Shadow Riders

by B.J. Bayle

In 1874, after their father is wounded by hard men who have stolen a number of mares and Smokey, a prized stallion, sixteen-year-old Rob McCann and his adopted Native brother, Luke, ride frantically to Fort Ellice, Manitoba, in the vain expectation that the horse rustlers have stopped there. Learning that a new force called the North-West Mounted Police has come west, the brothers continue south to locate them and ask for help.

The NWMP commander, Colonel George French, desperately attempts to have the boys escorted home. However, the brothers manage to tag along on the eight-hundred-mile march of NWMP men and wagons headed for Fort Whoop-Up, in what will one day be Alberta, with the hope that they will catch up with the thieves.

Besides the terrible life-threatening hardships brought on by bad weather and brutal terrain, Rob worries about his mother and wounded father and fears he might even lose Luke and never find Smokey or the other horses.

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

B.J. Bayle's first children's novel, Mystery at Meander Lake, made Canadian Living's Recommended Reading List. Her second book, Trail of Fire, was shortlisted for the Alberta Writing for Children Competition. Perilous Passage, her novel about explorer David Thompson, is also available from Dundurn. She lives in Cochrane, Alberta, near Calgary.

Reviews

[Ursina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspense, wit and history all mixed up with adventure is the only recipe you need for Shadow Riders by B.J. Bayle. Rob and Luke take readers on a ride wilder than a Bill Cody-style rodeo. This book should definitely be on your list, just so you can give it to a 12-16 year old boy who doesn't always like to read.
Author B.J. Bayle is back with her newest book, set in Canada circa 1874. After their father is wounded by a band of horse thieves, 16-year-old Rob McCann and his adopted Native brother, Luke, are determined to find the culprits. The boys ride to Fort Ellice, Manitoba in hopes of cutting the thieves off, but instead learn that a new force called the North-West Mounted Police have formed and are bringing law and order to the Canadian wilderness. After a trying journey to locate the NWMP, the boys share their story with commander Colonel George French who agrees to help locate the thieves. Amid life-threatening hardships, Rob wonders if the bandits will ever be found and if he and Luke will make it back home.
The writing in the book is simple but still in-depth. I am absolutely shocked at the amount of research the author did. I have studied a bit about the NWMP myself so I was very curious to learn more. Bayle has my respect for refraining to call the horses by their 21st century breed names, instead sticking to terms actually used during that time period. The accuracy of the historical content is astonishing. Half of the time I was more into the history than the actual plot.
The plot started off fast with the harebrained ideas of two boys faced with starvation the next winter if they don't get their stolen horses back. This part was not developed enough for my liking. I don't know many people who would just ride out for the next 5 months or so. However, I am aware that the ages of the main characters, Luke and Rob, were at this time the age where a boy became a man. The boys are cunning and smart... loved that! You feel for the characters at all part of story even if the emotion is lacking at points through the story. This could be in part due to the pace of the plot.
I highly recommend this book to boys, and historical literature lovers. There is action and history plenty. The best part of the deal for me (besides getting to review this book for Dundurn Press) has to be the fact that Bayle is Canadian! Totally worth the 5 stars I'm gonna give it!

[Amber ~ The Reading Addict · Rating 2 out of 5]

In my opinion, this book fell way flat. While the synopsis makes the novel sound exciting, it's really a long record of two boys and their trip to find their family's missing horses. I'd say that Luke and Rob spend 80% of their time traveling or doing another equally boring activity.

The story starts out quickly, but after the first chapter or so, it begins to progress slowly. I found it hard to concentrate on the story. My mind kept wandering. I can see how the story had potential, but it came across as uneventful and boring. You know that one history class you had? The one where you had to pay attention even though you wanted to do nothing more than to zone out? This book reminded of that class.

Luke and Rob were pretty flat characters. I didn't bond with either of them. To be honest, they weren't very realistic. Or deep, as a matter of fact. I don't have much else to say about character development. Maybe if I was younger, and if I didn't read so many young adult books with awesome characters, it wouldn't have bothered me as much.

Well, I'm having a hard time finding anything else to say about this book. Sorry for the terrible review. I always cringe at the thought of writing a negative review for a book, but I promised to be honest. I won't be recommending this one to my friends. Maybe I'll pass it down to my younger brother, but that's about it.

*I received this book from Dundurn Press in exchange for an honest review.