Paddock Grove: Riding for Gold

Katie Ellis is in her second year at Paddock Grove; a boarding school with fantastic facilities for future equestrian stars. Katie has her beloved horse, Sheriff, with her, and has a great group of friends who love riding just as much as she does. When Katie is selected as captain of the Paddock Grove team for the Under-14s South Coast Challenge Cup, she is delighted, although the position brings huge responsibilities. But once the competition gets under way, strange things start happening; Sheriff's saddle goes missing and a girth is damaged. Could someone on one of the other teams be trying to sabotage Paddock Grove's chances in the competition? Katie and her friends Georgia, Lily and Tabitha must work together to find out just what is going on.

Riding for Gold is the second book in the Paddock Grove series, following the adventures of Katie and her gang, and it will appeal to anyone who loves horses. Katie is a perfect heroine, she is flattered to have been chosen as captain, but had doubts about her ability as she is younger than some of her team mates. Her loyalties to her friends are tested when Tabitha is dropped from the team and appointed a reserve instead. She also has to deal with unpleasant behaviour from Meg, an older girl who enjoys making Katie feel inadequate. She has to dig deep and act like a captain. When odd things start to happen to Katie, the girls decide to investigate; the reader is presented with more than one possible suspect, and there is a plot twist when the saboteurs' true identity is revealed.

The main themes of the book are friendship, team work and playing fair. As the headmistress, Mrs Hawksworth, says "Victory means nothing if it's not earned".  Well written and very readable, this 'Malory Towers with horses' series is going to prove very popular! I enjoyed the book very much, and look forward to seeing what happens to Katie, Lili, Georgia and Tabitha in the future.

240 pages / Reviewed by Beverley Somerset, school librarian

Suggested Reading Age 9+

Katie and her horse Sheriff take centre stage in this Paddock Grove episode. Katie is picked to be team captain for the inter schools riding competition. She is surprised and rather overwhelmed, suffering from lack of confidence. Strange things start to happen at the stables and Katie is sure that someone is up to no good. But who could it be and how can she prove it? The competition draws near, and the stakes get higher; can Katie lead her team to victory?

Riding for Gold is the second book in the Paddock Grove series, this time focusing on a different girl and her horse but featuring all the characters from the previous story. It picks up where the other left off and whilst it refers to the previous book, could be read as a stand-alone story.

For those children who love horses this is a perfect book with lots of horse detail and boarding school fun and mystery. It reads like a book version of the TV series Free Rein, with peril and courage in equal measure. There are no surprises or twists that you cannot see coming, it does exactly what you would hope - a comfort read of escapism and riding.

There are many children who would enjoy this story; it is an easy read, like the book version of a warm pastry. The issues around friendship and what it takes to be a decent person are at the forefront and children will look forward to the next book in the series.

240 pages / Reviewed by Jacqueline Harris, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 9+