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Wind Rider
Fern dreams of riding on a wild horse's back, as fleet as the wind. She makes pets of small animals and watches the bison herds as they pound over the endless grasses of the steppe. Chafing at the inequality of being female, she longs for the freedom her twin brother enjoys to run free in the wilderness. One day in early spring, Fern secretly rescues a young horse mired in the bog, names her Thunder, and tames her enough to ride, claiming the horse as her own. But the people of Fern's tribe are distrustful of her bond with nature. Is she a witch? Does she weave her spells on animals? Fern's future looks bleak until a silent man in a rival tribe, known only as The Nameless One, teaches her about patience—and love. Susan Williams's lyrical prose makes this journey to prehistoric western Asia at once inspiring and heart wrenching.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2006
5 people are currently reading
168 people want to read
About the author
Susan Williams Beckhorn
8 books33 followersBiography
I grew up in Winchester, Massachusetts, the youngest in a family where kids, animals, and the outdoors were important. I wish every kid could have what we had: a patient old dog, woods and a pond to muck around in, a leaky wooden row boat, plenty of paper and paints and scissors and glue—and books. Mum and Dad read us Wait Till the Moon is Full, The Burgess Books, Charlotte’s Web, The Wind in the Willows, and many more.
For a while, we had a pony named Maple Sugar, but had to give her away when she went lame. It was the first big sadness in my life. When I was eleven, I got to raise an orphaned baby raccoon. Our vet gave him rabies and distemper shots, and a game warden visited and issued me a permit. Only a certified wildlife rehabilitator would be allowed to do that today. Raising Coonie—and releasing him successfully to the wild taught me about letting go and the rightful place of wild creatures.
Mostly I was happy, but I was shy, chubby and freckled, with a miserable lisp. My brothers teased me! I couldn’t say my own name: Susy. All I could manage was Thuthy. My kindergarten teacher called my mother for a conference because I held the classroom door open for my imaginary animal friends. But Mum told her it would have rude if I didn’t. My siblings will tell you I had a bit of a temper. At times, I thought our dog, Spike, was the only one who understood me. I still have a letter that I wrote to him when I was eight. He didn't write back but I knew that he was on my side.
Books were always my friends. As a tiny girl, I built forts with them around me on my bed when I was mad at the world. I read them walking to school, in the car by the light of the headlights of the car behind, under the covers with a flash light or even the light of my electric blanket control—one word at a time! I loved being sent to my room because—you guessed it—I could read in peace! I remember one stormy day when my hands, damp from wiping away tears, were stained red from the leather cover of an old edition of The Jungle Book. After a while I’d forget my troubles in the world of books. I still do.
You know what happens if you read too much? You become a writer! I quickly learned I wasn’t much good at numbers, but words were different! Sometime in elementary school, I discovered that I was pretty good at writing and drawing. I like to tell kids that their ideas are great. As proof, I can show you the original version of The Kingfisher’s Gift which started out as a seventh grade writing assignment.
Becoming a published author and illustrator wasn’t easy, but my siblings will also tell you that I have a powerful stubborn streak! That kept me going despite hundreds of rejections. Today, my husband Fred and I live in a stone house, which we built ourselves, in the wilds of western New York. We have dogs and cats, horses and chickens, and grow most of our own vegetables organically. Fred builds beautiful rustic furniture www.naturalformfurniture.com. Our two daughters are all grownup now, but I loved reading to them when they were little. Today, I roam the world watching people, birds, and animals and writing about what I see. I collect all sorts of things: ideas, rocks, seashells, antiques—and of course, books.
I grew up in Winchester, Massachusetts, the youngest in a family where kids, animals, and the outdoors were important. I wish every kid could have what we had: a patient old dog, woods and a pond to muck around in, a leaky wooden row boat, plenty of paper and paints and scissors and glue—and books. Mum and Dad read us Wait Till the Moon is Full, The Burgess Books, Charlotte’s Web, The Wind in the Willows, and many more.
For a while, we had a pony named Maple Sugar, but had to give her away when she went lame. It was the first big sadness in my life. When I was eleven, I got to raise an orphaned baby raccoon. Our vet gave him rabies and distemper shots, and a game warden visited and issued me a permit. Only a certified wildlife rehabilitator would be allowed to do that today. Raising Coonie—and releasing him successfully to the wild taught me about letting go and the rightful place of wild creatures.
Mostly I was happy, but I was shy, chubby and freckled, with a miserable lisp. My brothers teased me! I couldn’t say my own name: Susy. All I could manage was Thuthy. My kindergarten teacher called my mother for a conference because I held the classroom door open for my imaginary animal friends. But Mum told her it would have rude if I didn’t. My siblings will tell you I had a bit of a temper. At times, I thought our dog, Spike, was the only one who understood me. I still have a letter that I wrote to him when I was eight. He didn't write back but I knew that he was on my side.
Books were always my friends. As a tiny girl, I built forts with them around me on my bed when I was mad at the world. I read them walking to school, in the car by the light of the headlights of the car behind, under the covers with a flash light or even the light of my electric blanket control—one word at a time! I loved being sent to my room because—you guessed it—I could read in peace! I remember one stormy day when my hands, damp from wiping away tears, were stained red from the leather cover of an old edition of The Jungle Book. After a while I’d forget my troubles in the world of books. I still do.
You know what happens if you read too much? You become a writer! I quickly learned I wasn’t much good at numbers, but words were different! Sometime in elementary school, I discovered that I was pretty good at writing and drawing. I like to tell kids that their ideas are great. As proof, I can show you the original version of The Kingfisher’s Gift which started out as a seventh grade writing assignment.
Becoming a published author and illustrator wasn’t easy, but my siblings will also tell you that I have a powerful stubborn streak! That kept me going despite hundreds of rejections. Today, my husband Fred and I live in a stone house, which we built ourselves, in the wilds of western New York. We have dogs and cats, horses and chickens, and grow most of our own vegetables organically. Fred builds beautiful rustic furniture www.naturalformfurniture.com. Our two daughters are all grownup now, but I loved reading to them when they were little. Today, I roam the world watching people, birds, and animals and writing about what I see. I collect all sorts of things: ideas, rocks, seashells, antiques—and of course, books.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
January 3, 2020
So I'm gonna be lazy and just include a great quote from the book. Sorry...
Women are the givers of life, patient, enduring. We have our own ways of ordering things-- sometimes through love, sometimes through means less honorable, if it is necessary.
Tolle et lege.
Women are the givers of life, patient, enduring. We have our own ways of ordering things-- sometimes through love, sometimes through means less honorable, if it is necessary.
Tolle et lege.
June 16, 2025
Took a trip down memory lane
October 29, 2014
My grandmother had gotten me this book when it was first published, when I was six. At first, because I was obviously young, I didn't care much for it. But now that I'm older I've read it twice and I could read it a thousand times more. This book isn't for every one, but it is easily my favorite book that I've ever read. So, Susan Williams, thank you for creating this book of beautiful love, friendships, and hardships. I truly adore it.
October 16, 2010
A fantastic book! I can't even describe it. If you are into animals, friendship, cruelty, love and courage of one girl, this is a book for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 5, 2017
On the surface, Wind Rider looks very much like the author's other YA book, The Wolf's Boy. In that one, a boy brought the first dog into his tribe, something people had never seen before. In Wind Rider, a girl tamed the first horse and showed her people how helpful that could be.
Like Wolf's Boy, Wind Rider is a YA book that worked perfectly for adult readers. The storyline was wonderful, and it never once felt like the writing was too simple. Though the main character was young, she faced mature situations (including one almost-rape, though subtle enough that younger readers wouldn't realize the exact danger she had been in).
Fern, the main character, had loved watching horses all her life, but a chance situation put her into position to tame a young one. The story took its time building trust between the horse and the girl, and their friendship was perfectly believable. (Heck, everything about the story was.)
While Wolf's Boy was about a "deformed" boy (he had a bad foot), Fern had more challenges in her world just because of her gender. She didn't want to be just a wife and a baby-maker, which made her character arc through the story one of the most satisfying examples of character growth I've read in a long, long time.
Like Wolf's Boy, I enjoyed the second half even more than the first half, and for a similar reason -- I really liked the "outsider" man and the main character's relationship to him. In Wolf's Boy, I was really curious and interested in that character (a neanderthal man), but in Wind Rider I fell in love with him (a man from a different tribe than the main character).
I strongly recommend both books by this author!
Like Wolf's Boy, Wind Rider is a YA book that worked perfectly for adult readers. The storyline was wonderful, and it never once felt like the writing was too simple. Though the main character was young, she faced mature situations (including one almost-rape, though subtle enough that younger readers wouldn't realize the exact danger she had been in).
Fern, the main character, had loved watching horses all her life, but a chance situation put her into position to tame a young one. The story took its time building trust between the horse and the girl, and their friendship was perfectly believable. (Heck, everything about the story was.)
While Wolf's Boy was about a "deformed" boy (he had a bad foot), Fern had more challenges in her world just because of her gender. She didn't want to be just a wife and a baby-maker, which made her character arc through the story one of the most satisfying examples of character growth I've read in a long, long time.
Like Wolf's Boy, I enjoyed the second half even more than the first half, and for a similar reason -- I really liked the "outsider" man and the main character's relationship to him. In Wolf's Boy, I was really curious and interested in that character (a neanderthal man), but in Wind Rider I fell in love with him (a man from a different tribe than the main character).
I strongly recommend both books by this author!
July 21, 2011
I loved this book, I read it quite a few times and I know that I'll pick it up again soon and read it again and again!! I loved this book!
December 12, 2012
I love horses so I absolutley loved this book. It captured so many feelings. I loved it a lot. It so easily sweeps you into the life back then and you fall in love with it.
November 11, 2015
Reading the description of the book I wasn't that excited to read it. But I did and wow this book is one of the best I've ever read!
January 17, 2019
This was a gripping read about a young teenage girl in prehistoric Asia struggling to help her family survive. She has domesticated a horse--the first such that anyone knows of--and the horse helps her family in many ways. This book doesn't shy away from difficult and sad situations, but ultimately our indomitable heroine, Fern, triumphs in the end! She also goes through quite a maturational process, in moving from a childish to an adult way of relating to her parents, and finding a place in her society that works for her.
June 19, 2022
Such a fun read! I loved the pace of the story; though i feel the end arc was a bit rushed and almost unnecessary. But I still found it great fun, loved the connection to animals, the realistic flip flop of human acceptance, and the character was relatable though still young. Nothing felt too magical or unrealistic because humans really do pack bond with creatures and create trust and connections with animals as the author described. You can tell the author writes from experience when it comes to animal connection. This was a travel and beach read for me btw!
December 17, 2022
I came across this as my reading challenge had a prompt for a prehistoric setting. This was a really interesting one! Fern was a brave and strong main character, and her connection to her animal companions was amazing. It's really neat to see how she forged ahead and developed the ways to work with them, while also needing to show her people that animals could help them. There is also an examination of how survival might have been at the time, with no glossing over loss and the struggles of a hard winter. I'm glad I came across this one!
July 12, 2024
I think this is a beautifully told tale. It fits great for any age level, even as an adult I love re reading this one every year or more frequently. It’s a gorgeous telling of what life may have been like so long ago in native times around the globe and how things like tamed horses could have come to be, as well as a nice story of love twisted into the end that always warms my heart.
November 11, 2018
My favorite part was when Fern managed to rescue and tame Thunder, and introduced the idea of tamed horses to her family and community. My least favorite part was when Badger tried to steal the horse from Fern, and Fern ended up getting caught by the Night People.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2023
Although this book is aimed at a much younger audience I enjoyed it . Set in prehistoric times it was an interesting imagination of what life was like . The story was down to earth and didn't cover over the death children before 5 years , nor the animals they hunted for meat and hides .
August 8, 2017
Excellent read!
April 13, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I’m a very setting driven reader, and I feel like I got a very vivid picture of Fern’s world. I very much liked following her on her journey to womanhood.
June 26, 2019
My mom gave me this book when I was around 10 years old and I've read it countless times since. I love this story.
June 13, 2023
I went into this expecting a traditional horse girl story arc: Girl tames horse, people scorn girl for it, girl proves her and horse’s worth in a contest or similar show of strength, everyone realizes they were wrong about girl, horse neighs in the distance with some sunset imagery evoking ideals of freedom.
That is NOT the story told in this book.
Fern’s story is far more complex with finding her place within her family, her peers, and her world at large. Though it is her family that is always at the center of it. Her refusal to accept she’s growing up, despite the changes in her body, were heartbreaking and painfully relatable. She’s a realistic and flawed heroine, learning how to be a woman on her own terms.
The process of taming her horse, Thunder, is quite believable. What’s more, Thunder is still very much a WILD horse; she’s not magically tamed into a sweet pony. In fact, all the animal-human relationships are believable; I could very easily see the depictions as being accurate to how man eventually tamed dogs and horses as work animals and pets.
This book was an unexpected treasure and I absolutely adore it.
That is NOT the story told in this book.
Fern’s story is far more complex with finding her place within her family, her peers, and her world at large. Though it is her family that is always at the center of it. Her refusal to accept she’s growing up, despite the changes in her body, were heartbreaking and painfully relatable. She’s a realistic and flawed heroine, learning how to be a woman on her own terms.
The process of taming her horse, Thunder, is quite believable. What’s more, Thunder is still very much a WILD horse; she’s not magically tamed into a sweet pony. In fact, all the animal-human relationships are believable; I could very easily see the depictions as being accurate to how man eventually tamed dogs and horses as work animals and pets.
This book was an unexpected treasure and I absolutely adore it.
October 10, 2008
I enjoyed reading this book very much. It is about an Indian girl named Fern. She lives in prehistoric times, before humans and horses had had any connections. She loves the wild horses near her tribe, but is forbidden to go near them. One day, however, she finds a mare stuck in a mud pit and rescues her. She names her Thunder. Over time, she forms a bond with the mare. Her tribe believes she is a witch for taming such a creature, and then riding it. When she is kidnapped by another tribe, Fern meets the Nameless One, who rarely speaks because he chooses not to. They are held as slaves to the other tribe. The tribe captures horses and sacrifices them on occasion. By forming a bond with the horses, Fern and the Nameless One escape back to Fern's tribe, where they are married. Fern is then respected for her friendship with the horses. I would recommend this book to anyone with an open mind and a sense of adventure, especially if they like animals. This book does a great job of describing animal-human bonds.
January 29, 2016
This book reminded me of the story of Ayla from the Earth's children series by Jean Auel. It's set in the prehistory of man kind when accidents and unusual ideas could mean the survival of a group of people. This story follows a young girl named Fern, and her passion for horses. Her fascination with horses and tendency to wander off meet up when she stumbles across a young horse trapped in a bog. Unwilling to let the animal die she cleverly rescues the animal and sets about keeping the animal for her own. Naturally, her secret comes out and her family must decide either to slaughter the animal for food or choose to see the animal in Fern's eyes as a creature whose usefulness outweighs the tastyness.
It was a very well written, coming of age type story but not an overly original story type as I said it reminds me of the Earth's Children series.
It was a very well written, coming of age type story but not an overly original story type as I said it reminds me of the Earth's Children series.
September 13, 2016
I feel very blasé about this story. Didn't love it. Didn't hate it. The historical speech patterns and factoids were a hot mess ... she miraculously creates the word bridle? She also mentions her lung, which I doubt she would have any concept of. I also never understood the dart contraption used for hunting. I'm pretty sure it was an atlatl, but the author never called it that. I do appreciate the fact that the author described the work as science fiction more than history. Overall a bit boring spending so many years with Fern doing nothing. The last 50 pages pick up the plot/action/drama quite a bit. Too bad we didn't spend more time in captivity with the Night People and building the relationship with Owl. Would have been a better book. Full review at www.horsenation.com soon.
July 7, 2009
Yeah I hated this book. The language is terrible, it sounds like it was written by a four-year-old. I mean, it's not TERRIBLE, but it just... doesn't do it for me. I was thoroughly displeased. One of those books where I couldn't wait for it to be over.
Currently reading
November 7, 2010so far this is a great book im excited to finish it the first 2 nights i had the book i got to page 70 cuz i couldnt put the book down im not a verry strong reader and i dont really like to read but im loving this book
December 9, 2008
Historical Fiction—Quite good
Sometime in the far past a girl tames a horse rather than eating it. Going against convention has never been easy and it isn’t for Fern.
Sometime in the far past a girl tames a horse rather than eating it. Going against convention has never been easy and it isn’t for Fern.
May 27, 2010
Pretty good. A lot of people would like it. Though it is more on the girl side.
April 14, 2011
I liked this book even though it got OK reviews. The last 100 pages were really engrossing. The language was a bit simple.
January 5, 2013
A great, vibrant look at the taming of the first prehistoric horses.
September 15, 2019
4.5 stars on the third read.
November 17, 2023
Really loved the prehistoric world Susan Williams created about the possible ways horses were domesticated in what is now Kazakhstan.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews