A Heartfelt Journey North: Middle-Grade Fiction with Depth and Spirit
Ride North by Maria de Jong (Andersen Press, UK)
When I was a teenager, my parents separated—and that was hard enough. I can’t imagine how devastating it would be to lose a parent to death. Ride North explores this very experience, tackling themes of grief, loyalty, and healing with warmth and humour.
When Folly’s mother dies of cancer and her father quickly moves in a new partner, Folly refuses to accept this new stepmother—especially one who has taken her mother’s place in their home. Her father seems to have moved on, while her mother’s ashes still sit on the mantelpiece.
Then Folly begins to see flashes of her mother’s spirit. Convinced her mother is trying to tell her something, she decides there’s only one way to help her find peace: take her ashes to Cape Reinga, the sacred northern tip of Aotearoa, where Māori believe spirits depart for the afterlife.
Folly loads her mother’s ashes into a backpack and sets off on her bike to her beloved horse, Tooth. But when a truck clips her and mangles the bike, she continues on horseback—bruised but determined. This moment proves pivotal, as the police later find the wrecked bike and assume she’s badly injured or worse.
Tooth, who speaks to Folly, has been her emotional anchor since her mum died. Though reluctant about the journey, he sticks by her—sleeping in a pup tent and sharing stolen apples along the way. Their bond is endearing and often funny, as Tooth’s appetite sometimes leads them into trouble.
But the journey turns dangerous when the Rawene ferry operator refuses to take Tooth on board. Desperate, Folly sneaks into an unattended van with her horse—only to land in deeper trouble.
Folly is impulsive, headstrong, and grieving—but also brave, witty, and full of heart. Her voice rings true, and her loyalty to her mother and her horse is deeply moving. Many young readers will relate to her emotions and wish for a friend like Tooth: loyal, kind, and food-obsessed.
This is a gripping, adventurous story that readers will want to follow to the final page. And what a final line—it’s gorgeous and satisfying. De Jong handles sensitive topics with care, especially around cultural practices. On page three, the author includes an important note: “In Māori culture, Cape Reinga is a sacred site where spirits take their final leave from the world of the living. It is not a cemetery or a place to scatter human ashes.” Folly ultimately respects this, showing growth and understanding by the story’s end.
A memorable tale for young readers who love horses, wild adventures, and heartfelt stories of loss and resilience.
Maria de Jong (not to be confused with her sister-in-law Maria de Jong who does live in New Zealand permanently) grew up in New Zealand before settling in Italy. Initially she taught English in Turin, where she also cultivated a sideline designing and making costumes for a dance-theatre company. She was living and studying literature in Frankfurt when East and West Germany reunited, and later relocated for a few years to teach near Bosa, Sardinia. Her two children were born in Rome; while working there as a translator she began writing for middle grade readers. She now lives in Amsterdam, where she currently copyedits, cycles and makes up stories for her inner twelve-year-old.
ISBN: 978-1-83913-520-0
RRP$19.99
Reviewed by Maria Gill
