It was perfect. It captured how it feels to want to be a part of something but not make it your entire personality perfectly. I loved how it accurately shows growing apart from friends and finding new ones. It's the perfect read for middle school.

I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I liked this graphic novel, it combined friendships, horses, and sometimes how hard being a teenager can be. I feel like the art matched the story.

Absolutely adored this horse girl story! I know it's meant as a fun graphic novel for middle schoolers, but it was also incredibly accurate to how preteen/teenage riders are. I rode a lot as a kid and stopped at about the age of the girls in the book and it just felt very relatable, from the actual horse experience to the reality of how expensive it is to be any kind of equestrian. Whether you're there to ride casually like Victoria likes or more competitively, horses are expensive and there's not really a way around it.

Even though the main focus of the story is the horse aspect, I liked that there was the discussion of moving on from friends once you no longer have things in common or they don't have your best interest at heart. It hurts, but it's a reality kids have to face sometimes.

And finally my favorite part was when they cosplayed at the Renaissance Festival! I loved going to the Renaissance Festival and one of my favorite things was seeing Star Trek or Doctor Who cosplayers walk around and play along with the Festival cast!

Overall, a very fun and great read for young horse girls and even us adults who were once (or maybe still are horse girls).

Thank you to NetGalley and First Second Books for making this available in exchange for an honest review!

Victoria loves riding, but decides that competition is not for her. Unfortunately her best friend Taylor doesn’t understand. Victoria moves to a different barn, where she can just be around horses and ride. She learns about true friendship and how much she has in common with those people she meets at Edgewood.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel. I grew up with a love for horses and this bought me back. It was a quick enjoyable read. I am sure this will be very popular! I loved reading about Faith Erin Hick’s love for horses and how some of this was taken from her own life.

Victoria is a horse girl through and through, but she's done with competitions-- she just wants to ride. When her ex-best friend dismisses her for easing up on equestrian sports, Victoria is reluctant to make new friendships, even with the horse kids at her new stable. Ride On is a sweet and humorous graphic novel perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Shannon Hale.

A great heart warming story of what it means to be a friend and how friends can have different and changing interests.

When Victoria starts riding at Edgewood Stables, having come from the fancier Waverly, Norrie tries to make her welcome and is irritated when she rebuffs her advances. Victoria just wants to ride, and due to previous experiences with a friend, doesn't want to get into a lot of drama about competitions and friendships. Norrie, who is good friends with Hazel and Sam, one of the few boys who comes to the stables, then decides to "shun" Victoria, who is fine with that. Later, when Victoria gets help with one of the horses from Hazel, she realizes that she might have been too hasty in her treatment of Norrie, and reaches out to her because they have a shared love of a vintage sci fi television program, Beyond the Galaxy. After an 18 year hiatus, the show is back, and the four kids are super excited about the new film. They watch old episodes, talk about costumes, and even go to a local Renaissance Faire when Victoria's sister works to film themselves acting with the Renaissance characters while in their BTG costumes. All of this makes Victoria realize that she has interests outside riding. When she was at Waverly, her best friend was Taylor, who was more able to afford classes and competitions, and even had her own horse. While Victoria enjoys riding, she doesn't want to focus on it to the exclusion of all else. When there is a small competition at Waverly, Norrie, Sam, Hazel and Victoria all have different demons they need to face during the competition.
Strengths: This was an engaging graphic novel that is the perfect present for a middle grader readers who likes to ride, and also one that will show this world to the uninitiated. The illustrations of the stables, horses, and riding costumes will make these things much clearer to readers who have never been to a farm, much less in the saddle. I liked that Victoria had once been very enamored of the sport, but had backed off. The friend drama with Taylor is an absolutely prime middle grade topic, and the issue of personal identity is also crucial to this age group. My best friend in middle school was a huge fan of the original Star Trek, and I remember the 1979 motion picture being a HUGE deal! Victoria and Sam's family issues get a brief mention, so families of divorce and problems with toxic masculinity are also addressed. There's an easy to follow plot ARC, definable characters, and lots of fun.
Weaknesses: I don't think that I would have wanted to be friends with Norrie, either!
What I really think: Horses and horse riding will always have a small group of super fans, so I always try to add a book or two every year to the collection, although I no longer have any of the Jean Slaughter Doty titles that Hicks mentions in her afterword about her own experiences riding. I hope that part of the promotional tour for this book includes Hicks being able to ride a horse once again. I was never interested in riding, but I had a cousin who competed all through high school.

This middle grade graphic novel with appeal to horse lovers, but many other readers will be drawn in by the story of old friendships that change and don't last and new friendships that grow and deepen. I especially liked that the group of friends includes a boy as well as a girl and yet never strays into romance. Highly recommended!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC.

Ride On is a middle-grade graphic novel for Horse Girls of any age - even those who are adults! The main quartet of friends are all so unique and have their own struggles and motivations without feeling overwhelming, something that one-off graphic novels can sometimes fall prey to. The pacing, plot, and story itself are all well-balanced, and the artwork is stunning: I absolutely love how Hicks manages to put so much emotion into each character. If you are or were a Horse Girl, this is one not to miss.

Thank you to First Second and NetGalley for providing a copy for review.

Cover art captures the trusting, tender relationship between one young equestrian and a gelding. Hicks uses the term Horse Girl to describe a youngster enamored with horses. Evidently the affection between this pair is reciprocal.
Twelve-year-old Victoria is new to Edgewood Stables. She may be unfamiliar with this equestrian facility, but she is obviously not a novice. Her horsemanship catches the eye of Edgewood staff. She shows potential as a trainer.
However this is more than a horse story. It is a story about relationships. When Victoria's best friend gets her own horse, the dynamic between the two changes. Victoria wonders: is riding at Waverly Stables the only thing the two have in common?
Stung by this falling out, Victoria is hesitant to connect with a trio of Edgewood's regulars. What will it take to overcome the past and make new friends? These kids have their own problems and they may need Victoria just as much as she needs them.
​Trust is recurring theme. In a climactic scene, trust plays a pivotal role.
In addition to horses, Victoria and her newfound friends share a fascination with the sci fi series Beyond the Galaxy These nerdy fans look forward to the release of new episodes and concoct an elaborate scheme to celebrate their favorite show.
Picture
Hicks is particularly skilled at revealing undercurrents that simmer beneath the surface. Misunderstandings, first impressions, and frustrations are often discernible by a facial expression, simple gesture, or a figure's placement within a panel.
This is a story filled with heart. One does not need to be a horse person to appreciate Victoria's world.
It is obvious that Hicks has more than a passing interest in horses. Her love for all things equestrian shine on every panel, every page. She knows what it means to develop a close relationship with a horse. This is more than a hobby and far exceeds athletic prowess.
The phrase Ride On has multiple meanings. Victoria not only finds a new stable, but a group of friends with shared interests. After a few disappointments, our girl is ready to move on. Ride On Victoria, Ride On.

Back matter includes the author’s history as a Horse Girl, which served as the inspiration for this stand alone graphic novel. The inclusion of a personal photograph and childhood drawings of horses are a bonus.

Victoria has always loved horses, but competitions are high stakes, stressful, and expensive. After a fight with her friend Victoria needs a new start. It is hard to judge the art because it was very blurry, but I have read Faith Erin Hicks before and this was never the case. I loved Nameless City so I am looking forward to seeing this book in person.

In the beginning Victoria has different hair in the flashbacks. I loved this attention to detail. As someone who's kids have dyed their hair bright colors constantly it was nice to see the dark blue 3 months in the past and a teal color in the current timeline.

There were a lot of situations in the book that my middle schoolers will relate to. It was a very sweet story that will appeal to more than just my horse kids.

Creative Team
Faith Erin Hicks
COlors by Kelly Fitzpatrick
Published by First Second

This is such a heart warming graphic novel which I absolutely adore. Faith Erin Hicks delivers once again. It depicts the dayly joys and wohs of teenage life.

Victoria loves to ride, but having to face up to realities that she isn't wealthy enough to afford her own horse, and maybe not wanting the pressure of competition, has forced her to switch stables. A difficult fight with her closest riding friend forced the issue, so now that she's at a new farm, and all she wants is to focus on the horses. But life isn't always just how we want it, and Victoria has some lessons to learn about true supportive friendships, along with the ability to apologize and start over, and the courage it takes to put aside past fears and compete.

This graphic novel hit all the right spots for me. True to life experiences, realistic sibling relationships and friendships, and the hard lesson that children learn that there will always be other kids who have more money than you. Victoria and her friends are unique, believable and you really end up rooting for all of them, even when they are disagreeing or dealing with drama.

I love the drawing style and the color, especially the past and present indicated by the grown-out blue hair dye in Victoria's braids. The barn and equestrian details are true to real life, as are the kid's outfits. There is humor in with the serious stuff and it never feels heavy or hopeless. I feel this will make a great hand-sell for any middle grader going through a tough time or just looking for a relatable read, and entertaining, read.

Sweet book about finding your people and getting over a broken friendship, and also about horses and nerdy fandom fun. Hicks' art is great, as always. I'll have a review on No Flying No Tights closer to the release date.

Thank you NetGalley and First Second Books for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a super quick, yet lovely graphic novel read. I was already familiar with Faith Erin Hicks work (I believe 'Pumpkinheads' served as our first introduction) and absolutely enjoy her combination of fun art and quirky humour. That said, 'Ride On' continues this tradition--encapsulating both a love of horses and science fiction (of all things)--in a journey of self-discovery, as our main character grapples with balancing what she loves, what fulfills her and brings her joy, and what she is willing to sacrifice to achieve those things... A question I think everyone faces at some point in their lives.

'Ride On' also explores significant role relationships play in this journey--particularly focusing on those between siblings and friends, and how impactful these are on our own development; influencing how we see ourselves, confirming our self-worth and boosting our confidence, while also challenging us and encouraging us to explore new things all at once.

Ultimately, I would absolutely recommend this to pretty much any middle-grade reader (whether they love horses or science fiction or both or neither) because of the lessons it imparts: It is okay to grow and change. It is okay to love something without making it your whole life. It is okay to love multiple things that reflect all the different aspects of your personality. And it is the best to find friends and family who support and encourage in ALL the things you love. 4Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher of this novel for the E-Arc copy. I am rating this book based on my own personal opinion and was not given anything in return. I am not leaving a entire review because I read so many at a time that I physically cannot right now.

After a falling out with her best friend, 12-year old Victoria took a break from horseback riding at Waverly Stables. She's now riding again, at Edgewood Stables, but makes it clear to the other young riders that she's not interested in making new friends. This doesn't sit well with Norrie and the rest of the Edgewood crew, but Victoria is just there to ride and train Winter, a new lesson horse. Norrie and her friends, meanwhile, bond over their excitement for the new season of Beyond the Galaxy (an obvious Star Trek homage). Victoria remembers how she escaped into episodes of Beyond the Galaxy as a young girl, and the shared fandom provides a bridge to meaningful connections with the Edgewood kids. Like Winter, Victoria "just needs to build up [her] courage, to see that the world outside isn't scary and out to get [her]." This heartfelt middle grade graphic novel will appeal to "horse girls" (and guys), and every tween reader who can relate to friend drama and unhealthy competition.

Strong read alike for fans of Victoria Jameison and Hope Larson, themes of friendship, animals, perseverance that will appeal to lots of readers

I really enjoyed this middle grade graphic novel. It's filled with old friendships, new friendships, being yourself, and horses, of course! Even as a non-horse girl I really enjoyed this book. Like most of Hicks' graphic novels, this was character-driven and realistic. The art is great and the story is interesting. The characters were likable and even if not everything was tied in a bow at the end, it was realistic and satisfying.

I was so excited to pick up an upcoming graphic novel by one of favourite graphic novel creators. I was sceptical about the theme as I don’t support horse racing at all. This was interesting to read from the perspective as a rider and ultimately focused on the positive aspects of riding/racing.
The artwork was gorgeous, I loved the friendship and the character growth between everyone. And the nerdy aspects of the sci-fi TV Show. But ultimately I don’t feel comfortable giving it a higher rating due to the subject.
Definitely keen to read future Faith Erin Hicks works.