Common Sense Media Review
By Terreece Clarke
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Horse helps city boy heal in moving self-discovery tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In RIDING CHANCE, Troy and his friend Foster get on the wrong side of the law by trusting a not-so-trustable friend. Now, they're face to face with animals neither young man has seen up close before: horses that weigh hundreds of pounds. Instead of doing time in juvie, they're assigned to the local city stables, where they learn to care for the horses and about the sport of polo. This opens a door to real opportunities and healing for Troy, but it could close the door on his lifelong friendship with Foster. Can Troy manage the out-of-control aspects of his life like he controls his horse, or will his problems overtake him like a stampede?
Is It Any Good?
In this moving, funny, and eye-opening story, readers are taken into a world of horse care and polo as Troy tries to navigate the lightening-fast changes in his life. Riding Chance is beautifully written, and the characters are well developed and feel like family, friends, and neighbors, from the Zumba-dancing grandma to the grief-stricken dad and the self-proclaimed mayor of the block. Readers (and their parents) will love the casual neighborhood vibe set against the trials of Troy's life. Author Christine Kendall brings normalcy to a series of extraordinary circumstances in the life of a typical city kid as he learns some great life lessons while caring for horses and learning the sport of polo.
One thing Kendall does well is allow characters of various ages and genders to act as a moral compass for the main character. It's heartening to read a story that doesn't stick to the narrative of a lonely street kid with no adults or peers available for positive influence and guidance. It's also nice to bring a rural activity -- horse husbandry -- and an elite sport -- polo -- into an urban setting.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Riding Chance shows different way families and friends can positively influence teens. Who are the positive influences in your life? Do you have a mentor?
How can working with animals help people cope with problems? How working with Chance help Troy deal with his feelings? Do you have an outlet to help you cope with stress?
Discuss the stop and frisk incident. How would you have reacted if you had been held without cause? What do you think of the current nationwide discussion of police brutality and unwarranted stops on the news and in social media?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Family Life
- Topics : Friendship , Animals
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Scholastic Press
- Publication date : October 11, 2016
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 14
- Number of pages : 224
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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