Hand on the Bridle

by Kathleen M. MacLeod

"Gavin MacCrae could never have imagined what he would face the day he left home to live with his brother Jim. His desire for independence had become a tainted mixture of stubbornness and pride. But Jim's words hit a nerve when he said, "You are allowing your will to make you stubborn, and it was meant to make you strong."
After that things changed. Gavin became a man of conviction. But his taunting peers weren't about to let him ruin their fun! Before he knows what happens, Gavin finds himself in a predicament that could cost him his life!"

Genres: Fiction

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1934

About the author

Born in 1892 in Boddam, Aberdeenshire, Kathleen Millar Macleod was the daughter of the Rev. Donald John Macleod, a Free Church Minister, and his wife, Hamilla Jane Mudie. She passed her entire life at Boddam, dying there in 1964. Macleod wrote a number of children's books, particularly school stories - for both boys and girls.

Reviews

[Kaitlyn Rinehart]

The story was well written. I love reading lamplighter books because they have good scriptural applications to life today. I highly recommend this book. 183 pages

[Danette]

A group of young people see their need for a Savior - a Hand on the Bridle - as they deal with issues in their lives.

Read to my children at lunch.

2022 A book I own but have never read

[Calvin West]

A great story about a teen who learns to go against the crowd and do what's right. He learns to let Christ lead his life by the bridle.

2021- A novel set in a different country

[Jodi Galland]

One of those good old books with both morals and lessons to learn and terrible behavior that would be far more appalling in this day and age. I always tell my boys to read books with an idea of the way society was at the time it was written, but even I found that difficult a couple of times.
Gavin heads off to live with his brother to more easily attend school, leaving his mother and two sisters at home. The boy has a tendency toward trouble, stubbornness, and questionable choices. Slowly, he comes around and begins to enjoy his brother's company and make attempts to improve himself. He has a few close friends, but they don't start out as the best examples of good behavior either. He is assaulted by school mates at one point and the fact that no one really was punished was where I struggled to understand the time period.
There was a surprise twist that came out of NOWHERE and I just sat there with my mouth hanging open! LOL
It was a pleasant distraction. I'll probably read it again, aloud to my children.

[Katie Rew]

I can not manage my will alone, I need the hand of Christ.

[Victoria Witt]

This kid is so much like me it's embarrassing. This story makes me totally angry but I love it so much.

[Tara Lovestrand]

LOVED - for teen / pre-teen

[James]

Such a very good book! I've read it many many times, more than I have listed here. I was a bit off my reading game, nothing I started was feeling right. So I went back to an old faithful and read it in two days!
One of the most modern books in the lamplighter collection, this is one of my faves. The characters aren't perfect and make mistakes. While it does have an almost saccharine ending I still love it.

[Molly]

This is a really well-written story dealing with the pressures/influences of peer pressure and our own selfish motivations. Down to earth and wildly funny at times, we sympathize with and relate to young Gavin, Sandy, and Kitty.

[Rebecca]

Reminded us of Constance Savery's Books.

[Jessica]

4.5 ⭐️

[Becky]

Gavin MacCrae could never have imagined what he would face the day he left home to live with his brother Jim. His desire for independence had become a tainted mixture of stubbornness and pride. But Jim's words hit a nerve when he said, "You are allowing your will to make you stubborn, and it was meant to make you strong."
After that things changed. Gavin became a man of conviction. But his taunting peers weren't about to let him ruin their fun! Before he knows what happens, Gavin finds himself in a predicament that could cost him his life!