Alice Winston, a twelve-year-old girl, struggles with her place in the world the summer after her sister runs away from home and marries a rodeo cowboy.

Her mother—bedridden because of postpartum depression—hasn't left her bedroom since Alice was an infant, and her father is failing to keep their horse ranch running.

In order to survive, Joe Winston begins boarding wealthy women's horses, dreaming of the day when his ranch will overflow with children taking show lessons.

During the hottest summer in decades, a series of trials overcome the Winstons, teaching Alice how cruel life can be.

She longs to grow up and leave the farm as Nona did, but fears the time when she won't be needed by her parents.

The first chapter of The God of Animals was originally published as a short story, Foaling Season, written by Aryn Kyle.