Ride North
Published on 6. March 2025
114 pages
978-1-78761-306-5 (ISBN)
Description
Tooth is my pony, but he's his own boss. I take care of him and in exchange he lets me ride him. I wasn't surprised when Tooth first communicated with me. All I knew was that with Tooth, it was different. I loved him the minute I saw him. Of course we understood each other.
Twelve-year-old Folly is angry and grieving for her mum. She isn't ready for Dad's plans for a new life in Auckland with his new girlfriend. So Folly runs away with the one friend who truly understands: her wise pony, Tooth. With her mother's ashes in her backpack, Folly sets off to the fabled Cape Reinga, the northernmost point of New Zealand. Through tourist towns and wilderness, across beaches, roads and forest tracks, Folly and Tooth find both adventure and hardship. But then a spur-of-the-moment choice sets danger on their tail. Girl and horse must fight to survive together - to the very end of the road.
Cover art by Sian James
Twelve-year-old Folly is angry and grieving for her mum. She isn't ready for Dad's plans for a new life in Auckland with his new girlfriend. So Folly runs away with the one friend who truly understands: her wise pony, Tooth. With her mother's ashes in her backpack, Folly sets off to the fabled Cape Reinga, the northernmost point of New Zealand. Through tourist towns and wilderness, across beaches, roads and forest tracks, Folly and Tooth find both adventure and hardship. But then a spur-of-the-moment choice sets danger on their tail. Girl and horse must fight to survive together - to the very end of the road.
Cover art by Sian James
Reviews / Votes
A gripping tale of survival ... gritty and lyrical in all the right places * The Times, Children's Book of the Week * Blends survival, heartache and quirky humour for a tale of hope and companionship * i Paper * A wise and surreal adventure... has moments of both hilarity and pain * The Bookseller, Buyer's Guide * A wonderful coming-of-age story with hope at its heart * Booktrust * Mixes pathos with the spirit of adventure * The Bookseller *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Andersen Press Ltd
Target group
Children/juvenile
Interest Age: From 10 to 12 years
ISBN-13
978-1-78761-306-5 (9781787613065)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Maria de Jong grew up in Aotearoa/New Zealand before settling in Italy. Initially she taught English in Turin, where she also cultivated a sideline designing and making costumes for a dance-theatre company. She was living and studying literature in Frankfurt when East and West Germany reunified, and later relocated for a few years to teach near Bosa, Sardinia. Her two children were born in Rome; while working there as a translator she began writing for middle grade readers, but things only got serious after yet another relocation, this time to Amsterdam, where she currently copyedits, cycles and fabulates for her inner twelve-year-old.
