K M Peyton: Bibliography 2
Who, Sir? Me, Sir ?
Oxford University Press, 1983
Puffin pb, 1985
OUP, 1985, 2000 (retold by Diane Mowat)
Sam Sylvester has entered his class in a competition against the posh Greycoats School.
He and his team have
to take part in a tetrathlon, and learn to ride, swim and run
cross country.
The Last Ditch
Oxford University Press, 1984
(Far right -
Jonathan is on holiday in Greece with Iris, who seduces him. The consequences of
this are
catastrophic, and Jonathan runs away, joining up with Peter who wants to
train one of his brother’s
horses for the National. They take the horse and squat
in a large house, existing on Jonathan’s income
from tutoring. Jonathan falls for
a girl who helps them, and the horse does run in the National.
The Sound of Distant Cheering
Bodley Head, 1986
Methuen,1987
Chivers Large Print, 1987
Aimed at adult readers.
Plain Jack
Hamilton, 1988
Aimed at young readers.
Darkling
Doubleday, 1989
Jenny lives in poverty and chaos, but then she and her grandfather buy a racehorse, and keep him on
the slimmest of shoestrings. Their wealthy neighbours, the Strawsons, become involved, but this
doesn’t make Jenny’s life any easier.
No Roses Round The Door
Methuen, 1990
Written, I think, for adults, this is the story of three people facing profound choices.
The Wild Boy and Queen Moon
Doubleday, 1993, right
Corgi, pb, 1995, far right
Sandy works at her family’s livery yard, but she sees a beautiful grey horse galloping
through
the night, with a boy riding it bareback. Sandy gets to know the mare’s rider,
Jonas, but then
when burglaries start to happen, she starts to suspect he might be
involved.
The Swallow Tale
Doubleday, London, 1995, jacket illustration Margaret Barrett. 189 pp.
Corgi, pb, 1996
Rowan is convinced that Swallow, who nearly causes an accident with her father’s
car as he runs
about half wild, is meant to be her pony. However, he is bought by
a local riding school. Meanwhile,
Rowan’s riding is improved by the Hawes family,
and in the end they manage to buy Swallow.
The Pony That Went to Sea
Heinemann, 1997, illus Anna C Leplar
Tom and Emily, who live on a houseboat, adopt the old, forgotten pony Paddy. One night there is a storm,
and they take Paddy on board the boat, but then the boat breaks free in the storm...
Poor Badger
Doubleday, 1990
Ros longs for a pony, and then comes across the black pony Badger. At first his
owners neglect him,
but unfortunately there is worse to come, and Ros decides she
absolutely has to rescue Badger.
Swallow Summer
Doubleday 1996,
Corgi, 1997, pb
As Swallow becomes fitter, it becomes clear that Rowan is still having terrible trouble
managing him. The High Hawes
stables are also still on a shaky footing, and may have
to sell all the ponies, including Swallow.
Late to Smile
Methuen, London, 1992
A story for adults, this is about Miranda, dominated by her mother and her husband.
Unlike the rest of
her family, she has no desire to ride. When her husband dies,
her life is thrown into turmoil, but she does,
in the end, work out what she wants
from life.
The Scruffy Pony
Young Corgi, 1999
When Carrie’s father loses his money and they have to sell her pony Red Robin, Carrie
is heartbroken and
convinced no other pony could ever be as good. At first, when
her parents do manage to get her a new pony,
Carrie refuses to have anything to do
with him: he is scruffy and neglected, but he needs Carrie and in the
end she realises
this.
Pony In The Dark
Young Corgi, 2001
Many thanks to Kate Hills for the picture.
Tom’s favourite Shetland pony, the black Storm is sold to work in the mines, and
Tom is devastated. Tom
knows just how hard and bleak life in the mine will be for
the pony, and when there is a terrible accident
at the mine, Tom wonders if he will
ever see Storm again.
Small Gains
Oxford, 2003
Definitions, 2004, pb
The Garland family have struggled to survive since the death of their mother, particularly
with the glowering
and oppressive presence of the rich Grover family to contend with.
Clara, however, has an eye for a horse,
and an ability to train a trotter, and she
hopes this will provide the family with a way through.
The Paradise Pony
Young Corgi, 1999, illus Robin Lawrie
Lauren and Tashy love their ponies, even though they aren’t particularly good at
anything. However, when
the ghostly Cobweb appears from Paradise and goes on a ride
with the girls, their ponies are able to jump
beautifully.
Blind Beauty
Scholastic, pb 1999 (far right)
US: Dutton Children’s Books 1999, photo Pete Kelley (right)
Thank you to Susan Bourgeau for the US edition photo
Tessa loathes her bullying stepfather Maurice, and hates seeing her mother dominated
by him.
When Tessa’s behaviour gets even worse, Maurice packs her off to work at a
local racing stable.
At first Tessa hates it, but in the end the horses and people
get to her, and she forms a special
relationship with the horse Buffoon.
Swallow the Star
Corgi, pb 1998
A film company is making a film about the jockey Fred Archer, and they chose Hugh
Hawes to play the young
Fred. Hugh wants to ride Swallow in the film, as he’s always
wanted to see what the pony could do with a better
rider. Swallow’s owner, Rowan
still doesn’t know if she’ll ever be able to manage Swallow, and she has other
worries
too: will the High Hawes equestrian centre survive, and will her mother be able
to afford to keep Swallow?
Windy Webley
Corgin Children’s Books, 1997
A pony story for younger children. Webley is a black army horse, and he is ridden
by Fred. Unfortunately, Webley
is called Windy for a reason, and that’s not the only
problem he has: he is prone to getting bored, and when he’s
bored he makes faces
and worse.
Stealaway
Macmillan Children’s Books, 2001
Nicky and her mother live in Bloodybow Castle. Bloodybow is haunted by a terrible
past: hundreds of years ago
a feud was started when border raiders stole a stallion.
The feud led to the death of a young boy, and now Nicky
has to try and lay the past
to rest.
Minna’s Quest
Usborne, 2007
Minna lives at the Roman fort of Othona on the Essex coast. She saves a foal the
soldiery cast out, convinced
it won’t survive, and that foal plays a pivotal part
in saving the fort when pirates threaten.
Greater Gains
Oxford, 2005
Clara is recently widowed, but is pregnant with her first child at the age of fifteen.
The Garland family’s life is no
easier: in fact the activities of one member of it
make life considerably worse, and Clara is faced with some bitter
choices.
No Turning Back
Usborne, 2008
Still in love with the Roman commander Theo, Minna has run away to be near him. She
complicates matters
further when she tries to steal back a horse stolen by a band
of thieves.
Far From Home
Usborne, 2007
This is the third part of Minna’s story. Theo and Minna’s brother have set off to
the North to fight, and Minna joins
the baggage train. She becomes a Roman spy, but
then her horse Silva is stolen, and Minna sets off on a mission
to save him.
Omnibus:
Pennington, a Trilogy
(Pennington's Seventeenth Summer, The Beethoven Medal, Pennington's Heir)
Oxford University Press, 1985,
cover illustration by Andrew Aloof
Thank you to Susan Bourgeau for the photo.
Omnibus:
Flambards
Penguin, 1980
photo cover art from the mini series
Thank you to Susan Bourgeau for the photo.
Compilations
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Paradise House
Scholastic, London, 2011, 200 pp.
Alice has a bleak life with her father and servants, none of whom seem to like her
particularly. One day Alice goes
to a local race meeting, riding her father’s carriage
horse. The horse bolts, and as a result Alice meets a family with
whom it turns out
she has a lot more in common than just horses. Alice lives with the family; finds
a brother, father
and mother, and also the horse Snatchcorn, whom she can manage but
very few others can.
