Snow Foal

by Susanna Bailey

When eleven-year-old Addie goes to stay with a foster-care family on a remote Exmoor farm in the midst of a very cold winter, she is full of hurt, anger and a deep mistrust of everyone around her. Until one day, when she rescues a tiny wild foal from the moorland snow and Addie discovers that perhaps she’s not so alone after all.

And as adventure and unexpected friendship blossom, Addie is determined that both of them will know what is to be home again soon . . .

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Animals, Fiction, Childrens, Horses, Contemporary

304 pages, Paperback

First published November 14, 2019

About the author

Sue grew up in Northern England, close to purple moorland and long, silvery beaches. Books were her earliest friends. She learned the joy of ‘making things’ from her wonderfully creative mother, who was a great weaver of tales. She drew fabulous pictures to illustrate her ideas, and encouraged Sue to do the same. When small, Sue often made up stories and brought them to life, with paper people on cardboard theatre stages.

Sue has seen just how helpful stories – and animals – can be when children (and adults) are confused, sad, or afraid. She has learned about the healing power of nature; of wild, quiet, green spaces. Seven years ago, she decided to see if she could write about these things, and went to university to study creative writing. In 2016, Sue was awarded the Bath Spa University Undergraduate Prize for Writing for Young People. The following year, she graduated, with distinction, from Bath Spa’s wonderful MA Writing for Young People. Her MA Novel, Snow Foal, was shortlisted for the 2017 Joan Aiken Future Classics Prize, and given ‘honourary mention’ in the United Agents/Bath Spa University Prize for the same year.

Sue now lectures part-time in Creative Writing.

Reviews

[Stace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Reviewed on < a href="https://www.whisperingstories.com&quo...

Eleven-year-old Addie has been taken to a rural farm in Exmoor, to stay with a foster family whilst her mum gets help in looking after herself and her daughter. Addie is angry and upset to be apart from her mum and doesn’t want to be at the farm. She hopes it is just for one night, but one night turns into weeks and then months.

Gabe, the son of the couple who runs the farm finds a foal in the snow and manages to get it into a barn but it refuses to feed. Addie helps Gabe out with the foal as she knows what it is like to be separated from your mother. In time the foal begins to trust Addie. However, Addie isn’t happy that there are rules about the foal’s heritage which will decide whether it will be returned to the moors and its mother or not. She is determined that she will reunite the foal with its mother, as well as being reunited with her own.

Snow Foal is such a beautiful, irresistible novel. It is a novel that you will take into your heart and hold dear. The subject matter is very touching and the writing leaves you feeling as if you are reading about real events.

The characters are so realistic and their personal stories may have you reaching for the tissues. As well as Addie we have teenager Gabe who is the adopted son of the couple, Ruth and Sam who foster the children. We also have little six-year-old Jude who doesn’t speak and Sunni who is resentful of Addie being there and sharing her bedroom.

The whole story is just so lovely to read and makes you think about what some children go through in their young lives. I was especially touched by Jude who has been through so much and carries so many emotions around with him daily.

Although this is a middle-grade novel, I believe that it is something that YA readers and adults will love too, just like I did.

[Alice-Elizabeth (Prolific Reader Alice) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun fact: Susanna used to be one of my lecturers at University!

I was super excited to read Snow Foal, which I'm happy to say is a very strong Middle-Grade debut. A young girl finds herself in foster care after her Mum ends up in a hospital. All she wants is to be by her side but instead, has to deal with new foster siblings and surroundings. One day, she and Gabe (son of the foster parents that have taken in main character Addie) find a lost foal in the snow which changes everything. Very emotional read with tough topics such as fostering and bereavement very well.

[Philomena Callan Cheekypee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fabulous story. Addie is a young eleven year old who feels so alone after being put into foster care while her mum gets the help she needs. An unlikely friendship between Addie and a foal helps her. This is a beautiful heartfelt story with a whole lotta feels. I really enjoyed it.

[Holly R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, it’s a very heart warming story 5.4

[KD · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5.

Not a traditional horse book by any means—much darker and focused on foster care, on sad family tragedy. But it was very sweet and heartfelt and captured the innocence of young ponies bonding with their chosen girls. I do wish that the main character lightened up a bit (Addie was very aggressive the whole way through) and that she and Sunni actually made up and had more of a heart-to-heart in the end. Otherwise, a unique and important story about the trials of family and animal bonding.

[Ana Catinca · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story was really cool, and it kept you reading page by page until it was done.

[CR · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as part of the FBA (Fantastic Book Awards) club at my school. This was an interesting little read! It follow the story of Addie who is sent to a foster home on a farm when it turns out her mum is struggling with alcoholism. Addie finds it hard to fit in and just wants to help her mum get better! Addie is tasked with helping a orphaned foal get better after being found in a snow ditch and they become fast friends!

It is a lovely story that will touch a lot of hearts and with very serious undertones that some children may not understand if they have never experienced the social care system.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of Snow Foal, by Susanna Bailey, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Being in foster care is not easy, especially when you do not really understand, why your their. This is an unusual foster home, on a farm that Addie goes to. Addie meets great friends in this book, in human and animal form. This was a good but sad read.

[Louise Wilkes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up because I like Keith Robinson's illustrations, and I did enjoy this even though I am 27 years old. I did shed a tear or two

[Laila Gentile · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book which brings a sea of emotions.

[Annemarie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an ARC for this book from NetGalley.

This just didn't quite work for me unfortunately. I was expecting a book similar to Gypsy from Nowhere but that wasn't quite what it was.
I liked the descriptions of life on the ranch, and I enjoyed the setting a lot.
The characters and especially their lack of development are my main issue with this book. We spend quite a lot of time with them, but there is no development at all. Addie acts exactly the same at the beginning and the end of the book, despite all she's been through. This book is about friendships but it doesn't feel that way to me.
All these children have been through a lot, but I had trouble connecting with them. And that's weird because both Jude and Addie have very similar experiences to my own. Maybe I'm just too old for this book. It all felt very surface level and a bit too shallow for me.

[Tisha (IG: Bluestocking629) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh this hurts.

I wanted to LOVE this book.

But...

I did not.

One of my favorite TV programs is Heartland. It definitely gave off Heartland vibes.

And the cover is gorgeous!

And my dad was in foster care so I have a huge soft spot for the system.

However...

It was a sad gloomy depressing book. I have no idea who this book would be good for, but I know of no middle grader who would enjoy this.

There were *some* fabulous adults. There were sheep, horses, a dog, and a cat. There were *some* great friendships built.

Yet...it was depressing. Beginning to end.

Actually the end...was...not...an...end. Grrrr. It was a middle.

The writing was great. The descriptive scenery was great. It was just lacking hope and happiness. And an ending. It was lacking an ending.

[Liv · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably a bit of a young book for me to be reading at 21!

I still enjoyed it and got through it very quickly, the story was really nice. Bought a tear to my eye!

[Pris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally warmed my heart in this frozen setting. It’s magical to see how people and animals can heal each other. Addie was so brave and I liked her a lot, but Jude was my absolute favorite. It didn’t have quite the impact on me I thought it would have, but nonetheless I highly recommend! 💙❄️🐴

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of beauty, friendship and heart.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

When Addie's mother is no longer able to take care of her because of her struggles with alcohol, she is brought to Ruth and Sam's farm by her caseworker, Penny. Determined that her mother needs her, Addie does not want to make herself comfortable, and plans her escape from the beginning. She shares a room with Sunni, who is a bit prickly, and also has to deal with young Jude, who doesn't speak and is separated from his infant brother, as well as Gabe, Ruth and Sam's son. There is a lot to do on a farm, even during a cold and snowy winter, and Gabe asks Addie to help him with a foal that was found in bad condition. At first, they think it is an Exmoor pony, a wild breed that have a protected status. Gabe isn't able to get near the animal, but it takes to Addie, who manages to feed, brush, and otherwise care for the foal. Ruth is very understanding about Addie's circumstances, and tries to make her as comfortable as possible. Penny is truthful with her, and lets her know how her mother is doing in her struggles to take care of herself so that she can be prepared to take care of Addie. Unfortunately, she doesn't always show up to the meetings with Addie that are scheduled. When Addie finds out that the foal will most likely not be returned to its mother in the wild, she fixates on this, and makes plans to get the foal back into the wilderness. She does well, working with Jude, and he starts to communicate a bit, and she involves him in her plans. This turns out to be a good thing, because when she takes the animal back into the wild in the middle of the night, she becomes lost in the mist, but since Jude told Sunni, help is soon on its way. Sunni tells Addie that her actions might cause Ruth and Sam to be disqualified from being care givers, and Addie does feel some remorse. This turns out not to be the case, but Jude does get an offer of adoption. When the foal comes back to the farm, looking for care because it did not do well in the wild, Addie starts to wonder whether ot not she did the right thing, and reflects on her own circumstances as well.
Strengths: Like Scarlet Ibis, Snow Foal gives us a good look at the foster care system in England, along with an enticing view of an English farm. Addie's feelings and concerns see true to life, and her transference of her feelings of longing for her mother to the foal are very realistic. It's good to see other points of view; Gabe was adopted by Sam and Ruth, so is more stable, Sunni still wants to see her mother but knows that it is increasingly unlikely, and Jude is too young to fully process his circumstances. Penny is portrayed more sympathetically than many social workers, which I appreciated. The real draw will be the wild foal, and Addie's ability to bond with it and take care of it. There's even a bit of adventure when Addie takes off into the night.
Weaknesses: This might appeal more to elementary school readers; older readers might realize that taking the foal back to the wilderness is a very bad idea, while younger ones will think this is a reasonable course of action.
What I really think: This was very similar to Peter's delightful Jasmine Green series, in that it has a good amount of details about taking care of animals on a farm. If Lackey's All the Impossible Things or Lorentz' Of a Feather are popular in your library, or if you have readers who have an insatiable need for horse books with a bit of problems like Stevenson's Lizzie Flying Solo, Snow Foal is an excellent choice.

[Joc · Rating 4 out of 5]

The social service workers in the book are portrayed as always not even trying to explain to the child why they make the decisions they make. It seems that the author implicitly agrees with that approach. Well I think that's NOT the right way. One ought to be both open and sincere with the child, while using language at an appropriate level, instead of concealing or distorting the truth based on the excuse that it is for the child's sake. Although one needs to take into account the child's emotional and mental well-being, it is counter-productive to work based on the assumption that social service workers always know what is best. All humans (professional or not) may make mistakes, and it is hence a disservice to the child to not at least seek to understand and cater for the child's own feelings as part of working WITH the child. I did not like that this "social service workers know best" mantra was repeated and implied to be true multiple times (such as by the words that the author made Gabe say to Addie).

Also, there is a lack of clear resolution of Addie's retaliatory aggression towards Sunni. I think there is room for much improvement in parental guidance in repudiating this kind of behaviour. Although in the end it seems that Addie and Sunni have really made up, their foster parents should have properly facilitated that, much much earlier. It is the same as with bullying, after all. Adults who have a consistent strict no-nonsense stance against bullying in any form would not only benefit the children in their care but also greatly increase the likelihood that those children would feel comfortable confiding in them. As you can see from the story, which in fact reflects the society perceived by the author, this is an important issue. Not all real-life stories end well! What if Addie had really died out there?

The above two issues made me want to give this book 3 stars, but I give 4 stars because of all the love and care that the foster family showed to Addie, which is of course the most important thing.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Snow Foal is the kind of competent realistic fiction for young adults that deserves much more notice. It's gentle discussion of the themes offers access for young readers while still remaining a touching and interesting reader for adults. Snow Foal isn't for the faint-hearted young reader - it's a sad story of a young girl whose mother is a recovering alcoholic and her battle to cope with the trauma through the rescue of a poor, wild Dartmoor foal in the heart of winter. There nothing new here - stories of children with absent parents and stories of animal friendships as cathartic aids to recovery are not exactly rare. But when it's done with this amount of conviction and simply, clear characterisation, you can't knock it. Ken Loach did it with Kes; this has a similar emotional resonance. There are also echoes of Tracy Beaker in the treatment of the child care system, although without the sense of humour. Susanna Bailey's take on Addie's situation is never funny but always realistic and fequently moving. At the beginning of the book she arrives at a Dartmoor farm where three other foster children are in the care of the farming family. The older boy, Gabe, rescues the foal and Addie strikes up an immediate connection with the abandoned creature.

Addie's relationship with the foal is obviously central to the plot and it provides the major dramas along the way, but it is actually the relationship between Addie and the other three children that make the story tick. Sunni is about her age and the two maintain a stubborn antagonism throughout the book. Jude is a younger boy who refuses to speak. He joins Addie with the snow foal and Addie grows to care deeply for him. When he is adopted, it proves to be a crisis moment for both Sunni and Addie. The scene of his departure is handled brilliantly; you can sense the torn emotions of all the children. Gabe, the eldest, has left his demons behind. There is one scene at the end of the book between Gabe and Addie which has such a simple poignancy that one can only applaud. Bailey strikes the balance just right, avoiding the overdone end-of-the-movie-meaningful-moment. Ken Loach couldn't do it better. Bailey's adult characters are also admirable - all flawed but imminently kind. The treatment of Addie's alcoholism, always shadowed in the background, is done subtly and sympathetically. There is no ideal ending, no easy solutions. Addie arrives at some form of contentment and the foal's conclusion allows the book a satisfying ending but Bailey doesn't pretend that everything has been resolved.

On top of the excellent characters, Snow Foal plays out in desolate and beautiful landscapes, all painted with simple, evocative descriptions. The healing power of nature is shown through the land as much as through the foal, although it isn't without problems. The issue of the foals return to the wild and the classification of the Dartmoor wild horses is interesting too and Bailey uses Addie's confusion to add some bad decisions to the plot. The night time scene on the moors carries a real sense of fear and disorientation and Sunni's concern is very palpable, her our emotions also confuses as she worries for Addie but doesn't want her foster parents to get into trouble. In short, Snow Foal does almost everything right. Elements of the story retread familiar narrative ground but when a story is conceives with such determined, genuine emotions, it's hard to pick at it at all. I wish there were more books for young adults of this quality.

[Yakira Goldsberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review really should have gone out two years ago, and for that I apologize, but I had to take a break from reviewing due to personal reasons and one thing led to another and now we’re here. I did read the whole book though. It was really cute.
Okay, time for a proper review!
Snow Foal follows the tale of a young girl named Addie who ends up staying with a foster family who lives on an Exmoor farm and are raising two other young foster kids. Throughout the story, she must navigate suddenly having a new family and siblings, as well as taking care of a wild foal she stumbled upon in the snow.
The story starts right off with Addie leaving her home and coming to this new strange place. All of her emotions were painfully real, and I could really sympathize her throughout the entire story, having gone through a similar situation. Though her relationship with her foster family starts off rocky, the bond they form is really nice, and I liked how the parents were actually kind and had Addie’s best interest at heart.
I really do have a soft spot for stories about kids (or just people in general) healing through interactions with animals, and this one has made it onto my very much approved list.
Snow Foal is a perfect read for kids who love horses and are going through a tough time. A beautiful and comforting story of hope amidst the struggle.

NOTE: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a cute little story about coming of age.
This book was so good that I couldn't put it down! I loved it!
I love middle grade books anyway. Always have and the foal made this story extra special.
In a lot of ways I can sympathize with Addie. I enjoyed in getting to know her.
My parents were foster parents for many years and that's why I sort of understood Addie. Lots of children came through our home. Yes, most were like Addie. This story brought back some memories for me.
Addie reminds of one of our boys name Pete. Very heartbreaking. I'd forgotten him until I read this book.
This excellent well written book will pull at your heartstrings for sure and certain!
Animals do have a way of soothing one's soul.
This book has such a cute cover! Love it!
5 stars for bringing back some childhood memories of my own and for a job well done!
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Fantastiske Familie Bøger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bogen handler om pigen Addie. Hun skal bo hos en plejefamilie, fordi hendes mor drikker for meget. Her møder hun et føl som hun bliver venner med.

En nat sniger Addie sig væk for at hjælpe føllet ud på heden til sin mor. Føllet er kun halvblods og derfor må det ikke være på heden sammen med de andre fuldblodsheste. Det synes Addie er syndt og derfor hjælper hun føllet, så det kan være sammen med sin mor.

Pigens mor er meget syg, men det er meningen at Addie skal hjem og bo hos sin mor igen.

Senere ser Addie føllet igen på heden. Det er blevet større og har nu et hvidt mærke i panden med form som et snefnuk.

Jeg synes det er lidt irriterende, at man ikke til slut får at vide om pigen får lov til at komme hjem til sin mor igen.

Jeg synes det er godt at Addie til sidst bliver glad for sin plejefamilie.

- Sarah 9 år

[Stephanie A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

KD is correct to say this is "not a traditional horse book by any means—much darker and focused on foster care, on sad family tragedy," but it's also ultimately a hopeful story. I had a feeling even before I got to the back cover that it was written by a social worker, in the best possible way. Addie's anger and frustration about how adults are MEAN and make STUPID AND UNFAIR decisions for kids rings very true, while the lessons learned by the end feel earned in a way that makes sense to kids, not simply lectured.

I definitely wanted more scenes with the foal and less with stupid baby Jude (me & my 10-year-old self are shaking hands at our shared language choices and reactions), but the writing style, farm, foster parents and their 14 y/o son Gabe are charming enough to push it to an extra star.

[Rachel (storybookcorner) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snow Foal is a beautiful depiction of what it means to truly open your heart and home to children in the foster system. Addie is going through the emotions that every child goes through when their lives are ripped apart through no fault of their own. It's not easy being a foster parent and yes I speak from experience. I enjoyed reading this story of the orphaned foal and precious Addie as she comes to terms with the recent abrupt changes in her life as well as glimpses into Jude and Sunni's as well. You can't possibly begin to understand the magnitude of feelings children go through unless either you've been a foster child yourself and/or witnessed it yourself by being a foster parent, social worker, etc. This was a beautiful story and I'm so glad I read it.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Addie is taken in by Ruth and Sam as a foster child on their farm because Addie’s Mam can’t take care of her right now. Soon after Addie joins the household, they find an abandoned wild foal in the snow. Addie bonds with the foal and nurses him until he is strong enough to feed on his own. As the pony may be part of the wild Exmoor pony herd that lives on nearby Moorland, Sam tries to help Addie prepare for the day the pony will have to leave the farm. Addie just wants to take the pony back to his Mam just like she can’t wait to go home herself. A touching story about making connections after great loss.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

🐎Addie is sent to a foster home and is resentful and afraid. Addie slowly learns to trust as she takes care of a lost foal. In caring for the foal, Addie slowly begins to navigate the complexities of her relationship with her biological mother.

My thoughts....
🤔 It is poignant, well-written, and has strong characters.
🤔 I think children will be able to easily relate to this one.
🤔 I think it could spark educational conversations about the differences between the English language in England and the US, as it takes places in England.
🤔 A great read to build empathy and discuss themes and life-lessons.

[Riley A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book because it was such a heartwarming story. It begins with Addie,going into foster care with a really nice family, but she doesn't want others to help her or try to make her feel better. Then she meets a foal who she can relate to and tells him all of her problems and feelings. She has a special bond with the foal and spends every day with him which helped her open up to others. The story of Addie bonding and making connections with her family and the foal made it hard to put the book down!

[Joan Gagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must admit, I am a sucker for orphan and foster care stories. This book stands alone among the others that I have read. It felt more realistic. Spoiler alert: while ends on a happy note, it feels more realistic because not all of Addie's heartbreak is cured. I also give the author credit for not ending it with Jude's outcome. There was more to the story of Addie and the foal. Addie needed to work through her projection that the foal needed to be reunited with his "mam" and I believe that the author handled it well. I really enjoyed this story.

[Bethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gentle book about families, not just the ones you’re born to, but the ones you find. Addie is in foster care, sent to a farm until her mother recovers enough to care for her again. She doesn’t want to fit in as she hopes to return to the city and her mother. She finds solace in helping to care for a wild abandoned foal found in the snowy moors. Fantastic cover art! And there’s a border collie in the farm too!

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

This had so much potential. I generally love anything about horses, but this was just a bit flat.

The writing was a bit stilted for me; it seemed extremely unnatural while I was reading it to my kids.

The setting is described well, but then all the characters are shoved in there without any real personalities. And the poor pony never even got a name.

I do love seeing a book take on the foster care situation though.

[Thea · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS WAS SO GOOD 😭😭 CRIED. it is a middle grade book but I picked it up bc I was waiting for another book on hold, and it did take me a couple months to read... but I do not regret it. this was so so good, the way it tackles serious things that really do happen but in the POV of an 11 yr old and likewise written in a way meant for readers of that age, is done SO WELL. did I mention I cried? love this book so much