Cedar's Boy

by Stephen W. Meader

Those who have enjoyed Mr. Meader's Red Horse Hill will remember Cedar, the great pacing colt, and the stirring snowpath races in which he took part. Here, years later, the grandchildren of old Cedar carry Bud Martin's colors to victory at Riverdale Fair. Several other characters in the book will be familiar---Uncle John Mason, Billy Randall, Yance and Harko Dan. The new hero is Shad Davis, a lanky youngster from Squantic, born with courage, good hands and a love of horses. This swift-paced story of the harness track is published at an appropriate time---the 100th anniversary of the birth of Hambletonian 10, founding sire of the standardbred line---when harness racing has reached a peak of popularity not equaled since pre-automobile days. There is more in this book than racing. Stephen Meader spent a large part of his boyhood in the neighborhood of Rochester, New Hampshire, long famous for its Fair. During Fair Week each September he was always as close to the trotting stables and the track as he could get. It is not surprising then that the ever-present background of the Fair is authentic and sharply drawn, a memorable picture of something that is typically American.

Hardcover

First published June 1, 1949

About the author

Stephen W. Meader (May 2, 1892 – July 18, 1977) was the author of over forty novels for young readers. His optimistic stories generally tended to either concern young men developing independent businesses in the face of adversity, or else young men caught up in adventures during different periods in American history.

Meader graduated from Haverford College in Philadelphia in 1913, and initially worked in Newark, New Jersey as a cruelty officer with the Essex County Children's Aid Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and by 1915 was working for the Big Brother Movement. After working for a Chicago publishing house in 1916, he took a position with the Circulation Department of the Curtis Publishing Company in Philadelphia, eventually reaching the position of Editor of the Sales Division publications. His first novel, The Black Buccaneer, was the first juvenile publication of the newly founded Harcourt, Brace and Howe.

Reviews

[Raymond Bial · Rating 5 out of 5]

This thrilling novel is not exactly a sequel to Red Horse Hill, but continues a portion of the story into another generation. Every bit as exciting and uplifting as Seabiscuit and a very accurate portrayal of country fairs and horse racing.

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book with my daughter who is in the 7th grade as one of her reading assignments. I had read several Meader books when I was in junior high school back in the 60's and always enjoyed them. This book was interesting - about a county fair and harness racing. It also included a sub-plot about illegal betting and bookmaking. I don't think my daughter enjoyed it as much as I did. Some of it was rather dated (it was published in 1949) and it contained some language that you don't commonly hear these days. Some of it was also rather negative and included stereotype descriptions of some groups such as gypsies. I don't think I had read this one before and I guess it didn't seem as good as some of the other Meader books I read when younger; however, I still enjoyed it for its nostalgia.

[Mark Edison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It has become one of my favorites. There was a lot going on right alongside of the main story line. It was also nice having some of the familiar characters from a previous Meader book, Red Horse Hill, alongside the new characters. I have yet to be disappointed with a Stephen Meader book.