Sam's Ride

By Becky Citra and Amy Meissner

Sam, a seven-year-old boy, is devastated when his mother leaves him for two weeks on his grandfather's ranch. Grandpa has a lot of rules, and Sam isn't happy about having to stay with him. But Sam's time on the ranch isn't all bad. He learns to ride a horse and also discovers some surprising things about his father, who died when Sam was a baby. When Sam is forced to overcome his fear of riding in order to help rescue Grandpa, Sam grows to appreciate both his grandpa and life on the ranch.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
• Release date: Sep 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9781459806054

Becky Citra

Becky Citra is the author of over twenty books, ranging from early chapter books to novels for young adults. She was an elementary school teacher for over twenty-five years and began writing for children in 1995. Becky's books have been shortlisted for and won many awards, including the Red Cedar Award, the Diamond Willow, the Silver Birch and the Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize. She lives in Salt Spring Island, British Columbia.

Book preview

Sam's Ride

BECKY CITRA

Illustrated by AMY MEISSNER

ORCA BOOK PUBLISHERS

Text copyright © 2009 Becky Citra

Illustrations copyright © 2009 Amy Meissner

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in

any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,

recording or by any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be

invented, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Citra, Becky

Sam’s ride / Becky Citra ; illustrated by Amy Meissner.

(Orca echoes)

ISBN 978-1-55469-160-9

I. Meissner, Amy II. Title. III. Series: Orca echoes

PS8555.I87S24 2009        jC813’.54        C2009-904581-8

First published in the United States, 2009

Library of Congress Control Number: 2009932874

Summary: Sam overcomes his fear of horseback riding and comes to appreciate

both his grandfather and life on the ranch.

Orca Book Publishers gratefully acknowledges the support for its publishing programs

provided by the following agencies: the Government of Canada through the Book

Publishing Industry Development Program and the Canada Council for the Arts, and the

Province of British Columbia through the BC Arts Council

and the Book Publishing Tax Credit.

Typesetting by Teresa Bubela

Cover artwork and interior illustrations by Amy Meissner

www.orcabook.com

Printed and bound in Canada.

12 11 10 09 • 4 3 2 1

To my brother John,

for his great enthusiasm about my books.

Contents

Chapter One: Sam's Surprise

Chapter Two: A Real Cowboy

Chapter Three: Show Him Who's Boss!

Chapter Four: Muscles of Steel

Chapter Five: An Unexpected Bath

Chapter Six: Riding The Range

Chapter Seven: A Long Walk

Chapter Eight: Storm!

Chapter Nine: A Fast Ride

Chapter Ten: Sam's Promise

CHAPTER ONE

SAM 'S SURPRISE

Please…please, Mom, don’t make me stay here, said Sam.

Sam and Mom were sitting at the table