A number of years ago I was able to read and review Team Up by Elizabeth Alexander. It was great recently to be able to read the follow on story, Canter On.
This brought me back to the world of Hetta, JJ and Theo. In Canter On, the trio find themselves in the midst of a push for a Dressage Club, the potential demise of their Pony Club and a heap of horse floats (trailers) getting stolen.
As with Team Up, this story is a very horse focused on read. Theo is just a delight to read about and often had me laughing. His enthusiasm and wild ideas are great!
Hetta and JJ work well together and try hard to keep Theo in check. It works at times, others not so much!
The three love their Pony Club and riding instructor, James. The reader is introduced to him in the first chapter of the book. As the story continues. James’ character comes into question by the teens who appreciate him the most.
The story unfolds into a very interesting mystery. Some local horse floats have been taken and it appears to be an ongoing issue. Hetta, JJ and Theo are keen to work out who is taking the floats. It appears to be someone with inside information.
Alongside this, Savannah’s father appears to be taking over their horse world. The Pony Club and Hunt Club facilities suddenly change vastly, and it’s not something Hetta is enthusiastic about. When there is a new dressage club, she is excited by the sponsorship, but unimpressed with the riding lessons and the pressure that is put on her to perform so well with her riding.
Canter On highlights the importance of having fun whilst riding, and consistently learning. Hetta is reminded that this can happen outside of a pressure filled dressage lesson. The way the mystery builds is great in the story, and the horse information is conveyed well. The characters are great and Theo brings a lovely level of humour to the story. Recommended.
Author – Elizabeth Alexander
Fiction – young adults
In my library – as an eBook it is.
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