Holding on for Dear Life
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3 Months Free
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Offer ends on 15 July 2026 at 11:59 BST.
Holding on for Dear Life
Narrated by:
Jay Reum
Buy Now for £11.55
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Narrated by:
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Jay Reum
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By:
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Dusti Bowling
Acclaimed author Dusti Bowling takes the bull by the horns in this moving novel about a boy struggling to keep his family together while facing the side effects of bull riding.
Thirteen-year-old Canyon loves bull riding, but the sport doesn't exactly love him back. His body is in constant pain and doctors have warned him about the dangers of his repeated concussions, but bull riding is the only thing he and his dad connect on ever since Canyon's mom died. Canyon is convinced winning the Junior World Bull Riding championship will be the thing to bring them together again, that once he has that shiny belt buckle all the pain will be worth it. Besides, Canyon has a secret way to help his hurt: playing the fiddle.
When Canyon is unexpectedly chosen for a music competition show, a new dream begins to form. But Dad is getting worse, and Canyon feels more pressure than ever to hold his family together--even if it means choosing to hurt himself bull riding over healing through music. Soon Canyon begins to wonder if he’s holding on to all the right things, or if there are some he needs to let go of.©2025 Dusti Bowling (P)2025 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
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Critic reviews
* Deploying melodic prose that sings with the trademark melancholy and yearning of a country song, Bowling crafts a distinctive, nuanced protagonist in Canyon, whose gentle first-person POV guides readers to an emotionally satisfying resolution.
An empowering story about boys and men learning to reinvent themselves in the wake of pain and tragedy.
This story of chasing impossible dreams will likely resonate with many readers.
A quick read. . . . Ends on a high note.
Bowling’s latest offering charges into the world of competition in a way that can captivate even those uninterested in the sport. . . Authentic and compassionate.
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