A Horse Called September

by Anne Digby

The moving story of a passionate friendship between two girls growing up together on an isolated Devon farm in the 1970s, the break-up of that friendship -- and the horse that changed their lives forever. Now available as an ebook for the first time, Anne Digby's debut novel is a childhood favourite both with English-speaking readers and with readers of various editions in translation. Other Straw Hat ebook titles for lovers of classic horse stories include Anne Digby's THE QUICKSILVER HORSE and Alan Davidson's QUEEN RIDER.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Horses, Classics, Childrens, Middle Grade, Amazon

128 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Anne Digby is a popular British children's author, best known for her fourteen-book Trebizon series, set at a large boarding school. In addition to her own Trebizon books, Digby has contributed new volumes to Enid Blyton's Naughtiest Girl series.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this on Kindle as a free download and was enchanted by this book, typical of what I read growing up in the fifties. It is about friendship, love home and family and horses, particularly a horse called September.

It's about a girl from a poor home in the British countryside discovering her talent while staying true to her values, where everything ends happily and good works are rewarded. How refreshing!

Although the main character is 16 or 17 she seems younger compared to today's 17 year old girls. Significantly, there is no romance. This was back when young people read books that taught them life's lessons while entertaining with a solid story. Not every book had to have a romantic subplot. There were no young men in this story, not even a handsome neighbor boy that Mary wanted to impress.

How interesting that 50 years later, after decades of women's rights, our girls now read modern YA novels where the female main character always needs a boy's interest to validate their worth. In A Horse Called September, Mary's worth is validated by her having a dream, setting a goal and then working to attain it.

I am pretty sure I read this as a young girl, although that was so long ago I can't remember exactly but it's just the type of book I would have loved then, and I loved it now.

[Emma Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Forgettable yet readable novel, mostly because the characters aren't fleshed out enough (reading K.M. Peyton clearly spoiled me). What I found most interesting is what it has to say about class. Anna and Mary come from different social backgrounds and quite apart from the horse story, it's really about overcoming this particular barrier. September made zero impression on me as a horse, he has no personality of his own and seems to be the mere extension of Mary's thoughts. Details I enjoyed: the girls exchanging tokens of friendship (how I miss that), riding double saddle on horses, exchanging letters during term. It's hardly a horse story, it's more a friendship story that would have benefited from tighter writing, the one I found in Trebizon for example.

[Francien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Als kind heb ik dit boek vele malen in het Nederlands gelezen. Nu voor het eerst in het Engels en het blijft een mooi verhaal

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young friend asked me to read this book. I like to read what the children are reading, so I happily agreed. It was a charming little book, for middleschool aged children. The modern reader might have a slight problem with the style of the book. A lot of things are "told" instead of "shown" as is the more current fashion, and the writer claims the "all knowing" viewpoint so the reader has access to the main character's thoughts and emotions, but also at times her friend's emotions, which again is an "older style of writint." Basic plot...owner and her horse overcome obstacles to reach their goals....and in the meantime have to face some hard truths. It is a story about "growing up." Good story, intersting twist, a little predictable.

[Sandra Megyesi-hallas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent YA book. Along the lines of Black Beauty or The Black Stallion.

If you love horses and enjoyed the above referenced books, or if you young adult loves them, then this must be in your library. An excellent, memorable book that I really enjoyed. I'm an old adult with a young heart and I'm very glad I found this little book. I think you will love it. I highly recommend it.

[Grace Harwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful, wonderful horsey story which I discovered via a Kindle offer (and I'm so happy I did!!) Published in 1976, I can't think how this one evaded me when I was a child because I would have loved this story about friendship and horses (I was horsey mad as a child and this would have been the stuff that my pony-mad dreams were made of). So, Mary and Anna are great friends. Anna is the rich child of her landowning father and Mary is the poor daughter of the farmhand (an employee of Anna's Dad). They've grown up together and the difference between them in terms of what they have and have not got has never entered the equation before. Anna has a horse called September who she shares with Mary and it's all very happy and idyllic. UNTIL... Anna's Dad decides that Anna needs to go to a posh boarding school where horse-riding is on the syllabus and Mary is left behind. Suddenly, Mary is being treated like a groom/a hired hand to look after September, but she's not allowed to ride him at all. This is the story of how Anna changes and Mary struggles to regain their friendship and keep September. There's an awful lot about class in here and one can't help but get a bit annoyed with Mary who really does seem to "know her place" (as Anna, at one point, obnoxiously tells her she should do). After all, it's Mary who saves the day and when the inevitable happens and there's a rapid turnabout in their fortunes, Mary still seems anxious to stay as the working class underdog. Despite the fact that she has the power to change her life at this point, she just doesn't seem to see it.

That said, I LOVED this book - I read it in nearly one sitting because I just couldn't put it down. If you love horses, don't miss this one. I might even buy the other one ("Quicksilver") despite it being aimed at the 8 to 12 year old market. (I'm 42 - but you're never too old for a fabulous horsey story - once horse-mad, I reckon you'll always be that way...)

[Kilian Metcalf · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember Disney movies starring Annette Funicello. This book could have been one of those movies. Two horse-mad girls, one rich, one poor, share the love of a horse called September. He belongs to the rich girl's father, an English farmer. The poor girl is the daughter of one of his employees. All goes well between the girls until the rich girl is sent off to boarding school, where she will learn more about riding, and the poor girl is left behind. The girls drift apart, and the horse is left in the hands of the poor girl. The owner/farmer/father is determined that his daughter will win some big horse show jumping event because he has hocked everything he has to put his daughter into this school.

Unfortunately, September is injured and sent off to the knackers. Not-so-rich daddy decides he will sell his beloved expensive car to buy another horse for his daughter to win the Cup. Poor girl scrapes up the money to rescue the injured horse and hides him until he heals.

Both girls enter the competition. Rich girl on rich horse; poor girl on poor horse.

Guess what happens?

You got it.

No surprises and lots of previously traveled territory, but this book would be an enjoyable read for any horse-mad girls you know. Maybe you were one. I was, and I enjoyed every predictable, unbelievable bit of this formulaic story. I was surprised it was published in 1978. It reads like the books I read in the 1950s.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is your classic, preteen horse loving girl story, happy ending and all. I have to admit I even enjoyed it, and my preteen years are LONG gone, though when I was a preteen and teen I was horse crazy.

The story itself is a bit dated, set in rural England in a bygone time, where you had to run into town to use the payphone to make a call, but also in a setting where nothing is impossible for a young girl who sets her mind to it, and dreams can come true, and goodness might always prevail.

[Melinda Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

A timeless classic!
What a wonderful, classic story!! It's so good I find it hard to properly "review" so I'll just say it's a MUSTREAD ~ not just for middle-grade and young adult readers, but for horse lovers and literature lovers of all ages. Can't imagine anyone not enjoying this book. Highly recommend!

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book for any child that loves horses. This book was fun to read aloud to my eight-year-old daughter.

[Pia]

Picked this up for free on Amazon. Cute little story that reminded me of all the horse tales I read as a kid.

[Lindsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

An easy read for a child. Definitely a book of its time. Main plot line revolves around class and socioeconomic status in the 70s in Britain. The reason for only a 2 star rating is because there's no real depth to anything, even the main characters. It seems like the author is trying to make it a mystery as to why Anna must win the competition, when it's quite obvious that it's a money issue. Pretty sure even a very young reader would find it too obvious.

[Mystic Miraflores · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this short, sweet story about the horse and the two girls. The characterization of the girl who went away to boarding school and how she changed was spot-on. I admired the girl who stayed behind and remained true to herself, the horse, and her father. I appreciated the happy ending!

[cheryl doerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

I love reading books about animals. This a really book. I would recommend it to everyone on the planet earth.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Positive Book

This is a happy-ending story any young horse-loving girl will love. It reminds me of the kind of books I loved to read when I was a tween. Daydreams coming true.

[Joy Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and touches the heart of the reader. Didn't want to put it down.

[P H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but I feel that the end was a bit rushed an forced, also, quite predictable to be honest.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good horse girl "fairy tale" where everything turns out perfect.

[Gemma Adelaar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best loved book from my childhood!

[Sieglinde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice if implausible tale

I spotted that this was available as an ebook and, remembering it had been serialised in a comic I read as a child, decided to refresh my memory. It’s a nice tale, albeit implausible, but it’s easy to see why it was popular with young horse-mad girls.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I can I say -- it's a book about horses and a girl's love for her horse. September belongs to Anna, but it is Mary who loves and cares for September while Anna is sent away to a boarding school to train Anna to be a competitor. Anna's father has only one goal --- for his daughter to win and he has no patience for September and no understanding about Mary and her love. He treats her as the help. But when things go bad and September can no longer jump, only Mary has enough guts to do something about it. This is the story of Mary who loses her best friend to the snobby boarding school and about her unique relationship with September a prize jumper who gets injured and is sold off....where I won't say as I won't spoil it. It reminds me a bit of King of the Wind where the boy is always with his Arabian. Hear warming story for young girls and some boys to read. Set in England with jumping at its core.

[Puck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another of my favourite reads of 2015. I loved Black Beauty and Meet Felicity: An American Girl, so you know I love books about horses and how they bring people together and change people's lives. So the title alone made me want to read this book and I wasn't sorry. It's about two girls who grow up together, but in different classes — one is the daughter of the owner of a farm, while the other is the daughter of one of his workers. As they grow up and grow apart, September becomes both a point of contention and the link between them. I very much recommend this book for anyone who like historical fiction and books about horses.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Horse Called September reminds me of a book I would have read as a child. It was published in 1978, but I would have pegged it as written in the 1950s. It has that kind of feel. Two girls, rich Anna and poor Mary, are good friends. Mary's dad works for Anna's. Both girls enjoy riding Anna's horse, September. But Anna's dad decides that Anna is destined for greater things and so he sends her to an elite school, buys her an expensive horse, and the drama continues from there.

I enjoyed this book. It read well and even though the characters were pretty cliched and the ending unrealistically happy, it reminded me of the literature of days gone by. The girls struggled with friendship and hobbies, not with boys, bullying, or drugs. Nice, wholesome story for kids 10-14.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was what I always wanted when I was younger and looking for a book to read. Every single part of it tied up in happy ribbons. Cliché? I really don't care.

Mary's dad work's on Anna's dad's farm, and the two grow up friends. Then Anna's Dad gets serious about horse shows and everything gets turned on its head. Its pretty accurate about how people can change because of their surroundings. Money can make people crazy.


In the end though, after everything fell apart, everyone found a way to their happiness again.

[Tania · Rating 5 out of 5]

Girls from different worlds, thrown together by circumstance, form what they believe will be a lifelong friendship. Their love of horses is their shared passion. Faithful friend Mary is bewildered when things begin to change rapidly. The two friends will find their character, and their friendship, challenged as they struggle with situations they don't fully understand.

This is a great coming of age story in the vein of The Black Stallion or A Horse Called Bonnie. It's easy to get caught up in, and hard to put down.

[Dawn Lennox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved reading this story, about one horse and the two different girls who love him. He is owned by Anna, her best friend Mary 'shares' him for a while. Until Anna is sent to boarding school, and Mary is left behind, and is asked to keep an eye on September.

The story unfolds as the friendship of the two girls is put to the test during their months apart and how September is treated by Anna's father.

[Eileen Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic

This story is sure to be a classic. Two young girls growing up together one rich , one poor. But that didn't stop their friendship or love of horses from growing. Even add they got older and went their separate ways, they had horses. September was a horse that was more than any old horse. He was smart and sensed what his rider was feeling.
This story was wonderful. Full of life lessons for any young girl.

[Altivo Overo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fine satisfying story, especially appropriate for pre-teen or middle school readers. Very British in setting, but not difficult for all that.

Nicely told, with interesting characters and a good empathy for the affection some teens develop for horses. The sequence of events may seem a bit too pat and far-fetched to an adult reader, but it is at least plausible (or was, in the England of George VI.) A quick pleasant read that comes out perfectly in the end.

[DKM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute children's story... reminded me of all the great books I read in elementary and middle school. I would have given it 5 stars, but there was a grammatical faux pax so egregious that I couldn't ignore it: the author used the subjective case pronoun instead of the objective case after a preposition. Surprised the editor didn't catch that... Still, I very much enjoyed the story.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite finished this book yet, but, it's an easy read and is what I would call the classic tale of two girls from different classes falling in love with the same horse and how he affected the lives of those around him. If you enjoy stories involving the love of my life, then you'll enjoy reading this book.