Common Sense Media Review
By Sally Engelfried
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Riveting story of determined teen who can ride any horse.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Sidney's home life has been a mess since her father died and her mother took up with an abusive boyfriend. The only relief she finds is going to Uncle Wayne's barn to ride and train horses. Growing up in a depressed mill town, Sidney is surrounded by people who have no hope of a brighter future, but Sidney has dreams: She wants to become a \"catch rider,\" someone who can ride any horse. When Sidney gets a job at a fancy show-horse barn, she works hard and is given an opportunity to make good on her dream. But just when everything finally seems to be going her way, she discovers that opportunities can be taken away as freely as they're given. But a catch rider can ride anything, and Sidney decides to live up to the title.
Is It Any Good?
What makes protagonist Sidney likable is that she's as hard on herself as she is on the people around her, and she won't quit until she exhausts every hope. Sidney has a hard life and is surrounded by depressing situations, but her sarcastic, no-nonsense observations make it clear she won't let herself be brought down by her environment. The fast-paced story doesn't let up, as Sidney must continually confront the challenges of both her troubled home life and her life in the competitive world of the riding ring.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about horse stories. Why are they so popular? What other books you've read or movies you've seen feature horses as part of the plot?
Sydney doesn't care much for school but reads plenty of books about them. What subject interests you enough to read about it outside of school?
Sidney's friend encourages her to tell someone that her mom's boyfriend hit her. What would you do if you knew your friend was keeping a secret like that?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Topics : Animals , Friendship , School ( High School )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Clarion Books
- Publication date : June 4, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 17
- Number of pages : 288
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : December 3, 2025
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