Green Eyes at Echo Valley

About the Book

This is Karen’s second summer at Credenda Ranch in the Rocky Mountains. Last year she was a guest for two weeks; this year she’s there all summer as a hired hand. She met Craig, the young ranch hand last year, too. Karen thinks she is somewhat prepared for the work there, having studied topics that Hank, “the Boss” suggested. She’s an advocate of ecology, nature and animals. She soon learns there’s a lot more to heavy ranch work, complicated by her encounters with prankster Jeff, another new hand, and Allyson, a guest of the ranch. The weather, loose horses, camp-outs and illnesses add to the mix.

About the Author

Growing up in California, with a father working in agriculture and the national parks, Joan lived “under the redwoods” in her early years. During school years in Kansas, she enjoyed riding her mare along country roads and hearing meadowlarks sing. Joan has contributed articles to Western Horseman and Country magazines, is a former parent-helper of the 4-H Horse program and was a docent at Sunol Regional Wilderness in California. She is the author of horse books for teens, Echo Valley and Dan; books for young children, Marigold and One Little Heifer. A book of short stories, Smiles, is due out in 2008. The author believes, teach beauty and brotherhood rather than horror and destruction. Joan and her husband, Dave, had two children, Mark and Rebecca. (Becky illustrated Green Eyes.) They now live in Montana near Becky’s ranch; Mark died in 2003.