Springs, but the flies accosted him more so than his comrades of other breeds, so I wonder if the Appaloosa is best suited to the Pacific Northeast environment of its origin.
Anyway, this was a great middle grade horse mystery book, in line with "The Secret of Shadow Ranch (Nancy Drew Mystery Story #5)" by Carolyn Keene (aka: Mildred Wirt Bensen). I'll be reading other Kaya mysteries, other Kaya books, and other Emma Carlson Berne works.
This is a great horse book, a good American Girl doll novel, and a wonderful addition to the other Kaya works. I'm so glad I read this. In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, I appreciated the respect with which this book depicts Kaya's way of life and her family's values. In addition to the story being a good one, I loved the inclusion of Nimipuu (Nez Perce) words within the text, in a glossary at the back, and an historical context Author's Note explaining Nimipuu relations with their brother horses.
For instance, before reading that Author's Note, I had not known that the Nimipuu had bred the speckled, versatile horse breed that would become the widely spread and much-loved Appaloosa. Though the Nimipuu lost most of their horses after the Nez Perce War of 1877, the breed was preserved, became formally recognized in 1938, and in 1975 became the official state horse of Idaho. I once rode a very beautiful Appaloosa on a trail ride in Colorado Springs, but the flies accosted him more so than his comrades of other breeds, so I wonder if the Appaloosa is best suited to the Pacific Northeast environment of its origin.
Anyway, this was a great middle grade horse mystery book, in line with "The Secret of Shadow Ranch (Nancy Drew Mystery Story #5)" by Carolyn Keene (aka: Mildred Wirt Bensen). I'll be reading other Kaya mysteries, other Kaya books, and other Emma Carlson Berne works.
January 21, 2024
Kaya’s Aunt Tall Branch moves to live with them, Kaya becomes careless of her actions and get accosted for her actions, all whilst her sister Speaking Rain is dreaming of a wild horse named Ghost that she dreams of riding.
What a unique mystery I wasn’t really sure what was going to entail within this mystery but it was very different, the horse was so very mysterious and the way that her sister Speaking Rain was so drawn to him was a great plot line.
I really did enjoy having Speaking Rain be a huge key component within this story, I really like her character and we got to see more of her streantgh, courage and bravery she used whilst she was left alone. I liked how she had such trust and faith in this mysterious and possibly dangerous horse.
I did find it upsetting the way Kaya was being treated and my heart did break for her, she wasn’t doing anything intentionally wrong, her sister had just gotten into her mind and the constant put down from her aunt made everything more difficult.
I did hate one small innacuuracy it was annoying which was, when picking the roots you must have a clear heart, mind and sole or the roots will hide themselves, that’s what Kaya is told after Swan Circling passes and she struggles to pass her grief. However her aunt was there at root harvest with a very dark mind, heart and sole as she was grieving the passing of her husband. So by what her books stated previously her aunt was tarnishing everything they were collecting. It actually bugged me more than it probably should have.
Anyway I did like this book, it wasn’t the best mysrey ever, but it was a good adventure for Kaya and Speaking Rain as they got to both be heroes and rescue a horse and save another one too. They were both very strong and brave and I really enjoyed seeing more of the two of them together.
What a unique mystery I wasn’t really sure what was going to entail within this mystery but it was very different, the horse was so very mysterious and the way that her sister Speaking Rain was so drawn to him was a great plot line.
I really did enjoy having Speaking Rain be a huge key component within this story, I really like her character and we got to see more of her streantgh, courage and bravery she used whilst she was left alone. I liked how she had such trust and faith in this mysterious and possibly dangerous horse.
I did find it upsetting the way Kaya was being treated and my heart did break for her, she wasn’t doing anything intentionally wrong, her sister had just gotten into her mind and the constant put down from her aunt made everything more difficult.
I did hate one small innacuuracy it was annoying which was, when picking the roots you must have a clear heart, mind and sole or the roots will hide themselves, that’s what Kaya is told after Swan Circling passes and she struggles to pass her grief. However her aunt was there at root harvest with a very dark mind, heart and sole as she was grieving the passing of her husband. So by what her books stated previously her aunt was tarnishing everything they were collecting. It actually bugged me more than it probably should have.
Anyway I did like this book, it wasn’t the best mysrey ever, but it was a good adventure for Kaya and Speaking Rain as they got to both be heroes and rescue a horse and save another one too. They were both very strong and brave and I really enjoyed seeing more of the two of them together.
August 6, 2019
This is the kind of story I would have looooooved as a girl; I gobbled up anything to do with horses. Now after years of education and a bachelors in Equine Science, this one made me roll me eyes at the ridiculousness of it.
As an adult these mysteries are fast moving from annoying to irritatingly irresponsible. We’ve read all the Felicity and now Kaya Mysteries and too many times children are portrayed in situations that are well over their heads and dangerous (hello, Felicity tracking a revolutionary war SPY and trying to uncover the man who framed her father for which he was IMPRISONED!) and instead of confiding in and consulting adults, flimsy excuses are given as to why the matter is too urgent or the adults aren’t available and can’t be found. I’m glad I’m reading these with my daughter to instill in her when it’s appropriate to involve an adult!
In this particular book I did not like Tall Branch. I understand her getting after kaya for the bed roll but as Kaya’s mother I would have stepped in about the work product criticism and second guessing the permission I gave my kid to go play. And TB took it a step too far with the accusation. You don’t ever put that kind of fear responsibility on a child. It was tantamount to saying a kid is responsible for their parents divorcing. No! You just don’t do that. And then her apology at the end should have come JUST as publicly as her humiliating and inappropriate accusation did. I don’t care what kind of mourning hurt she was in; you don’t take that out on a child and you be the ADULT in the situation and lead by example.
As an adult these mysteries are fast moving from annoying to irritatingly irresponsible. We’ve read all the Felicity and now Kaya Mysteries and too many times children are portrayed in situations that are well over their heads and dangerous (hello, Felicity tracking a revolutionary war SPY and trying to uncover the man who framed her father for which he was IMPRISONED!) and instead of confiding in and consulting adults, flimsy excuses are given as to why the matter is too urgent or the adults aren’t available and can’t be found. I’m glad I’m reading these with my daughter to instill in her when it’s appropriate to involve an adult!
In this particular book I did not like Tall Branch. I understand her getting after kaya for the bed roll but as Kaya’s mother I would have stepped in about the work product criticism and second guessing the permission I gave my kid to go play. And TB took it a step too far with the accusation. You don’t ever put that kind of fear responsibility on a child. It was tantamount to saying a kid is responsible for their parents divorcing. No! You just don’t do that. And then her apology at the end should have come JUST as publicly as her humiliating and inappropriate accusation did. I don’t care what kind of mourning hurt she was in; you don’t take that out on a child and you be the ADULT in the situation and lead by example.
March 11, 2024
Very much enjoyed, just not as a *mystery*! As just an AG book focused on Kaya that’s longer than her core series, it’s great. It just really doesn’t feel like a mystery to me. I try to judge the “mystery” factor based on if 10yr old me would’ve found it satisfactorily mystery-like, since that seems more fair. And I am quite certain that at ten, I would have also said “I like this book, it doesn’t feel particularly mystery-ish”.
I think Speaking Rain and Kaya channel some inner ‘Meet Felicity’ in this book, with them trying to tame a horse, heh.
Anyways! Would recommend, just don’t be looking for a big mystery haha.
I think Speaking Rain and Kaya channel some inner ‘Meet Felicity’ in this book, with them trying to tame a horse, heh.
Anyways! Would recommend, just don’t be looking for a big mystery haha.
March 24, 2025
This was a pretty good adventure story, but I don't think I'd call it a mystery. "Mystery" implies that someone was being intentionally deceived. But the whole conflict is about a horse.
August 20, 2020
I had no interest in this book when it came out, but I decided to borrow it from the library as part of my 2020 American Girl experience, especially since it is no longer in print. Unfortunately, I did not like it any more than I had originally imagined. This book is full of horse drama with a side of the supernatural, involves an insistently bullying aunt who gets a free pass because of recent trauma, and idealizes Kaya and Speaking Rain's reckless behavior, disobedience, and choice to keep secrets from their parents.
December 28, 2017
This Kaya mystery is very reminiscent of Felicity's story, but it's enjoyable all the same. I am partial to horses. :)
As an adult, there are moments in these books when I believe the children should have gotten help from their parents, but I understand that kids would prefer to read about people their own age doing the problem-solving.
As an adult, there are moments in these books when I believe the children should have gotten help from their parents, but I understand that kids would prefer to read about people their own age doing the problem-solving.
January 20, 2019
I enjoyed this story, but it was not much of a mystery. It is a must read if you like horses and I believe can be read alone, without having read any of Kaya's previous books. The character development was very good, especially concerning Speaking Rain.
December 19, 2019
I greatly enjoyed how well this book showcased Kaya and Speaking Rain’s close bond it is truly the highlight of the story. A few parts of the book felt a little dragged out making the solution to the mystery a bit obvious. That said it is still a great book.
February 5, 2022
This was a 2.5 to me. It didn't really read like a mystery, but I enjoyed it enough. I started reading it because I was excited to see Speaking Rain get more shine and I'm happy with the ending for her sake. She deserves happiness that is her own.
August 7, 2018
Challenge: Romance Readers August Monthly Challenge - Son/Daughter Day August 11 (7); book with children in it.
May 5, 2019
Cute book! My only critique was that it wasn't that much of a mystery. Nothing that was talked about in the beginning was figured out.
January 14, 2020
Not my favorite mystery written, but it still was good. Not sure if id read it again though 🤷♀️
February 22, 2020
This book was a mystery and very adventurous. Kaya is my favorite character and I love The Kaya Mysteries.
July 9, 2020
This was a great ending to the Kaya series and it was very exciting.
May 10, 2022
A great story of sisterhood and trying again and again.
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December 28, 2022I like the mystery stories cute and interesting
September 27, 2023
Interesting mystery with little fear factor. I loved the role horses play in this story. It was
December 19, 2016
In The Ghost Wind Stallion, Kaya and her sister, Speaking Rain await the arrival of Tall Branch, their strict and particular aunt who is coming to live with their tribe now that her husband has died. Kaya is worried not only about satisfying her aunt's wishes, but also about her sister, who is blind, who is beginning to feel that she is not living up to her potential. The relationship between the two sisters and the depiction of disability are the threads of this story I really enjoyed. The more supernatural themes, about a possible ghost stallion lurking in the woods, didn't resonate as strongly. It kind of reminded me of the Baby-sitters Club ghost stories - not very scary, and not very interesting.
August 9, 2016
See the first book in the series for a full review.
November 29, 2016
One of the Kaya American Girl series for children. Kaya tires to help her blind sister tame an abused stallion and to find her aunt's missing mare. Mild adventure.
February 5, 2017
It took a while to get started. It wasn't until I was about 3/4 of the way through that I was thoroughly interested in the story.
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