Misty can’t wait to get back to school after the school holidays. She missed her two best friends, Ruby and Jasmine and is keen to get back into normal school routine. Since she lost her mum a couple of years back, it just isn’t the same at home. Her father did his best, but he too misses his wife. Misty and her dad have developed a closer bond, but spending the entire school holidays doing not much of anything has taken its toll.

Ruby is excited about an audition for Romeo & Juliet. Misty and her friends are Year 9 students and scoring one of the main parts in such a big school play at that age is unheard of. But Misty knows Ruby well and how determined she is. Ruby’s high achiever lawyer mum behind her did have its benefits sometimes. Misty and Jasmine do all they can to support Ruby and her goal of playing Juliet and nothing less.

Jasmine is the opposite of Ruby – quiet, thoughtful, kind and athletic. Her goal for the coming months is training and running a marathon, and Misty supports her too.

Misty has her own goal. Keep the fact that her dad has lost his job from her friends. Surely he’ll get a new one and they never need know? When their home situation becomes even worse and they have to move to a housing estate, Misty is mortified. Sure she can still go to the same school, but what will her friends think?

Once the move happens however, Misty realises it’s not as bad as she’d imagined. The locals are friendly and welcoming and they also care for horses that roam the local common. A local man is from a traveller background and horses are in his blood. Misty never imagined she would ride bareback with only the horses’ mane to hold onto.

But her mistruths and secrets from her school friends begin to catch up with her, and the fallout isn’t pretty. Soon there are much more important things filling her mind. Her new friends are facing the terrible possibility of losing all of their horses. Misty knows how much the animals mean to the local community too. Can her school friends help her new friends fight the authorities?

A move away from home is always a great story starter, but in City of Horses, the main character only changes her home, not her school. This allows her to make new friends and realise that maybe behaviours and habits she has always adopted or put up with – aren’t right. Her new found independence and acceptance just the way she is, is refreshing and eye opening, and she makes a stand for all that she has gained.

An interesting story of friendship dynamics, acceptance, misconceptions, and relationships – both in and outside the home. And of course, lots of horses, horse care, riding and horse love.

Author – Frances Moloney

Age – 10+

(2024, Faber Factory, Pushkin Children’s, Animals, Horses, Housing Estate, Moving House, Lies, Mistruths, Secrets, Best Friends, Acceptance, Independence, Growing Up, Making friends, Grief, Lost job, Shame, Guilt, White lies, Relationships, Friendship Dynamics, Family)