The fourth book in the Saddlehill Academy series continues the story of seventh grader Abby St. Clair and her life at Foxbury, an elite equestrian boarding school. In this volume, Abby is excited that she’s been accepted to the riding clinic run by her hero Sasha Silver (star of author Jessica Burkhart’s Canterwood Crest series)—until she learns that her nemesis Selly is the only other rider from her school who’s gotten in.
Her worries may be beside the point, however, since her father has said she won’t be able to attend if she can’t keep her grades up. And how will the arrival of two Canterwood students impact the delicate social balance at Foxbury?
As with the first three volumes, the story gives us lots of middle-school intrigue as well as insider details about horses and riding. If it feels a little soap-opera-ish, it is—but that will make it compelling for many readers, whether they dream of being equestrians or just want a look into this world. Furthermore, Abby’s queer identity is a non-issue. Although her relationship with Mila forms part of the plot, it’s treated like any of the other relationships in the book—fraught with ups and downs, mistaken assumptions, and drama. It may be a soap opera, but it’s a queer-inclusive one—and readers seeking queer representation deserve such fun, too.
Abby is White; Abby’s two best friends are Black and Korean American, respectively.
