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Ride On by Faith Erin Hicks

5/23/2022

Ride On by Faith Erin Hicks

Girl meets horse. Horse meets girl.
Cover art captures the trusting, tender relationship between of a girl and a Gelding. Hicks uses the term Horse Girl to describe a youngster enamored with horses. The feeling appears to be mutual. This horse is devoted to a human.

Twelve-year-old Victoria is a new rider at Edgewood Stables. She may be new to this equestrian facility, but she is obviously not a novice. Her horsemanship catches the eye of Edgewood staff. She shows potential as a trainer.

However this is more than a horse story. It is a story about relationships. When Victoria's best friend gets her own horse, the dynamic between the two changes. Victoria wonders: was riding at Waverly Stables the only thing the two had in common?

Stung by this falling out, Victoria is hesitant to connect with a trio of Edgewood's regulars. What will it take to overcome past hurt and make new friends? These stable hands have their own problems and they need Victoria just as much as she needs them.

Trust is recurring theme. In a climactic scene, trust plays a pivotal role.

Hicks is particularly skilled at revealing undercurrents that simmer beneath the surface. Misunderstandings, first impressions, and frustrations are often shown with a facial expression, simple gesture, or body placement within a panel.

This is a story filled with heart. You do not need to be a horse person to appreciate Victoria's world.
It is obvious that Hicks has more than a passing interest in horses, her love for all things equestrian shine on every panel, every page. She knows what it means to develop a close relationship with a horse. This is more than a hobby and far exceeds athletic prowess.

In addition to horses, Victoria and her newfound friends share a fascination with the sci fi series Beyond the Galaxy These nerdy fans look forward to the release of new episodes and concoct an elaborate scheme to celebrate their favorite show.

The phrase Ride On has multiple meanings. Victoria not only finds a new stable, but new friends with shared interests. After a few disappointments, our girl is ready to move on. Ride On Victoria, Ride On.

Back matter includes the author’s history as a Horse Girl. Faith’s childhood experiences somewhat mirror those of the the protagonist. The inclusion of a personal photograph and childhood drawings of horses is a bonus.

Secrets & Silence

5/16/2022

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Caprice by Coe Booth

Twelve-year-old Caprice is concluding a seven week Summer Leadership Program at a prestigious girl's school in upstate New York. She has thrived in this academically challenging institution, impressing the faculty, and making new friends. Now she is offered a scholarship to enroll as a full-time student. It seems like a dream come true.

There is one problem. A HUGE problem.

On the last night of her summer program, an unexpected and unwelcome kiss triggers childhood memories. With painful clarity, Caprice begins to recall her history as a victim of sexual abuse. For years she has suppressed those memories. That coping mechanism is no longer working.

She returns home, believing that reuniting with her parents and friends will ease her torment. Caprice spends her days at the local community center. She joins Express Yo’Self, a writers group, where her poetic talent blossoms and then takes the initiative to organize a Woman Group.

When her grandmother is hospitalized, the family gathers at grandma's home in Baltimore, the site of her victimization. Memories associated with the bedroom where she will sleep are excruciating.

Booth masterfully builds to the climactic scene that readers simultaneously hope for and dread. Caprice publicly confronts her abuser.

Construction of the novel is one of its strengths. This story takes place within a week and consists of a running first person account interspersed with text messages and inner dialogue. Each time segment of Caprice’s week is introduced with one of her poems. A lot gets packed into a few days.

Caprice must decide if she will make a major life change. Should she remain at home with her supportive family, community, and best friend? Or should she accept this "once in a lifetime" educational opportunity? Caprice debates the question of familiarity and family versus the opportunity for new experiences and academic challenges. It’s a difficult choice. Caprice's decision is not revealed until the final pages.

Intended for a younger audience with a publisher’s suggested age range is 9 to 12 years, the narrative is intense and heart wrenching but avoids overly graphic descriptions. The focus here is on the heart and mind of a twelve-year-old girl. Booth's approach is honest while remainng sensitive to tween readers.

No one can tell a story like Booth. Although readers may have different life experiences from the protagonist, audiences of all ages will indentify with the universal desire to suppress painful secrets. Healing begins with acknowledging past wounds and reaching out to trusted individuals for support.

Kudos to the cover artist. A careful examination of the portrait of Caprice reveals the light in her eyes is a silhouette of a girl.

Bonus factoid:

Definition of caprice. noun. a sudden, unpredictable change, as of one's mind. Source: Oxford Languages

More Books by Coe Booth

Want more stories by this award-winning author? Try these.

Background Reading

Booth mentions two titles, written for adults, that add context to the story.
Born a Crime, a memoir describes living with apartheid in South Africa. The one constant in his life is his mother.

Breath, Eyes, Memory is a novel of a Haitian girl who returns to Haiti after living in New York. A story of trauma, violence, and conflicted relationships.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: May 17, 2022 Publisher: Scholastic ISBN: 978-0545933346

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Magic Magic Magic

5/2/2022

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Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater

There are two kinds of people. There are people who seek magic, and people the magic seeks.

Stiefvater works her magic, taking story threads from an animated children's movie and interweaving them with a trio of of formidable challenges. This tapestry includes a measure of medieval life and sparkles with fibers of Scottish mythology. The result is epic YA fantasy.

Merida, a fiery redhead girl whose prowess with a bow is legendary, is now a restless young woman. A series of travels have left her unsettled. She wonders: What is missing from her life? What needs to change?

To save her country, she strikes a bargain with two gods. Within one year she will travel to three prearranged locations throughout the land, proving that her family and country can change. It's a daunting task. She is working against time and deeply entrenched traditions.

Seasons play a role, as progression of time is a critical plot point. The text eloquently describes the splendor of each season with sensory details.

The narrative captures the essence of family life: the messy, complicated, frustrating all-of-it. DunBroch castle is brimming with busy, boisterous interactions. “You jam-handed scab!” Merida lashes out at her brother.
Her parents and three younger brothers are dimensional individuals who change as the story progresses. The evolving relationship between mother and daughter is particularly touching.

As with all her novels, Stiefvater's prose is masterful. She embroiders scenes with her characteristic slightly acerbic wit and ear for language.

Geese fly in a "forever-dim summer"
Her parents "arranged their faces to look less like taxidermied animals."

Signature motifs are sprinkled throughout the text: gloves with oxblood stitching, "the Sight," and a knock at the door.

Just when readers think they know what comes next, the plot takes a one-eighty. The ending is what I hoped for but believed could never happen. Bravely took my heart on a tender journey.

A major theme is the push and pull between renewal and ruin, the tension between complacency and change. Bravely is a study of both external and internal change. Some situations can be controlled. Some events are beyond human intervention.

Disclosure: I have not viewed the Pixar movie Brave and can affirm that the book stands independent of the movie. However, now that I have read the book, I want to view this version of young Merida. How does the impetuous sixteen-year-old compare with the young woman in her early twenties, searching for answers, longing to resolve the incomplete pieces of her life.

A story of magic and the power of love, Stiefvater brings her considerable storytelling skills to this novel that is part fairytale, part mythology, and a whole lotta hopes and dreams.

I rarely immediately reread a book. However this richly layered tale drew me in for a second reading, which was as rewarding as my first encounter with Merida. Knowing the eventual outcome helped me appreciate and enjoy the story even more. I am itching to read it again. It's a sumptuous medieval feast.

Images: Picture the Story

The story's skillfully constructed world includes an introduction to Celtic history and mythology. The goddess Cailleach, and a Scottish king are featured characters. She takes liberties with the historical figure Feradach, refashioning the Irish king into a god. All three play pivotal roles in the unfolding saga.

Stiefvater's gorgeous prose brings the setting and characters to life.

Dásachtach, Donald II, King of Scotland. Known as the Madman.

Scotland. Photos posted online by the author.

Images of the goddess Cailleach as imagined by various artists.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: May 3, 2022 Publisher: Disney Press ISBN: 978-1368071345

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Ride On by Faith Erin Hicks

Ride On by Faith Erin Hicks

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Secrets & Silence

Caprice by Coe Booth

More Books by Coe Booth

Background Reading

Magic Magic Magic

Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater

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