Nightflower of Comanche Mound

This book is well written with a compelling description of the look and feel of a unique place in Texas called Quitaque. Makes me want to go there. The characters that live there are realistic Texans and not fanciful imaginations. Clearly the author knows Texas.

The situations in which Charley finds herself are very real but also very difficult for a 15 year old girl. The grizzled grandfather, Pap, does not make things easy. But, Charley finds support from other Texans.

For a young reader, it is a compelling example of personal development. Unknowingly, Charley brings a lot of loose ends in her family together. Not without major trials and tribulations.

What a great story about growth and success. Here’s hoping Katlyn comes up with another one soon!

This story about a 15-year-old girl and a blind Appaloosa will capture your heart. Determined to leave Seattle and journey to Texas to stay with a grandfather she’s never met, Charley wonders if she has made the right decision. She battles everything from the harsh Texas climate to the severe emotional distance of her grandfather. Charley’s love and commitment to the blind horse, along with a near-death experience, help mend the family relationships that have been broken for years. Realistic and carefully crafted characters make this award-winning book a pleasure to read. The writing is fresh and the story unforgettable.

Nightflower of Comanche Mound is a young adult novel by Katlyn Bates. Almost 16 years old, Seattle dweller Charley invites herself to her grandfather's sheep ranch in Texas, much to her mother's disapproval. Her only knowledge of Pap is that he and her mother are estranged. Upon her arrival at the ranch, Pap proves a difficult and bitter man to deal with, despite her efforts to bond with him. While considering going back home, Charley meets a mysterious blind horse and instantly connects with him. However, a furious Pap insists that the horse must go, even threatening to shoot it. Charley seeks the assistance of the local veterinarian, Dr. Ben, for more information about the horse, even if it means finding its rightful owner. Things spiral out of control, and Pap's bizarre behavior escalates, while secrets from the past are revealed explaining the dysfunction of her family. In the face of danger, Charley sees no option but to flee with her horse to the place she was told never to go.

A wonderful adventure story, Nightflower of Comanche Mound will captivate readers, particularly animal lovers. In her imaginative storytelling, Katlyn Bates crafted a contemporary literary masterpiece, demonstrating narrative skill. The well-paced plot immerses readers in the warm bond between Charley and her precious Radar. There are surprise turns in this story that will keep the reader engaged. The book vividly depicts the landscape and the lifestyle that goes with it. The characters are believable, and readers can relate to their struggles. By providing some background about the Comanche tribe and the symbolism of the night flower, the author has skillfully woven profound insights into Charley's relationships, self-discovery, and acceptance of her Native American roots. This book is a heartfelt feel-good read suitable for enthusiasts of adventure stories with depth and meaning.

Katlyn Bates brings the Texas landscape to life in a coming-of-age story, Nightflower of Comanche Mound. Charley Kensey, a teenager from Seattle with more questions than answers, decides to visit her estranged grandfather's sheep ranch in West Texas. When she lands in Lubbock, Texas, she is met by an emotionally distant and gruff Pap and the desolate landscape of the West Texan plains. Her romanticized expectations of a family reunion and riding horses on her summer visit are soon quashed. The appearance of a blind horse on the ranch, who she names Radar, gets her into a heated disagreement with her grandfather. As she makes friends with the local veterinarian Ben and his summer help Bret, she learns truths about her family's past, including revelations about her mother that paint her as a completely different person. Caught between the harsh land and hidden revelations, Charley must navigate the maze of emotions and history to find her own identity and the strength to stand up for what matters.

I could feel the heat and dryness of the barren Texas landscape jump off the pages in Nightflower of Comanche Mound by Katlyn Bates. The writing style is rich in vivid descriptions that focus on sensory details, creating a stark contrast between the underlying tension between the characters and the rough beauty of nature. The narrative is written from Charley's point of view, and I could connect with her inner thoughts and feelings, making me feel like I was part of her journey. Charley is a well-rounded character, whose vulnerabilities and stubbornness are presented well, and we see her growth as she stands up for what she believes is right. Pap's character, though initially gruff and unapproachable, reveals a deeper, more caring side. The use of metaphors added layers to the narrative. The theme of identity is central, mainly Charley's realization of her heritage and the connection to the land and her ancestors. The story also focuses on the connection to and protection of both animals and family. If you are a fan of Western fiction and coming-of-age stories, add this to your TBR list.

Nightflower of Comanche Mound by Katlyn Bates is a coming-of-age story with a distinctly different flavor. Charley Kensey is sixteen and, with her father no longer part of the family, is vainly searching for familial connection and her place in the world. She invites herself to her grandfather’s ranch, a man she has never even met, in the wilds of West Texas. To her surprise, her grandfather accepts her visit and even sends her a plane ticket. When Charlie arrives on the farm, she is stunned to discover just how remote and desolate it is, and worse still, her grandfather is a curmudgeonly old grump who seems to resent her very presence. She wants to go home to Seattle but the mysterious appearance of a blind horse that seems to adopt Charley changes everything. When Charley believes her grandfather is about to shoot her beloved horse, she knows she has to stay, if only to protect her horse, Radar. So begins the journey and adventure that will totally change Charley’s life and direction.

Nightflower of Comanche Mound is an exciting tale of action and adventure that any teenager would be excited to read, especially those who adore animals in general, and horses in particular. Author Katlyn Bates has created three wonderful characters; Charley, her grandfather, and the elderly farm worker, Sabion. Each character plays off the other beautifully with Sabion being the gentle salve to Charley’s grandfather’s brusque and downright surly manner. The descriptive writing takes us into the dry, unforgiving plains of a West Texas ranch. I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Charley and her horse. In a world where she generally felt unloved and unwanted, the unconditional love of Radar gave her stability and purpose. The overarching theme of the narrative is family dysfunctionality and how easy it is to allow drama and tragedy to damage or destroy the close bonds of love and respect we all have for one another. There is plenty of adventure in this tale to keep readers continually turning the pages, and when the emotional familial aspects are woven into the plot, it raises the level to something special. This is a wonderful read that I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.

I could not put this book down. A coming of age story of a young 15-year-old girl who found herself beginning with her determined help of a blind horse who came to her grandfather's sheep ranch in Texas. It was a new beginning for both of them along with the gruff grandfather's curious and disturbing hatred of horses. The characters are wonderfully developed with a hint of romance as you read, and the last part of the book makes it impossible to put down. "Kathy" is a talented writer, and I could not be prouder of her first book with the hope of more stories to come.