Reading Metrics
Description
Rae is a driven young rodeo rider who will sacrifice anything friends, family, even meals to claim the national title. As she trains relentlessly for rodeo nationals, her obsession with winning begins to damage both her body and the people she loves. The Sky Between You and Me follows her struggle to balance the demands of competition with the personal connections she's losing.
Quick Summary
If you or your kid loves horses and competitive sports, this one hits different it's about Rae, a fierce rodeo competitor who pushes herself so hard that she starts shutting out everyone who cares about her while barely eating enough to stay upright. The story doesn't sugarcoat how obsession with winning can twist into something really harmful, which makes it a powerful conversation starter for teens dealing with pressure (whether that's sports, school, or anything else). It's got that raw, emotionally honest voice that pulls you in, and the rodeo world feels vivid and real rather than romanticized. Kids who liked things like *Speak* or sports-focused contemporary fiction will probably connect with this, though fair warning it's emotionally heavy in places and deals directly with disordered eating, so it's probably better for older teens who can handle that intensity. The writing is strong enough that it doesn't feel like a "problem book" just because it tackles hard stuff, though parents might want to preview it first if their kid is sensitive about body image or self-harm themes. It's the kind of story that stays with you after you close it, which honestly is pretty rare for YA.