Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Kind, horsey story spotlights adoption and empathy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Wildly imaginative, smart, and horse-crazy, Ellen loves her RIDING LESSONS and works hard to improve her skills under the watchful eye of teen instructor Abby in this tale set in an idyllic part of Northern California in the '60s. Then retired racehorse Ned arrives at the stable, and it's love, especially since the two of them can converse telepathically, even when far apart. Ellen, who tends to drive adults and others crazy by doing what makes sense to her without exactly thinking it through, has to work on self-discipline, following the rules, and staying out of trouble in order to keep up her lessons. Meanwhile, there's a lof of other stuff going on, as her parents adopt a new baby and tell Ellen she's adopted also.
Is It Any Good?
Horse-crazy kids will find lots to love in the bond between feisty, willful tween Ellen and retired racehorse Ned that unfolds in Jane Smiley's series start. Others may run aground on the heroine's motormouth, jumping-from-thought-to-thought narrative style, or lengthy discussions of horse racing, lead changes, and other fine points of riding. Some fairly heavy subjects play a role in Riding Lessons, from the adoption of a new baby and learning you're adopted yourself to being kind to a classmate whose once-respected father is in prison for embezzlement. But the story, set in the '60s with references to Marguerite Henry books and Thoroughly Modern Millie, is kind and safe. It's also subversively wise in dealing with a kid who's notably "too smart for her own good," as in this scene where teen instructor Abby compliments Ellen on her improved riding skills:
"As we were walking Blue and Gee Whiz to the pasture, Abby said, 'Do you remember when you threw yourself off the pony to show your mom that falling off wasn't so terrible?'
"'I don't do that anymore.'
"'No, because you won, didn't you? But anyway, I only bring that up to say that you have gotten good, and you knew you would.'"
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about horse stories. Are you a fan, or do you not quite get it? How does Riding Lessons compare with other horse-themed stories you've read?
This story is set in a time and place that seems a bit like our own but is also really different. What kinds of things happen in Ellen's world that might not happen today? What situations might play out differently?
Have you ever done something that seemed like a really good idea at the time but didn't exactly turn out that way? What happened?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Family Life
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Animals
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Alfred A. Knopf
- Publication date : March 6, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 192
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate