My Desert Sun


Children - Grade 4th-6th
58 Pages
Reviewed on 07/05/2022
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Author Biography

Diana Tuorto is a Buffalo, NY-based children's author. A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in English Writing and History, Diana is also an active horse rescue volunteer. She shares a small farm with her husband, two horses and six cats.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Philip Van Heusen for Readers' Favorite

Cayuse is a chestnut mustang. Mustangs are wild horses that live out west. Most significantly, they are free. However, as the reader finds out in My Desert Sun by Diana Tuorto, some humans desire to take away their freedom and come onto the land and rope these wild horses and sell them. This tale is told from the horse’s mouth, as Cayuse narrates the story of how his freedom was stolen and humans tried to domesticate him. Life on the range was idyllic while living in captivity was cruel. Cayuse recounts his various adventures as a ranch horse, show horse, jumper, and other roles for the entertainment of humans. Will Cayuse forget his life of freedom and fit into living with humans? What will become of Cayuse’s desire for liberty? This book is for animal lovers of any age.

If you grew up eating okra, you would not think okra is a strange food. However, if you have never seen okra before and all of a sudden that is all you have, you will wonder what happened. How would you feel if you grew up where freedom reigned supreme, then are suddenly thrust into a situation where freedom is curtailed? Cayuse learned the hard way what it means to lose one’s freedom. A wild mustang is not meant to be penned up. Mustangs only know the freedom of the wild. Unfortunately, Cayuse is captured by humans and has to endure humiliation and a lack of space. This fascinating story will keep the reader entertained. My Desert Sun by Diana Tuorto, written for middle school-aged children, will hold their interest. They will be impatient to turn the pages and see what happens next.