Creaky Acres

Gr 4-8–Moving to a new town and settling in is hard, especially when the old spaces and routines provide happiness and comfort. Proud of her accomplishments and skills, newcomer Nora is unimpressed by the facilities, the other riders, and the general lack of spiffiness around Creaky Acres, her new riding stable. One horse looks an awful lot like a mule, and the resident cow, goat, and passel of opossums have more run of the place than might typically be the case in a posh establishment. The new school is also a struggle, with a string of microaggressions from classmates and teachers that leave Nora feeling like she will never fit in. With guidance from her parents, support from her new riding teacher, and encouragement from a new friend, Nora finds a way to connect with the kids at Creaky Acres, share her gifts, and help the whole team shine. Magruder’s depictions of human and animal characters are expressive. The bright, saturated colors and skillful use of shifting perspective give the story energy and a zippy pace. There is enough technical information and detail to satisfy horse lovers, but not so much as to overwhelm readers who might not have riding experience. Nora and her parents are Black; all other characters are white.