A warm-hearted story that captures how a girl’s love for a beautiful, proud but troubled horse helps her to manage her own sadness after the death of her father. Jodie lives for horses and when her mum says she can buy her own she is over the moon. From the moment she sees him at the horse auction, Jodie knows that Samphire is the one horse for her. How Jodie helps to calm Samphire and, while doing so, soothes her own panicky feelings is touching told. When Samphire suddenly disappears Jodie’s needs all her courage and determination to find him and bring him back.
This is a powerful, uplifting story about a girl and her spirited horse, fighting against the odds. The first time I saw Samphire, I knew he was the one. He was wild, troubled, broken - and he wouldn't let me ride him. But there was an instant connection so powerful I couldn't ignore it. Maybe he knew that I was broken too? Slowly, we learned to trust one another, and now we have a bond so strong that nothing can break it. It's like we can see into each other's souls. So the day he disappeared from my world, it felt like my life was over, all over again. But I will find him - I'll make it my mission.
Jill lives and works by the sea near Brighton. As well as being a children’s author, she has written for children’s TV and the stage. She is currently working on her third book for young teens. ‘Deeper Than Blue’ won the 1066 Schools’ Book award and was shortlisted for the Bolton Children’s Book award and the Cumbrian Spellbinding award. It was also long-listed for the Branford Boase award for an outstanding first novel for children. Since launching her website, she has had many lovely messages and many of them are for Zack, her Golden Retriever!
Here's an interview with Jill, talking about If I Could Fly:
