I enjoyed this - the New Mexico setting, the storytelling, the family relationships. I'm not sure the magic aspect worked for me completely, and I wished the dramatic scene at the ranch near the end wasn't so extreme. It paralleled my recent read of "Listen, Slowly," with a pre-teen being forced to spend time away with a grandparent during the summer, and I thought Carol was more realistic and likable in that situation. Carol comes of age and gains a new perspective on her friendships and school life through her experiences, and I appreciated how she understood some things better than her parents did. There are some great, notable lines in here (I returned the book, so I can't quote them any more, but there was one about the barn that I really liked.)