City of Horses by Moloney

A girl moves to a new part of town where ponies run free, in this warm-hearted middle-grade story of change, family and finding your home

New home. New friendships. New rules.
Thirteen-year-old Misty’s life is about to be turned upside down. When her dad loses his job, they’re forced to move to Redbridge – a world away from her house and her friends. But this new part of town brings plenty of surprises – she wasn’t expecting to live somewhere that horses run free, and she certainly wasn’t expecting to meet Dylan, a mysterious local boy who loves horses...

Misty is determined to keep up appearances and hide this new version of life from her old friends at all costs. But the horses she has grown to love come under threat, and she must fight for the courage to stand up for what she believes, and to help save the place she now calls home.

This is a heart-warming story for pony-loving middle grade readers, covering a broad range of topics involved in overcoming new challenges. Handling topics such as friendship, family, grief, unemployment, and moving home with a masterful touch, the book will appeal to young readers who like friendship drama and realistic novels where characters are resourceful and determined to make a difference. This is a touching and convincing portrait of an adolescent forced to grow up before her time, but at the heart of this uplifting book is a time-old story of the transformative bond between animal and child.