Coming of Age

This is a coming-of-age story for Grace as she matures physically and comes to terms with her disability. One of the first major steps in Grace’s coming of age happens when she conquers her fear of riding again. Another step comes when she begins her menstrual cycles and admits to her mother she fears no man will want her because she is not physically perfect. A final step in her coming of age comes after Tom’s death when Grace finally cries and expresses her guilt and grief caused by the tragedy in her life.

Grace overcomes a major hurdle in dealing with her disability when she allows Joe to persuade her to ride again despite her fear. Grace had decided soon after she came out of a coma in the hospital after the accident that she did not want to ride again...