Rider by Night

by Karin Anckarsvärd, Charles W. Walker (Illustrator), Annabelle MacMillan (Translator)

"Oh, Mariann!" gasps Jenny as her friend is thrown from her horse. "Are you hurt?"

Mariann, white-faced, limps to the gate. "No! There's nothing wrong," she snaps.

But something is wrong. Later when Jenny rides Rascal over to Mariann's, she hears Mariann say, "They won't let me ride, ever again!"

Genres: Childrens, Horses

188 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1958

About the author

Karin Inez Maria Anckarsvärd became a student in Stockholm in 1934. She graduated as a secretary and then worked as a medical secretary for a few years. In 1952 her debut novel was Bonifacius den gröne (Bonifacius the Green), a playful book about two children and a dragon.

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well my original thought was correct. This was a good story but I am a little dissatisfied with the ending. I feel the culprit got rewarded and that just didn't sit right with me. All in all though a solid story.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

An old-fashioned story (think original Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys era) set in Sweden with a lovely set of relationships between the horse-mad girl, her younger brother and older sister, her friend and the others at the riding school. There's no fast-paced plot here; it's about the characters and normal, everyday life.

[Renata Shura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Old fashioned cozy read about a girl, her horse and the goings-on surrounding the Saint Lucia celebration in a small Swedish town...with a bit of a mystery thrown in. Would make a great winter time, cuppa tea read. This book has a memoir quality to it, which lends it a voice of authenticity. Very different sort of 'horse story!' Stays with you long after reading it.

[CLM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another winner from Anckarsvard, set in a small Swedish town, with riding and St. Lucia's Day as the backdrop.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book by accident when I was about ten years old: the horse book I had ordered from the Scholastic flyer was out of stock, and someone at Scholastic substituted this one. I've hung onto it since 1977 and have reread it more times than I can count, so well done to the unknown Scholastic employee! I really enjoy Jenny (a nice kid), her lovely horse Rascal, her imperious older sister and pesky younger brother, and all the riding school friends we meet. The mystery element referred to in the title is a secondary part of the story and is resolved in a satisfactory way, but it's the warm little details that make this book stick in my memory. There in a scene late in the book involving the little brother's obsession with hockey that still makes me laugh (I am from Canada, I know all about hockey-mad little brothers!) Very fondly remembered!

[Naomi McCullough · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great teen horse story, with a little sleuthing!
My favorite bits about this book, was the part where her older sister makes them hot chocolate in the kitchen while they discuss the mysterious events, and later, when they ride the horses out on the frozen lake. It sounded thrilling.
There's even a fun cameo in here, of our beloved Michael and Celia!

[Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet little mystery about young girls and horses and growing up with doubts and wonderment

[Tania · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rider by Night is a well-crafted tale about Jenny, a young, horse-crazy girl from a big family who finds herself, at last, owner of her dream horse. The book is set in Sweden and much of the storyline is built around a big event in the small town setting, the celebration of St Lucia Day. The author shares a detailed account of the preparations, traditions, and celebration of this holiday, and it sounds like such a beautiful event. It also provides a relief to the family and friend tensions that drive this story.

Jenny is actually only thirteen, though it's easy to forget that fact because the book often makes the girls sound as if they are closer to sixteen. The story revolves around her, but we do get enough insight about her younger brother Lars, her older sister Viveca, her best friend Mariann, and her new friend Kristopher, as well as the riding instructor, to be able to place them in her life and understand her relationship with them.