The Lost Kodas

Apley Towers #1

by Myra King, Subrata Mahajan

In the shade of the Giant’s Throne Mountain, and on the coast of the Indian Ocean, Port St. Christopher is home to Apley Towers; a riding school for girls and boys, young or old, who learn what it means to be a true horse rider. Kaela and Trixie call Apley Towers their Neverland. It’s the best place in the world – a place for friendship, laughter, and learning. But when both girls take on more responsibilities than they can handle, they have to make some tough choices that take a toll on their friendship. Kaela and Trixie call Apley Towers their Neverland. It’s the best place in the world – a place for friendship, laughter, and learning. But when both girls take on more responsibilities than they can handle, they have to make some tough choices that take a toll on their friendship. Will they have to sacrifice Apley in the end? It takes a girl on the other side of the world to remind them of what’s important and that challenges are there to be overcome. Apley Towers is a six-book horse and pony series set in South Africa. These coming of age stories have a strong focus on close friendships and are ideal for readers aged 11+. Shortlisted for the People’s Book Prize 2017.

Genres: Horses

190 pages, Paperback

Published September 5, 2019

Reviews

[Kasia (kasikowykurz) · Rating 4 out of 5]

To było świetne! Czytałam bardzo mało takich książek, a szkoda, bo naprawdę dobrze się bawiłam. Mamy tu stadninę koni, adekwatną terminologię, bohaterki, które choć są nastolatkami, mają głowę na karku. do tego międzynarodowa przyjaźń pomiędzy Indianką i mieszkanką RPA, a co za tym idzie mnóstwo ciekawostek i fajnie widać różnice między nimi. Najbardziej podobał mi się ten wątek, który tłumaczy tytuł - zagubione kody. Wiedzieliście, że Koda w języku Dakotów znaczy "przyjaciel". Uśmiechnęłam się, a cała ta akcja napełniła serduszko ciepłem. Oby dalej było równie przyjemnie, bo seria póki co zapowiada się naprawdę genialnie.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can find my review on my blog here (& below):

http://elementaread.blogspot.co.uk/20...

‘Apley Towers, The Lost Kodas’ by Myra King is the first in a series of middle-grade novels about a riding school in South Africa. I received a free copy of this book to read and review via Goodreads Giveaways.

Apley Towers is a riding school deep in the heart of South Africa. It is run by Wendy, who moved from England to Africa to set up her own school. Kaela Willoughby and her best friend Trixie King are a pair of teenage girls who learnt to ride at the school and are still having lessons in the intermediate classes. When Wendy has to go to Cape Town for a while she asks Kaela and Trixie to take over teaching the beginner’s class for a bit. Kaela accepts on behalf of both of them, but as Trixie has a longer journey to the stables Kaela has to do most of the teaching on her own. To add to the workload, a mother of one of the beginner riders asks Kaela to help put on a show jumping competition at the riding school. Kaela says they will do it, but the extra work puts a strain on her friendship with Trixie. Kaela has also recently befriended a girl names Phoenix who lives in Canada, and Trixie is battling her jealousy with having to share her best friend.

The two friends also have a lot of pressure from school to contend with. Kaela is hoping to be accepted on to a writing course but is told that she needs to do more extracurricular activities and worries that she will have to cut down on her riding to do something else. Meanwhile, Trixie is trying to persuade her parents and teachers that she will be able to take seven subjects next year instead of the required six as she wants to take all the sciences to keep her options open. The extra work though, may mean giving up riding.

The girls have all this to worry about, their friendship is on the rocks and they have a show jumping contest to organise in only a few weeks. Can they make it a success?

I thought this was a charming little book. I enjoyed the story and the writing style. The text is nice an simple and easy for young teens to read but is also very well structured and gets the story across really well.

I don’t know much about horse riding myself. The closest I’ve come to it is a pony ride/walk at a farm when I was about 7. I remember being so terrified that I almost passed out as I was a very small child and the pony seemed massive. But I do have a few friends who ride and I think horses are really beautiful creatures, as long as I don’t have to get too close to them!

I loved the fact that this was set in South Africa. I’ve never been there but from what I’ve read and seen about it, it seems like such a magical place. I enjoyed the characters in this book, especially Kaela and Phoenix. I was great seeing these two characters from such different parts of the world interacting and listening to each other’s stories with such awe. I also loved the interview with the author at the back.

I would definitely recommend this book to 10-15 year olds who love horses, but I think that older readers can enjoy it too :)

[Carol Earp · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Apley Towers,’ ‘The Lost Kodas’ by Myra King is the first book in the series aimed at young teenagers. Given I know nothing about the ‘horse’ world, I wasn’t sure what to expect from this series. For me, these books seriously needed to deliver on plot, characters and readability if they were to sustain my interest. And they certainly did that, in bucket-loads.

I’m not entirely sold on the use of Prologues, but this one is short and works really well, by setting the scene. Set in the Apley Towers Riding School in South Africa it follows the story of two 14-year old girls, Kaela and Trixie, who are the best of friends, as they face personal and school-related challenges. When the stable owner and instructor leaves Kaela in charge, Kaela is faced with taking responsibility for teaching the beginners’ class along with organising a riding competition. But as these pressures weigh heavy and the riding school commitment begins to conflict with the demands of their school life, it also looks like their friendship may be under threat, particularly when the newcomer, Phoenix from Canada enters into the mix. The girls need to decide on what makes them happy, because then they’ll know that they’ll be ‘doing something right.’

The book is delightfully written and I found the characters instantly warm, likeable and convincing. I particularly enjoyed the playful interchanges between the girls and being privy to their private thoughts. As the story progresses, we are given insight into their fears, insecurities and worries and young teenage girl could easily identify with familiar themes of school pressures, friendship jealousies and teenage boys on the horizon.

The South African setting and its wildlife are described with subtlety and genuine fondness and it creates a vivid and interesting backdrop to the story.

Myra King’s stories make for a cracking, easy read, and are perfect for the younger teenage girl. But, for anyone with even the slightest interest in the equine world, this is for you.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

We really enjoyed this book. I won this through GoodReads and used it as one of the kids' bedtime reads. The characters were very believable and loveable. The friendship between Kaela and Trixie is lovely and then they add Phoenix, which is fab! We would like to have known more about Bart and Kaela but maybe that happens in the following - we will see. We really enjoyed the little tournament too and the young characters were great too!

[Alexis Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book in the Goodreads giveaway.

Considering I am a bit outside the age range for this book, I found that I actually quite enjoyed it. It took me back to my childhood favourites, when I used to read all the Pony Club type books.

That said, I am also a horse rider, and there were a few bits that kind of niggled at me in regards to the horsey bits. Maybe they learn to ride differently in SouthAfrica?

I also thought Wendy was a bit inconsiderate, expecting two 14 year olds to run pretty much everything at her stables, considering they also had school and other activities, and then thinking it was fine to tell a parent that 'sure Kaela will put together a showjumping event for you'.

But, all in all it was entertaining, and I will probably end up reading the others in the series.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Won in a Goodreads competition.

I think this book contains a brilliant story about growing up and how important it is to carry on doing the things you love, and to not let future plans get in the ways of friendships. I really recommend this to anyone who is currently having to make important decisions in their lives, and even to parents whose children are making those decisions too. And, for people who aren’t fans of horse, don’t be put off! Yes, it does all take place at a Riding School, but I think the message of the book is more important than the setting.

Full review here

[ewa🐾 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Szybkie i luźne 💛 Generalnie mocno koniarkowe przeszkody 2 metry i tak dalej 😭
Nie ogarniam z kąd wzięła się ta internetowa bestie i o co za bardzo chodziło w tej relacji z główna bohaterka 🫣 Według mnie większość takich „poważniejszych” wątków była udawana 🫥 Aczkolwiek ta książka jest skierowana do młodszych odbiorców, wiec noo nie będę taka surowa hahah Trixie mocno mnie irytowała tak samo jak małolaty 😭 Ale mega polecam na zastój 😻
2,5/5⭐️

[Lily Marlow · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book! I love horses so I was really intrigued. It's a story of friendship, horses and the hardships of teens at school. Its trying to balansce your future career and the stuff you love to do now. Its great fun! Recomended.

[Teodora Leon]

The first book in the series is focused on the lives of two best friends and also some of the finest intermediate riders at Apley Towers, Kaela Willoughby and Beatrix King. When Wendy Oberon, the owner of the riding school, goes to Cape Town to solve some problems, Kaela and Trixie have to take over the beginners’ class. Unfortunately, in time, the girls take on too much responsibilities and it’s getting difficult to handle them all.
Kaela signs up for a writing course and volunteers to become the sub-editor for the school newspaper. Meanwhile Trixie struggles to convince her parents and teachers that she is able to take up seven subjects for school instead of the required six. The two friends also have to host a show jumping competition for the beginners and, of course, teach them how to jump.
There are a lot of fights and tense moments between Kaela and Trixie. But one day Kaela and a Canadian girl, Phoenix White Feather, find each other on LetsChat (a social media platform very similar to Facebook). Phoenix helps Kaela and Trixie, and reminds them of what’s actually important in their lives.

Here you have the complete review of the Apley Towers collection: http://teodoraleon.blogspot.ro/2016/0...

[Seawood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Drawing on the author's experience of multiple cultures, this book will certainly appeal to horsey and animal-loving children from Y4-Y6. There are some great themes around friendship and responsibility here, as well as a look at life in South Africa and Indigenous Canada.

I would add it's possibly not great on internet safety for younger children (and rather contrary to what's taught in school) so please have that discussion with your young readers.

[Dan Boughen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to win this in a Goodreads competition and I am genuinely glad that I did. The characters are well rounded and believable and the story is very well constructed. Would certainly not hold back in recommending this book to anyone. At 185 pages, it's not the longest book in the world but is perfect for a weekend treat. Will certainly be looking out for the next installment :) :)

[Tracey Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't reading about Kaela; I was Kaela. I was a daydreamer with too much on my plate and my freedom was Quiet Fire. Apley Towers sent my mind straight back to my own days as a horse rider, I felt the freedom of the ride - back then and again through this charming book.

- Tracey Simpson, Journalist

Johannesburg, South Africa

[Michelle Grayce · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good book about horse riding stables. Shows a friendship between Kaela and Trixie.

[Unknown Future Author · Rating 5 out of 5]

All these books are a wonder. I'd do anything to get the next part of the series

[Nikoleczkaa · Rating 2 out of 5]

trochę skręca , bardzo słabe xd