Where the Orchard Ends

By Sefi Wells

Twelve-year-old Wren Harper hasn't spoken in seventy-three days, not since the morning she found her mother unresponsive in their apartment. When she's sent to live with a grandmother she barely knows, Wren retreats further into silence, until she discovers a starving Appaloosa mare trapped in a ravine.

Wren names the horse Talowa, a skittish, wounded creature who seems to understand her grief. As Wren secretly nurses Talowa back to health, a fragile connection forms. But when a stranger begins asking questions about a missing horse, Wren must find her voice to protect the one being who understands her without words.

Where the Orchard Ends is a contemporary middle grade novel that explores themes of grief, selective mutism, family estrangement, animal rescue, and emotional healing. A poignant, character-driven story for readers aged 9-14, it is especially suited for classroom libraries and youth reading programs focused on resilience, empathy, and personal growth.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1967942064
• ISBN13: 9781967942060
• Release Date: July 2025
• Publisher: Novane Publishing, LLC
• Length: 348 Pages
• Weight: 0.76 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.0" x 8.0"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7