North Oak is a thrilling YA series about American horse breeding and flat racing. In book eight, the events come full circle, as a foal Alexandra Showman helped to deliver, gets her turn on the racetrack against champions. And Alex, who arrived at the stud farm a mentally battered adolescent, is about to RIDE FOR GLORY.

I’ve read several of the earlier installments and I think it’s required to get the most out of each novel. For instance, there are a lot of different adults giving Alex orders. Alex by now has a complicated backstory, with family issues galore and stressful events that she hasn’t really processed. Still at school, she is ordered to pick up her grades or be left at home on race day. Her little sister Gina, who is a blameless kid in love with horses, and who hasn’t been living with Alex, is suddenly around a lot, hero-worshipping, getting into everything, and bringing Alex along on a family trip. And Alex resents this. It makes no sense, but I have to say I’ve felt the same way when obliged to look after kids younger than I was, as I wanted to be around people my own age. Well, Alex has to do some maturing. I was surprised that she began the story without a bank account, given that she has been working hard for years. The horse industry is famous for taking advantage of young people.

The Breeders Cup is the target for the keen young rider, but she doesn’t get a say in where horses are entered. And to qualify, she or another stable jockey will need to win earlier races. The colt Dreamer's Song and filly Venus Nights, along with others like Morning Glory, have been shown throughout the series, and this book is where they all come to the pinnacle of their careers. But risk is always present in racing, and stresses gnaw Alex from the inside. She is too young and busy and nervous for a date with Dejado Auguston, a jockey who fancies her, and she is confused about a school pal, Carol, and how much time they can spend together. Because the horses come first. Grooming, training, race riding, daydreaming. That’s Alex’s life. Nobody seems to care how well or often she eats – her weight is even underweight for the rides.  

I’m hoping to see the sister, Gina, come into her own at North Oak now the girls have been reunited. Ann Hunter has written several YA books besides this series, and never forgets how chaotic and horrible it can feel to be a teen. I think a sister should give Alex an enduring relationship, unlike other people’s horses, which could be sold at any time. RIDE FOR GLORY shows the hard work in getting to a major race season – and what happens next.