The Rocking Horse Secret

by Rumer Godden

Terrible changes occur in the house where Tibby's mother works, but although Tibby knows something that may make all the difference, she doesn't feel she can divulge the secret.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Middle Grade, Chapter Books

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Margaret Rumer Godden was an English author of more than 60 fiction and non-fiction books. Nine of her works have been made into films, most notably Black Narcissus in 1947 and The River in 1951.
A few of her works were co-written with her elder sister, novelist Jon Godden, including Two Under the Indian Sun, a memoir of the Goddens' childhood in a region of India now part of Bangladesh.

Reviews

[Moonkiszt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another of Rumer Godden's children books, all of which I would have adored if they had passed through my hands. A few of them did, only they didn't have covers, and it took a wonderful mix of Goodreads and FB for a wonderful reader to connect me to this great author. I will ever be grateful for that mystery solved as I had been asking everyone since I was 7 years old who wrote the book I had read a portion of, and how did it end. I was able to find a copy, read it and finally quenched that thirst! As a result I hunted down all her other books, including the children's books, and this is one of them.

Tibby finds a rocking horse, and a lonely old woman to befriend, in the home where her mother is "everything" - cook, maid and bottle-washer, scheduler, and caregiver. A delightful story with a lovely end unfolds from there. This one is going straight to my granddaughter when the holidays roll round.

3.5 stars, rounded up for Noble (the rocking horse's name).

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

The servants of an old manor are put into turmoil when the mistress of the house passes away without a proper will and a pair of greedy nieces show up ready to auction everything in sight. This is one of those books that gets drawn out longer than it needs to be as a character takes forever in realizing she has a crucial piece of information she needs to share with everybody.

Ho-hum.

[Julie Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Rumer Godden's children's books which are often as richly imagined and nuanced as her adult books. This one felt a bit simpler than many of her other books, even those written ostensibly for younger readers. Not a bad story just nothing to really lift it above an ordinary "good" read.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

only three stars because the nice set up of big old house, and the housekeeper's daughter meeting the old woman who owns the place and the nice rocking horse and all gets spoiled when the old woman dies and nasty relations show up to start selling everything off. Which wasn't fun reading, and even though it all works out in the end thanks to the little girl finding the old woman's will, it didn't reach that point soon enough and linger on it lovingly enough to make up for the nasty relations bit.

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unexpected. I was expecting a magical toy that comes alive. Instead, this not-at-all fantastical book deals with dementia and legal concerns. Huh. A fine read, though!

[Stephanie A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ohhh, this is such a tiny little book, but it's so wonderful. I think I would have been most enchanted by it as a young reader, but I'm enchanted even today. A once-grand manor home, now largely closed up without the help of its former staff, fading away like its elderly owner in the early stages of Alzheimer's. An old nursery filled with antique toys, especially a beautiful black rocking horse, just waiting to be discovered by an inquisitive six-year-old girl. A tragedy, some evil relatives, and then a series of happy circumstances that save the day just when all hope seems lost. What a feel-good story.

The only thing I don't like is the way dialogue is often inserted into the middle of sentences like part of a list, ex. "Ma brought Tibby up carefully -- too carefully, Tibby sometimes thought -- and when she asked about Miss Pomeroy, "In this house you don't ask questions," said Ma, which made Miss Pomeroy even more mysterious."

[Jean Bowen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rumer Godden's books are wonderful. This one had a quiet twist. It was a sweet book to read aloud to my girls: horses, mysteries, toys, and secrets filled the pages. Godden conveys a child's perspective so well- she does not avoid the pains of childhood and yet her books remain uplifting.

[Ange · Rating 3 out of 5]

I certainly would have loved this as a young child. It's a very simple story and has similarities with other books by Rumer Godden.

[Twyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tabitha got a rocking horse from miss Pomeroy.she called him noble. then shedied,but they still lived there.Auryn 8yo

[Lila · Rating 5 out of 5]

my daughter's book.

[Pamela]

Another treasured book from Scholastic in the 1970's. It was a intriguing story & is worth the read even if it's an older book--if you can find it that is.

[Siskiyou-Suzy · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Rocking Horse Secret is a poorly written book that no child should have to suffer through.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

A typically-lovely Rumer Godden book for young readers, but I must say I got a bit annoyed with Tibby for not just confiding in someone about what she'd found!