Ride

August 1, 2017

Gr 4-6-The first in a series, this media tie-in based on the Nickelodeon TV show introduces 14-year-old Kit, an American who moves from Montana to an equestrian boarding school in England. Her father, described as a cowboy, takes a job there to get a fresh start after the death of Kit's mother. Complicating matters is the fact that Kit suffered a bad fall from a horse as an eight-year-old and hasn't been back in the saddle since. But when she forms a special bond with the wild horse TK, she has to put aside her fears in order to save him from being auctioned off by intimidating headmistress Lady Covington. Among her new friends and acquaintances are Will and Nav, roommates who compete for her affection; her own roommate Anya, a princess in disguise; and Elaine, the stuck-up prefect. Despite the frequent, and thus sometimes confusing, point-of-view shifts and the occasionally dated dialogue, tween readers may enjoy this typical boarding-school fare with its emphasis on the equestrian arts and its British flair. VERDICT Purchase where horse stories and the Nickelodeon TV series are popular.-Laurie Slagenwhite Walters, Brighton District Library, Brighton, MI

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2017
Grades 5-8 Kit Bridges is off to a boarding school in England where her father has been hired as the new equestrian trainer. Covington Academy prides itself on being the best equestrian school, requiring all students to ride, but Kit has a problemshe's afraid of riding. Despite this, Kit feels a connection with the school's most troublesome horse, TK, and is the only one who can tame him. Seeing this, Lady Covington gives her an ultimatum: Kit rides TK or he'll be auctioned off. Kit must overcome her fear while navigating a new country, friendships, and crushes. Though based on the Nickelodeon series Ride, knowledge of the show is not required, as this novel introduces the main plot points and characters to readers. Since it includes various episodes from the series, the plot isn't always cohesive, and character development is minimal. While the characters are high-school age, the story and writing are geared toward younger readers, making this a good choice for young teens looking for an update to their classic horse tales.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2018
American Kit Bridges starts at a strict equestrian boarding school in England. Recovering from a fall off a horse, Kit connects with unruly horse TK, gains new friends and crushes, and finally gets back in the saddle. This first novelization of the Nickelodeon show �cf2]Ride�cf1] introduces an entertaining but predictable world. While Kit's developments are satisfying, side characters remain flat.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)