Synopses & Reviews
“A standout. . . . Everything comes together here—setting, dialogue, horse details and, most impressively, voice.” —
Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Tough-as-nails fourteen-year-old Sid may not have expensive boots like the privileged teen riders in Virginia, but she knows her way around horses. Working with her uncle since childhood, she's learned to evaluate horses, break and train them, care for them . . . and ride like a professional. Amid turmoil at home, she dreams of becoming a catch rider—a show rider who can ride anything with hooves. In this salty, suspenseful teen novel, an opportunity to ride a top-notch horse in an equitation show takes the small-town girl all the way to Madison Square Garden.
Review
"Everything comes together here—setting, dialogue, horse details and, most impressively, voice—so that the near-fairy-tale ending works; like the rest of the book, it feels absolutely true. A standout."
—Kirkus, starred review
"Girls and horses never go out of style. . . . Lyne fills her story with details about various breeds, horsemanship, and horse-riding competition, immersing readers into this very specialized world. The setting of a small town that is hard to escape rings just as true."
—Booklist Online
"For many girls, it isn't truly summer without a great horse book—Jennifer H. Lyne's Catch Rider fits that bill."
—Newsday
"[A] riveting story."
—Common Sense Media, (4 stars)
"I'm no horse expert, but this tale sure feels and smells like the real deal. It was a real page turner for me. Perhaps you know a book where there is resolution to the story but you are so into the characters that you are not ready to say goodbye. . . I'm sure hoping to see another book out of this debut author."
—Richie Partington
Synopsis
For all lovers of horses and history, it's the next book in the popular Horse Diaries series. Born in California at the start of the Great Depression, Risky Chance is a gray thoroughbred who was born to race. Life at the track and being spoiled by his jockey's young daughter, Marie, is all Chance could ask for. He loves nothing more than running fast and winning. But after an accident, Chance discovers a side of horse racing that has little to do with glory.
Like Black Beauty, this moving novel is told in first person from the horse's own point of view and includes an appendix full of photos and facts about thoroughbreds, horse racing, and the Great Depression.
Synopsis
In this powerful story of horse people, Sid pursues her dream of becoming a catch rider—a show rider who can ride anything—despite her poor background and the ferocious competition from more privileged girls. An authentic behind-the-scenes portrayal of a show barn and the elite, demanding world of equitation.
About the Author
ALISON HART has been horse-crazy ever since she can remember. A teacher and author, she's written over 20 books for children, most of them about horses. Her novel
Shadow Horse, another Random House title, was nominated for an Edgar Award. Today Ms. Hart still rides because—you guessed it—she's still horse-crazy!
RUTH SANDERSON has illustrated books for children of all ages, including Summer Pony; Winter Pony; Hush, Little Horsie, and the entire Horse Diaries series. She lives with her family in Ware, Massachusetts, and her favorite hobby is horseback riding.