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Stone Rider
(Stone Rider #1)
by
In the vein of The Outsiders and the early Western novels of Elmore Leonard, this inventive debut novel, a cross between the cult classic Mad Max movie series and Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, blends adrenaline-fueled action with an improbable yet tender romance to offer a rich and vivid portrayal of misfits and loners forced together in their struggle for a better life.
Adam ...more
Adam ...more
Hardcover, 336 pages
Published
July 14th 2015
by Delacorte
(first published 2015)
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3.5 stars
I find the distinction between boy books and girl books to be discriminatory and a tiny bit offensive, and yet Stone Rider undeniably aims towards young adult boys as its intended audience. Heavy on the action, violence and technical description and very light on any kind of emotional development, it often reads as a videogame on paper. But by no means is it a bad thing – whatever it tries to do, this book does exceptionally well, and the end result is an unusually written story tha ...more

I received a copy via the publisher
Short review: I couldn't put this down. It wasn't exceptional, but it was a lot of fun! It wasn't perfect, but it made for a great summer read.
There is an issue, however, that I've noticed regarding this book. Stone Rider may be look at as a "boy" book, but honestly, there's not a lot of those in Young Adult fiction. As a bookseller, it's a tough time finding male-narrated novels for teenage boys to read, because while a lot of them don't mind reading from a fe ...more
Short review: I couldn't put this down. It wasn't exceptional, but it was a lot of fun! It wasn't perfect, but it made for a great summer read.
There is an issue, however, that I've noticed regarding this book. Stone Rider may be look at as a "boy" book, but honestly, there's not a lot of those in Young Adult fiction. As a bookseller, it's a tough time finding male-narrated novels for teenage boys to read, because while a lot of them don't mind reading from a fe ...more

May 13, 2015
Jessica (Jessabella Reads)
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
arcs-i-have
The first thing that caught my eye was the cover for Stone Rider. I loved the cracked look of the cover that depicts the hardened landscape of the books setting. The title stands out beautifully in stark contrast of color and texture. This is such a great cover and so unique compared to the many YA books out there.
Now on to the story....
Well let's just say that I read this book in one night, in one sitting. It grabbed my attention immediately, and didn't let go until the last page was turned. T ...more
Now on to the story....
Well let's just say that I read this book in one night, in one sitting. It grabbed my attention immediately, and didn't let go until the last page was turned. T ...more

**Thank you to Delacorte Press for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review!**
Stone Rider was my first dystopian read in a while, and I have to say, the read was completely worth it! It follows Adam Stone, who I immediately loved as a character since the first page. He's been through a lot in his life and he's currently living with his brother, Frank. Basically, in this future world, there's a place called Sky-Base that is like a haven and everyone wants to go there. In ord ...more
Stone Rider was my first dystopian read in a while, and I have to say, the read was completely worth it! It follows Adam Stone, who I immediately loved as a character since the first page. He's been through a lot in his life and he's currently living with his brother, Frank. Basically, in this future world, there's a place called Sky-Base that is like a haven and everyone wants to go there. In ord ...more

Thanks to Storia Books for sending me this review copy, this hadn't in any way influenced my rating or my review!
You can check out my Romanian review on my blog : https://thecursedbooks.wordpress.com/...
I will start off by saying that this book is probably more of a 3.5 stars for me. When I first started this book, I had doubts about whether I’d like it because of the subject – it seemed like it would be too focused on motorcycles and technical stuff, which aren’t my cup of tea, usually. But my ...more
You can check out my Romanian review on my blog : https://thecursedbooks.wordpress.com/...
I will start off by saying that this book is probably more of a 3.5 stars for me. When I first started this book, I had doubts about whether I’d like it because of the subject – it seemed like it would be too focused on motorcycles and technical stuff, which aren’t my cup of tea, usually. But my ...more

“Stone Rider” is an excellent book that can fit into many genres at one time. It’s like a western met a dystopian and then decided to create a West Side Storyesque production. I’ve never read anything like it.
The characters are all interesting and surprising. At the beginning they may appear to be stereotypical, but as the story goes on their depth is revealed. However, that is not to say that they are extremely well-developed. The book is written like the old westerns. You learn what you need t ...more
The characters are all interesting and surprising. At the beginning they may appear to be stereotypical, but as the story goes on their depth is revealed. However, that is not to say that they are extremely well-developed. The book is written like the old westerns. You learn what you need t ...more

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This was an excellent read. Touted as a Wild West meets Mad Max Bildungsroman, Stone Rider lived up to my expectations. Adam lives in a brutal and violent future where you mine the precious commodity at the Earth's core or you race. Adam comes from a line of racers - men who risk their lives in a dangerous trek across a wasteland reminiscent of the Wild West. Expect a vicious and brutal adventure where a boy who
...more

3.5 stars
I don’t usually pay too much attention to the comparisons that publishers make when describing books, but in the case of Stone Rider, Mad Max meets The Road is a very accurate description. With a bare bones narrative style, Stone Rider tells the story of three riders who take on a no holds barred race across a dessert wasteland for a chance at a better life. This is the premise that you understand going in, but what I found as I read the book was that the motivations of each rider reall ...more
I don’t usually pay too much attention to the comparisons that publishers make when describing books, but in the case of Stone Rider, Mad Max meets The Road is a very accurate description. With a bare bones narrative style, Stone Rider tells the story of three riders who take on a no holds barred race across a dessert wasteland for a chance at a better life. This is the premise that you understand going in, but what I found as I read the book was that the motivations of each rider reall ...more

David Hofmeyr's Stone Rider is the type of book that keeps coming at you and doesn't let up even as you hit the end. The story is pretty basic. To get out of no kind of life on the planet Earth sometime in the future where the air is toxic, one needs to win a potentially deadly byke race through a harsh desert landscape. Adam, the main character, has lost plenty and finds he has nothing to lose by entering the race. Along the way he must do battle with both inner and outer forces but gets some h
...more

The beginning of this book was so intriguing that i couldn't help but be pulled into its pages. I kept having flash backs of Mad Max which made me appreciate Adam's journey even more. He's one fierce character and it was always an adventure, filled with action and danger where he was concerned. I fell completely in love with the world that David created.
I couldn't imagine being in Adam's shoes and it's no wonder he did everything in his power to escape Blackwater. Seeing life through his eyes w ...more
I couldn't imagine being in Adam's shoes and it's no wonder he did everything in his power to escape Blackwater. Seeing life through his eyes w ...more

A novel of a byke race with a huge prize: Sky-Base and a life of luxury away from the drudgery of the mine. A course thousands of miles of waste lands, obstacle courses, traps, the only weapon allowed a sling.
And you'd need it. There were outlaws in the waste lands, cannibals, wolves, and the other contestants.
Adam Stone didn't plan to race originally. He had a byke, one his brother had rode until the accident had taken a leg. He wanted to stay for his brother. Then an enemy, Levi Blood, son of ...more
And you'd need it. There were outlaws in the waste lands, cannibals, wolves, and the other contestants.
Adam Stone didn't plan to race originally. He had a byke, one his brother had rode until the accident had taken a leg. He wanted to stay for his brother. Then an enemy, Levi Blood, son of ...more

Small disclaimer: I've worked in advertising with David for a long time and seen his evolution from authorly planner to published author.
It's the first time I've ever read a fictional book written by someone I know and I was surprised at how quickly I stopped hearing David's voice as I read and got immersed in this fantastic, violent world. The economy of his language is impressive as the characters and race are so vivid. I don't usually read YA fiction and was surprised that it's bleak yet ful ...more
It's the first time I've ever read a fictional book written by someone I know and I was surprised at how quickly I stopped hearing David's voice as I read and got immersed in this fantastic, violent world. The economy of his language is impressive as the characters and race are so vivid. I don't usually read YA fiction and was surprised that it's bleak yet ful ...more

Surprisingly I really liked this book it's very unique and different. This book is a gritty dystopian/scifi with a feel of hunger games to it. Right off the back I liked the main character, the fast pace and the world building is amazing. Non Stop action so it was a fast read for me. Definitely put this on your TBR. The companion novel comes out next year; so hopefully it's a continuation of this awesome story.
...more

My BookTube review https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=f1QvBw2... :)
...more

I think boys will even love this more. I hope there are more stories. There wasn't a cliff hanger,thank god, i just wanna read about what could happen in the future with everyone, even Kane!
...more


Stone Rider isn't normally the type of book I would choose for myself, but when I had the opportunity to read and review an advance copy, I decided to take a chance based on the completely intriguing summary. It's a complete understatement for me to say that I am SO glad I decided to read this book.

From the very start, I got a serious Mad Max vibe from this book, and because of that, I was totally hooked. I absolutely loved the crazy intense and weird landscape of Mad Max: Fury Ro
...more
3.5 Stars
'Stone Rider' is a gripping and fast paced novel that will have readers eagerly turning each page to see what will happen next! The story follows main character, Adam Stone, who dreams of leaving his desert hometown for the luxurious Sky-Base. The only way for Adam to have a chance of going to live on Sky-Base is to race the Blackwater Trail - and win. He's not alone in his determination to beat the course - the dangerous Kane is racing against him, along with Sadie Blood - Adam's longt ...more
'Stone Rider' is a gripping and fast paced novel that will have readers eagerly turning each page to see what will happen next! The story follows main character, Adam Stone, who dreams of leaving his desert hometown for the luxurious Sky-Base. The only way for Adam to have a chance of going to live on Sky-Base is to race the Blackwater Trail - and win. He's not alone in his determination to beat the course - the dangerous Kane is racing against him, along with Sadie Blood - Adam's longt ...more

Review:
Protagonist: Adam Stone wants to get out of Blackwater and the only way to get out is to ride the Blackwater Trail, but there are a few things holding him back, things like his brother, the girl he wants more than anything to be with, and his own low self-esteem. A series of events lead to Adam needing to enter the race, and with a resolve to win he heads out in the most dangerous race of his life. For the most part I liked the character of Adam, at first he's a bit self-deprecating, he's ...more
Protagonist: Adam Stone wants to get out of Blackwater and the only way to get out is to ride the Blackwater Trail, but there are a few things holding him back, things like his brother, the girl he wants more than anything to be with, and his own low self-esteem. A series of events lead to Adam needing to enter the race, and with a resolve to win he heads out in the most dangerous race of his life. For the most part I liked the character of Adam, at first he's a bit self-deprecating, he's ...more

Fifteen year old Adam Stone lives in the harsh desert town of Blackwater and wants nothing more than to get out. His one chance of earning a one-way ticket to the luxurious world of Sky-Base is also a potentially deadly one: win the brutal Blackwater Trail byke race. Adam, along with the mysterious Kane and tough, gorgeous Sadie Blood, set out to ride this hellish race and find themselves pushed to their limits, hunted by dangerous foes, and faced with cruel truths.
David Hofmeyr’s Stone Rider is ...more
David Hofmeyr’s Stone Rider is ...more

There is something really special about Stone Riders and that is uniqueness. It’s packed with actions and is incredibly good for lovers of wild books. You ride hard or you die. This is pretty much how it goes down. Although the book is good, it is not great. Honestly, I didn’t connect with any of the characters. Which by the way are all male and there is only one female character. Weird, huh?
Adam Stone is not your typical character. He is a tough cookie to crack. Life as an orphan hasn’t been ea ...more
Adam Stone is not your typical character. He is a tough cookie to crack. Life as an orphan hasn’t been ea ...more

Stone Rider is a YA book that is definitely more geared towards boys, riding bykes (fancy mind-melding motorcycles that run on sun-power)and minimal romantic entanglement, there's a girl, Adam has a major crush on her, he's incoherent when she's around, he races and writes her off until she joins him.
I really enjoyed this book, which is surprising because I wasn't expecting to, it didn't seem like my type of book at all. The characters really made the book. Adam was great, he's your average kid ...more
I really enjoyed this book, which is surprising because I wasn't expecting to, it didn't seem like my type of book at all. The characters really made the book. Adam was great, he's your average kid ...more

Overall, this novel was a modern, sci-fi take on old westerns. The grit, violence, and raw circumstances make it a bundle of toughness that shines light on the human quality of perseverance. This is a Mad Max take on the ultimate gun fight, with a bit of modern motorcycle racing.
In a decrepit future world, Earth is barren and those left living on its surface are poor and left to struggle for their meager existence. Humans living on Earth are stuck mining (and dying) for the benefit of those luck ...more
In a decrepit future world, Earth is barren and those left living on its surface are poor and left to struggle for their meager existence. Humans living on Earth are stuck mining (and dying) for the benefit of those luck ...more

Aug 06, 2015
Barbara
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
animals,
character-building,
death,
disabilities,
unlikely-friendships,
families,
friendship,
bullies,
conflict,
compassion
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.

So ... what we have here is the first of a serial (which I'm not a fan of), however, on it's own, this is a respectable read. There's plenty of action and suspense, a bit of a twist near the end (though not entirely unexpected), and enough imagination and inventiveness to keep you thoroughly interested throughout.
There are, though, some really weird things which I found hard to take in:
First, the dystopian futuristic setting of this is reasonable, but the main weapon used throughout is a sling. ...more
There are, though, some really weird things which I found hard to take in:
First, the dystopian futuristic setting of this is reasonable, but the main weapon used throughout is a sling. ...more

4 soft frosted sugar cookies.
Cover Love: I like how it is simple but eye catching. Appealing to many readers.
Why I Wanted to Read This:
This one actually flew under my radar until I was offered a chance to participate in the blog tour. I looked up the synopsis and decided I wanted to give this one a try.
Romance?: Not really, although Adam does have a crush during the book.
My Thoughts:
Dystopian books used to be my absolute favorite genre. There have been some great ones--The Giver, The Hunger Game ...more
Cover Love: I like how it is simple but eye catching. Appealing to many readers.
Why I Wanted to Read This:
This one actually flew under my radar until I was offered a chance to participate in the blog tour. I looked up the synopsis and decided I wanted to give this one a try.
Romance?: Not really, although Adam does have a crush during the book.
My Thoughts:
Dystopian books used to be my absolute favorite genre. There have been some great ones--The Giver, The Hunger Game ...more

This is a fast-paced read, but what struck me was that despite the fact that it's adrenalin-fueled dystopic novel, the language is finely tuned and evocative. In very few words the writer pulls you into a gritty world of dust and disintegration. There are no overly descriptive passages, no adverbs, just razor sharp sentences where words are almost too few. Like the best in Annie Prouxl. It's pitch perfect... the dialogue carrying the action. Adam, Kane and Sadie are as real as they could ever be
...more

Stone Rider is exactly the type of young adult fiction I want my children to be reading. Set in an undetermined, yet not unrealistic future, it covers a multitude of themes from loss, friendship, fear, independence, love, and the misuse of power. But most importantly, it's a wild exciting ride that will appeal to anyone with a sense of adventure. This is not just for young adults!!
...more

GOT me at the get go!
Bykes and bonding in a desert race setting makes this an exciting read with a wild west vibe. There's even a couple showdowns to spice things up.
Loved the three main characters, each heroes in their own special and unique ways.
The snappy and snarky dialogue (or lack of) was so amusing. It had me chuckling at times. ...more
Bykes and bonding in a desert race setting makes this an exciting read with a wild west vibe. There's even a couple showdowns to spice things up.
Loved the three main characters, each heroes in their own special and unique ways.
The snappy and snarky dialogue (or lack of) was so amusing. It had me chuckling at times. ...more

Exceptionally paced and vividly descriptive with an economy of words which pushes you forward at break neck speed, Stone Rider is an absolute blast!
David Hofmeyr's gift is balancing the 'human touch' inherent in his lead character, Adam Stone, with the brutal savagery he must face.
The pace is taut, unrelenting and physical.
...more
David Hofmeyr's gift is balancing the 'human touch' inherent in his lead character, Adam Stone, with the brutal savagery he must face.
The pace is taut, unrelenting and physical.
...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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Crazy for Young A...: Stone Rider by David Hofmeyr → Start Date: March 20th, 2016 | 2 | 7 | Feb 22, 2016 05:38PM |
David Hofmeyr is the award-winning author of The Between and Stone Rider, which has been sold in 17 territories. He was born in South Africa in 1972 and lives in London.
In 2013, David graduated from Bath Spa University with an MA in Writing for Young People. His first book, Stone Rider, was published in 2015.
His books are published by Penguin in the UK, Australia and the Commonwealth, Random House ...more
In 2013, David graduated from Bath Spa University with an MA in Writing for Young People. His first book, Stone Rider, was published in 2015.
His books are published by Penguin in the UK, Australia and the Commonwealth, Random House ...more
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Stone Rider
(2 books)
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