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Jinny #2
A Devil to Ride
A Devil to Ride (Jinnny of Finmory)
200 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1976
3 people are currently reading
129 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Leitch
123 books38 followersPatricia Leitch (July 13, 1933 - July 28, 2015) was a Scottish writer, best known for her series of children's books about a girl named Jinny Manders and her wild, traumatized Arabian horse Shantih, set in the Scottish Highlands.
The 12 books in the Jinny series were published between 1976 - 1988 by Armada. They are currently in reprint by Catnip Publishers.
Two more of her novels, Dream of Fair Horses (1975) and The Horse from Black Loch (1963) have been republished by Jane Badger Books.
Leitch has also written under the pseudonym Jane Eliot.
The 12 books in the Jinny series were published between 1976 - 1988 by Armada. They are currently in reprint by Catnip Publishers.
Two more of her novels, Dream of Fair Horses (1975) and The Horse from Black Loch (1963) have been republished by Jane Badger Books.
Leitch has also written under the pseudonym Jane Eliot.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 9, 2013
Brilliant and insightful. Not just wonderful about horses, but examines the ways in which people change according to who they spend time with. A real lesson about being yourself and being happy in your own life, rather than wishing for that of other people.
March 31, 2021
The annoying thing about these sorts of books is that they always seem to come as part of a long series, and of course I don't own the entire long series, so I have to go search out the rest to find out what happens next.
And I do want to find out more about Jinny and her horse. This one isn't quite as good as For Love of a Horse, possibly because it's a more condensed narrative that's focused more tightly on Jinny herself, leaving the rest of her family (and Ken) as backward characters who pop in and out but don't have much substance on their own.
Still, the writing is nicely evocative, and I love the setting. While it's not a place I'd want to live myself, at least not at this point in my life, it proves an almost magical escape to another world, just like all the best books from my childhood. And I can see how it'd be a perfect home for a sensitive, artistic, horse-loving 11 year old like Jinny.
Leitch understands kids, too, and the recklessly bad decisions that drive people of middle school age, especially. Jinny wants so badly to find someone who understands her, who can help her with her half-wild, largely unridable horse. She does some pretty terrible (but mostly just stupid) things over the course of this book, because...she's 11 years old. I'm actually less mad at her than I am at all the members of her family who saw this happening and didn't do anything to stop it. They could've found other people to help with her wayward horse, and they certainly could've stopped her from running wild over the moors and getting herself into trouble. But I suppose they figured she'd learn the lessons on her own, and they'd stick more as a result.
The ending is pretty devastatingly sad, and I do wish there was more of a resolution to it. But it does what it's meant to: it ends on an open enough note to make you ring up the bookstore to ask for Volume #3.
And I do want to find out more about Jinny and her horse. This one isn't quite as good as For Love of a Horse, possibly because it's a more condensed narrative that's focused more tightly on Jinny herself, leaving the rest of her family (and Ken) as backward characters who pop in and out but don't have much substance on their own.
Still, the writing is nicely evocative, and I love the setting. While it's not a place I'd want to live myself, at least not at this point in my life, it proves an almost magical escape to another world, just like all the best books from my childhood. And I can see how it'd be a perfect home for a sensitive, artistic, horse-loving 11 year old like Jinny.
Leitch understands kids, too, and the recklessly bad decisions that drive people of middle school age, especially. Jinny wants so badly to find someone who understands her, who can help her with her half-wild, largely unridable horse. She does some pretty terrible (but mostly just stupid) things over the course of this book, because...she's 11 years old. I'm actually less mad at her than I am at all the members of her family who saw this happening and didn't do anything to stop it. They could've found other people to help with her wayward horse, and they certainly could've stopped her from running wild over the moors and getting herself into trouble. But I suppose they figured she'd learn the lessons on her own, and they'd stick more as a result.
The ending is pretty devastatingly sad, and I do wish there was more of a resolution to it. But it does what it's meant to: it ends on an open enough note to make you ring up the bookstore to ask for Volume #3.
July 1, 2017
Another comfort reread but definitely my least favourite in the series, always has been! Lots of moral lessons for young readers but for me I feel Leitch strayed far away from the character of Jinny here to teach these morals, turning her into an annoying idiot rather than the Jinny we love in all the other books (except, perhaps, The Summer Riders but this by far is the book where she is at her most annoying!)
September 7, 2016
Five stars for the book and the wonderful, magical story telling of Patricia Leitch. No stars whatsoever for Jinny as a character. She is really starting to piss me off now. Not sure that I can go through another book with this stupid little girl featuring as the protagonist. What a complete idiot!!! Good book though.
dnf
September 13, 2022DNF page 12
I don't give star ratings for books I DNF. If I had to, probably like a 2*. It had potential, but it was so rambly and went on so many tangents, it was hard to keep my focus. If it had been cut down and more concise, it would have been enjoyable.
Also, Jinny is meant to be 11. The character on this cover is a woman.
The one thing I did like in the few pages I read was that Jinny seemed like she had ADHD, by not being able to keep a timetable. Honestly, so relatable.
I don't give star ratings for books I DNF. If I had to, probably like a 2*. It had potential, but it was so rambly and went on so many tangents, it was hard to keep my focus. If it had been cut down and more concise, it would have been enjoyable.
Also, Jinny is meant to be 11. The character on this cover is a woman.
The one thing I did like in the few pages I read was that Jinny seemed like she had ADHD, by not being able to keep a timetable. Honestly, so relatable.
October 18, 2023
Rereading some childhood favs, but the second book of this series is my least favourite. Hate the character Claire and never really understood Jinny's fascination with her. I get it's a kids book full of moral lessons etc, but just it felt irritating for 90 percent of this very short story! But it's done now and I can finish rereading the rest which are much better (as I recall)!
November 9, 2021
NOT A HORSE GIRL. but i throughly enjoyed this book good read
January 21, 2024
Polecam
Książka mówi o tym że nie wszystkim można ufać trzeba wiedzieć kiedy przestać.
Uwielbiam ją.
Książka mówi o tym że nie wszystkim można ufać trzeba wiedzieć kiedy przestać.
Uwielbiam ją.
January 16, 2024
i loved this book, I didn't get attached to it, it was just so easy to read but also interesting. It's a great kids book.
September 14, 2012
How do I add this book there is no add to my libery button
December 13, 2015
found these with the Christmas decorations!!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews