Catch Rider by Jennifer H. Lyne Review

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Title: Catch Rider
Author: Jennifer H. Lyne (Twitter)
Publisher: Clarion Books
Publish Date: June 4, 2013
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 288
Source: Publisher

Tough-as-nails fourteen-year-old Sid may not have expensive boots like the privileged teen riders in Virginia, but she knows her way around horses. Working with her Uncle Wayne since childhood, she’s learned to evaluate horses, break and train them, care for them...and ride like a professional.

Amid turmoil at home, she dreams of becoming a catch rider — a show rider who can ride anything with hooves. In this salty, suspenseful teen novel, an unexpected opportunity to ride a top-notch horse in an equitation show takes the small-town girl all the way to Madison Square Garden.
Sidney doesn't live a rich life. She's not pampered, or spoiled. She's never had more than exactly what she needs, but she does have one thing going for her. Sid knows horses. She understands how they think, how they act and how they work, and most of all, Sid knows how to ride. Having always had to deal with second-best of nearly everything, Sid finally wants something all to herself, and she'll do just about anything to accomplish her dream and become a riveting, sensational and inspiring show rider.

To be entirely honest, when the author contacted me to review her novel, that was the very first time I'd ever heard of Catch Rider, and I was a bit wary because of the younger protagonist. However, Jennifer Lyne has carefully crafted an empowering and emotional story of a girl that, while younger in age, often presents a maturity beyond her years, as well as a strength of spirit and determination that readers of any age can relate to. Blending tense drama, tangible characterization, an emotional plot and a journey to find and succeed at accomplishing one's dreams, Catch Rider is sure to whisk you away into Sid's world.

Sid was somewhat of a tricky protagonist for me - not because of her age, but rather because of her demeanor. The girl has had a rough life, and there is absolutely no denying that. You can sense her inner turmoil and the walls she has put up to shield herself from any more hurt. Her father is gone, her mother cares too much about her deadbeat of a boyfriend and she has no money on a good day. Sid's always been on her own and, therefore, you can understand why she's a bit rough around the edges. The reason, however, that I struggled with her at times is because despite the fact that she's got next to nothing, she doesn't hesitate to demean others, and her bitterness leaves an acrid taste in my mouth. That said, I think there were some definitive strengths to Catch Rider that really worked for a fairly slim novel. For one, we're thrust directly into  Sid's life from the start. With little to no introduction whatsoever, the reader is pushed into a sort of sink-or-swim environment where we very quickly learn and understand the world in which Sid lives. Furthermore, there is no lack of action and adventure in the book. From the start, we have the unique ability to become invested in Sid's journey to accomplish her dreams at all costs. We also have the unique opportunity to get an insider's perspective into the world of showing horses. The author has clearly done her homework, as the world is incredibly vivid and detailed, and I could picture the scenes and events as though I were there, myself. The plot, too, is well done. It never lags or slows, but blends the subtle character introductions, touches of sweet romance and engaging action with a great, steady pace. I will say that I wished the ending could have been fleshed out a bit further, as it was a bit abrupt for my liking, but it worked, and it was just wrapped up enough to feel satisfied.

Overall, Catch Rider is a great crossover book for most ages. The author has a way with words, and I definitely look forward to reading more from her. I give it a high 3.5 out of 5, and I recommend it to all fans of YA, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction. This can also work for an upper MG audience. 

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

16 comments:

  1. I've never heard of this book, but it sounds like something I would enjoy reading.
    I especially like the idea of a vivid description of the world of horse riding. It's really too bad about the ending being too abrupt though. I can see why that might bother you a little.
    Lovely review, Melissa!

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    1. Thank you, Nick! I hope you read it because I don't think enough people have it on their radar yet...I bet you'd like it!

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  2. It's amazing about how many new titles I become invested in, in a day. For instance this one. I saw MG and kinda lost it, I love that genre and this soubnds too cute to pass up!

    And horses are amazeballs. Wonderful review, chick! <33

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    1. Oh, I hope you DO read it, Melanie! I'd love to compare notes with someone :)))

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  3. I'm glad that you were able to enjoy this Melissa. I don't think this would typically be my sort of read either, but a lot of books have suprised me lately with younger MC's. Also it sounds like this book does have a lot to offer with the amount of detail and action the author has provided. Great review Melissa!

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    1. Thank you, Jasprit! I've been surprised by books with young protagonists before (ie: THE LONG WEEKEND), so I really had to put my reservations aside, and it was worth it :)

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  4. This one sounds like it might be a little young for me, but it sounds like a good read nonetheless.

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    1. I thought it would be too young for me, too, Leanna, but it actually worked quite well :)

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  5. This is the first I've seen of this story, but I spent my entire childhood reading horse books, so this definitely intrigues me. Though I am worried that Sidney's attitude would grate on me as well, I love that it features lots of action and sounds fast paced. Plus I always love to read about people who love horses and know them well. Thanks for putting this one on my radar!

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    1. You're quite welcome! I think it's a really strong debut, despite a few flaws, and the writing is superb!

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  6. It's my first time to hear about this book, and I have to admit that I was hesitant about reading the summary because I haven't had much luck with books that deal with this subject. It sounds like a well-written book though and it's nice to know that the protagonist delivered despite her young age.

    - Ellie at The Selkie Reads Stories

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    1. The author does a great job of making this work for multiple age groups, which is definitely a challenge, and I love that it's a pretty deep and intriguing novel :)

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  7. From the description and your review, Sid kind of reminds me of my friend who's a horsey, country girl through and through. She's a lot rough around the edges for a lot of the same reasons and does love her horses!

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    1. It's such a great book about horse people...rather than just horses, if that makes sense :)

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  8. I do love stories that incorporate animals in some way. I don't read a whole lot of them but I always enjoy them when I do. Middle grade is a little trickier for me and I would've been apprehensive taking this on as well, Melissa. I'm glad to see you were pleasantly surprised. Wonderful review! :)

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  9. I used to love books that featured horses and horseback riding (The Saddle Club, anyone?). So when I saw the cover, I immediately though, I think I want to read this. I'm very intrigued by the sound of this book. The main character sounds spunky and determined, and I usually like that!

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