"Kaya gave her horse her head, then kicked her. Steps High burst forward. In a few strides she was at a full gallop. Kaya leaned low over her neck, clasping her horse with her knees. What if another piece of riverbank gave way? What if her horse bucked? Steps High lengthened out and tore around the next bend, then the next. She seemed as swift as a hawk diving from the sky! Now they were ahead of Speaking Rain, who flailed in the churning river. From here, Kaya had to get her horse into the water and then swim upstream to meet Speaking Rain as she was swept down."

Riley and I are all about Kaya right now. Meet Kaya, An American Girl. At the top of chapter three is a nice big word, the title of the chapter. I said to Ry, "What is that word?" She said, "I don't know." I said, "guess." She looked in silence about 5 seconds. Her lips never moved. Then she said, "Escape." "That's right!" "But Mom, it doesn't count. I guessed." Yeah, right. This child insists and clings to the belief she can't read. But she can. What Would Kaya Do?