Into the Storm

By Author / Illustrator

Amanda Wills

Genre

Adventure

Age range(s)

Publisher

Cherry Tree Publishing

ISBN

9781739807078

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

01-06-2023

Synopsis

Pony-trekking in the Forest of Dean should have been the holiday of a lifetime for horse-mad Poppy McKeever. But her excitement soon evaporates when she finds out her ride for the week is Beau, a hairy, bumbling piebald cob with a wall eye and a stubborn streak. Things go from bad to worse when an argument with her best friend, Scarlett, leaves their friendship at breaking point. And then Poppy discovers the trekking centre's owner is hiding a terrible secret... But all that's forgotten when a brutal storm rips through the forest, threatening the lives of the trekking centre's horses.There's only one way Poppy can save them, and that's to place her trust in Beau. Can she win him round in time to save the stables - and her friendship with Scarlett?Into the Storm is the third book in the Riverdale Pony Stories, the ultimate feel-good series for horse lovers everywhere.

Reviews

As a non-horse enthusiast, I hadn't expected to enjoy Into the Storm. But I did, and I think many KS2 children will likewise, even if the book's greatest fans will be those who have read the first two titles in the Riverdale Pony Stories series or who go horse-riding themselves.

The story of Poppy and her up-and-down friendship with Scarlet, the development of her relationship with trekking pony Beau, and the uncertain future of the riding centre run by Nina: all these are brought to us at a satisfyingly brisk pace, building to an exciting conclusion with a night-time excursion to summon help before all is lost. But will the stables survive until next summer for Poppy and her friends to return to?

With an uncomplicated writing style and a stunning cover, this is a book which is bound to fly off the shelves of the primary school library, and to be treasured by those lucky enough to get a copy of their own.

Reviewed by Jane Rew, school librarian