Brill, Calista, & Magruder, Nilah. Creaky Acres. Kokila, 2025. 978-0-735-23062-0. 267 p. $14.99. Grades 3-7.
When her mother accepts a prestigious job in a rural town, ten-year-old Nora Wright, a prize-winning equestrian, is forced to leave her old life behind. Nora must say goodbye to her boarding stable, her tight circle of friends, and the familiar routines. Nora quickly realizes that she is the only Black girl in her new school, and she encounters microaggressions from her classmates every day. Between the challenges she faces at school and the upheaval of moving, Nora hopes the new barn will be a place where she and her horse Hay Fever can feel at home. Unfortunately, Hay Fever’s new home is Creaky Acres, a ramshackle riding school with a mule, a cow, a goat, and even possums. Nora is judgmental about her new surroundings, calling the barn “a dump” and clashing with the other riders. She is especially disappointed to find out that this riding school doesn’t compete in shows. At first, Nora struggles to see the value in a barn without competitions, but over time she begins to notice what it has to offer. With help from her fellow riders, Nora sees that winning isn’t always about trophies, and that her new life might be even better than she ever dreamed.
THOUGHTS: Colorful illustrations and quick pacing make the story fun and full of feeling. The illustrations balance technical details of horseback riding with scenes of friendship and self-discovery. It’s worth noting that this story portrays an affluent Black family, offering representation that’s often overlooked. Ultimately, Creaky Acres is a story about belonging and learning to believe in yourself which makes it a perfect addition to upper elementary and middle grade libraries.
Graphic Novel
When Nora’s family relocates from Sterling Hills to more rural Greenville, the ten-year old’s life changes in a lot of ways. She has to transition from the posh Sterling Hills barn, where she’s the star rider, to run-down Creaky Acres. The resident possum might be infatuated with her, but Nora tries (and fails) to hide her disappointment with her new barn. She struggles to connect with the kids both at Creaky Acres and at school. She’s the only Black kid at Greenville Elementary School, where she faces microaggressions that leave her fuming. At least she has her beloved horse, Hay Fever, though she’s struggling to perfect her jumps; she keeps looking down instead of ahead. Nora really begins to click with the Creaky Acres crew when they form an eventing team for an upcoming regional show. She hits her stride as their coach … but can she perfect her own form on horseback in time to lead her new friends to victory? Creaky Acres is a fun, rewarding middle grade graphic novel. Calista Brill’s story pairs perfectly with Nilah Magruder’s Clip Studio Paint illustrations. Warm, earthy colors and bright blue skies complement the barn setting.
THOUGHTS: Creaky Acres is a great choice for readers who love horses, rooting for the underdog, and Ride On by Faith Erin Hicks.
Graphic Novel