Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel contrasts Maya’s life in Pasadena with the vast, wild landscape of Wyoming. How did this shift in setting shape your impression of her journey?

2. How did this story compare to other works by Pam Muñoz Ryan you might have read, like Esperanza Rising?

3. What was the most memorable sequence in the book for you, and why?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Maya arrives in Wyoming feeling like a complete outsider. Think about a time you felt out of place in a new environment. How did you navigate that feeling, and how does your experience compare to Maya’s attempts to fit in with the Limners?

2. Aunt Vi is a tough mentor, pushing Maya past her comfort zone and refusing to accept her excuses. Have you ever had a relationship mentor who challenged you in a similar way? How did that “tough love” impact your growth?

3. The small box of toy horses is Maya’s most treasured possession because it’s her only link to her mother’s memory. Can you think of a specific object, photo, or story that connects you to your own family’s history? What makes it so meaningful to you?

4. For much of the story, Payton acts out of jealousy and a fear of being displaced. Why does he behave this way? Can you recall a time when you felt a similar sense of territoriality or rivalry? What did you learn from it?

5. Maya’s connection to Artemisia is built on shared vulnerability and mutual respect in the wilderness. Has a connection with an animal or a powerful experience in nature ever helped you to understand yourself better?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The novel grounds its plot in the real-world controversy over wild mustang roundups by the Bureau of Land Management. How did the book’s portrayal of the “gather” affect your understanding of this complex issue?

2. What does the contrast between Pasadena’s “refined society” and Wyoming’s culture of “rugged individualism” suggest about different American ideals of home and freedom?

3. The American West has long been romanticized in literature as a place for reinvention and finding one’s true self. How does Maya’s story fit into this tradition?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. What is the effect of the novel’s structure, which alternates between Maya’s perspective and the wild horses’ experiences?

2. Maya’s lying is a central motif. How does her relationship with storytelling and truth change throughout her emotional journey?

3. How does the novel use specific settings to reflect and shape Maya’s psychological state?

4. Why does Aunt Vi name the wild horses after famous painters? What do those names symbolize, and how does this pattern connect to the novel’s final image of horses “painting the wind”?

5. Pam Muñoz Ryan has said she was inspired by classic horse stories, which often featured male protagonists. How does Maya’s journey and characterization contrast with classic narratives like Walter Farley’s The Black Stallion or Mary O’Hara’s My Friend Flicka, among others?

6. How does the Comanche Coil function as a symbol in the story and contribute to Maya’s character arc?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine that you are adapting Paint the Wind for the screen. Which scene would be the most challenging to film? How would you capture the feeling of Maya’s first gallop or the terror of the earthquake?

2. The book ends with Maya promising that she and Artemisia will meet again. If you were to write a short story that continues their journey, what would that reunion look like? When would it occur?

3. If Maya decided to create a time capsule to commemorate her summer in Wyoming, what five items would she include to represent her transformation? What would each item signify?