Ride North

Maria de Jong

$17.99

Paperback

Forthcoming
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English

Anderson Press
05 March 2025

Children's & Educational; Adventure stories (Children's&YA); Wildlife (Children's&YA); Personal & social issues: death & bereavement (Children's&YA)

Tooth is my pony, but he’s his own boss.

I take care of him and in exchange he lets me ride him. I wasn’t surprised when Tooth first communicated with me. All I knew was that with Tooth, it was different. I loved him the minute I saw him. Of course we understood each other.

Twelve-year-old Folly is angry and grieving for her mum. She isn't ready for Dad's plans for a new life in Auckland with his new girlfriend. So Folly runs away with the one friend who truly understands: her wise pony, Tooth. With her mother's ashes in her backpack, Folly sets off to the fabled Cape Reinga, the northernmost point of New Zealand. Through tourist towns and wilderness, across beaches, roads and forest tracks, Folly and Tooth find both adventure and hardship. But then a spur-of-the-moment choice sets danger on their tail. Girl and horse must fight to survive together – to the very end of the road.

Cover art by Sian James

By: Maria de Jong
Imprint: Anderson Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 178mm, Width: 129mm, Spine: 15mm
Weight: 175g
ISBN: 9781839135200
ISBN 10: 1839135204
Pages: 240
Publication Date: 05 March 2025
Recommended Age: From 10 to 12 years
Audience: Children/juvenile , Children / Juvenile
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Maria de Jong grew up in Aotearoa/New Zealand before settling in Italy. Initially she taught English in Turin, where she also cultivated a sideline designing and making costumes for a dance-theatre company. She was living and studying literature in Frankfurt when East and West Germany reunified, and later relocated for a few years to teach near Bosa, Sardinia. Her two children were born in Rome; while working there as a translator she began writing for middle grade readers, but things only got serious after yet another relocation, this time to Amsterdam, where she currently copyedits, cycles and fabulates for her inner twelve-year-old.

Reviews for Ride North

"""I loved this: funny, quirky, exciting and moving. Folly and Tooth are a great double-act. If you’re a horse person you’ll adore it; if you’re not a horse person, it’ll turn you into one"" -- Anthony McGowan ""A poignant and tender story of love, loss, friendship and hope. Tooth is quite possibly the most engaging 'talking pony' I've ever encountered in fiction. The ending was perfect – made me laugh and cry simultaneously"" -- Tanya Landman ""A powerful, wise and gripping story from a wonderful new voice in children’s literature. Ride North is a beautiful tale of love, courage and the unique bond between a girl and her horse. It deserves a place alongside the classic horse and pony stories"" -- Annelise Gray ""Maria de Jong’s gorgeously lyrical debut is wry, funny and at times heart-achingly sad. Folly is an engaging young hero: gnarly and determined to ride north with beloved horse Tooth and scatter her mother’s ashes at Cape Reinga, where Tasman Sea meets Pacific Ocean. Their unique bond allows them to outwit pursuers and overcome obstacles on a vividly painted journey through the beautiful New Zealand landscape"" -- Gita Ralleigh ""Ride North is a quirky adventure with a distinctive voice that explores grief, family, love and connection, especially with friends of the four-legged variety"" -- Frances Moloney"