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kelly_e's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Title: Pony
Author: R.J. Palacio
Genre: Middle Grade
Rating: 4.50
Pub Date: September 28, 2021
T H R E E • W O R D S
Emotional • Absorbing • Heroic
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Twelve-year-old Silas is awoken in the dead of night by three menacing horsemen who take his father away. Silas is left shaken, scared, and alone, except for the presence of his companion, Mittenwool... who happens to be a ghost. When a pony shows up at his door, Silas makes the courageous decision to leave his home and embark on a perilous journey to find his father. Along the way, he will face his fears to unlock the secrets of his past and explore the unfathomable mysteries of the world around him.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Wonder is one of those stories that has stuck with me years later, so when I saw a couple of raving reviews for Pony (by the same author), I decided to add it to my TBR. Thanks to an interlibrary loan from my local library I was able to read a physical copy while listening to the audiobook. It was certainly a step outside my comfort zone in terms of genre, yet I knew there would be a powerful underlying message.
What an epic and adventurous journey! Driven by his mother's love, Silas' is wise and brave beyond his years. The writing and crafting of this story is absolutely incredible. Even the ghost element felt entirely believable. At times I felt as though I was sitting on Silas' shoulder and right there alone with him in his quest to find his father. From the wartime atmosphere to the vivid history which seemed so real, this story is about the connections between people, both the living and the dead.
Pony is a coming-of age Western spanning an extraordinary journey of self-discovery, full of heart, and exploring themes of love and how it never dies. It gave me goosebumps and it certainly made me tear up at various points. I'd recommend R.J. Palacio's writing to both young and old alike as each of her stories offers something valuable.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• Palacio's writing
• middle grade
• genre blending stories
⚠️ CW: death, death of parent, child death, grief, violence, gun violence, murder, bullying, injury/injury detail, blood, war, colonization, drowning
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Even if we can’t see it, the sun never stops shining."
"The connections that bind us are astounding, as I’ve noted. The invisible threads weave in and around us in places and at times that we may not ever see, or that only make sense over time."
"If life is a journey to the great unknown, then death must be a journey too. And while some people might know exactly where they’re going, other people might not. Maybe they meander a little, not sure where they’re headed, or feel a bit lost. Maybe they need a map, like foreigners in a new country. They’re looking for landmarks. A compass. Instructions on where to go."
Author: R.J. Palacio
Genre: Middle Grade
Rating: 4.50
Pub Date: September 28, 2021
T H R E E • W O R D S
Emotional • Absorbing • Heroic
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Twelve-year-old Silas is awoken in the dead of night by three menacing horsemen who take his father away. Silas is left shaken, scared, and alone, except for the presence of his companion, Mittenwool... who happens to be a ghost. When a pony shows up at his door, Silas makes the courageous decision to leave his home and embark on a perilous journey to find his father. Along the way, he will face his fears to unlock the secrets of his past and explore the unfathomable mysteries of the world around him.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Wonder is one of those stories that has stuck with me years later, so when I saw a couple of raving reviews for Pony (by the same author), I decided to add it to my TBR. Thanks to an interlibrary loan from my local library I was able to read a physical copy while listening to the audiobook. It was certainly a step outside my comfort zone in terms of genre, yet I knew there would be a powerful underlying message.
What an epic and adventurous journey! Driven by his mother's love, Silas' is wise and brave beyond his years. The writing and crafting of this story is absolutely incredible. Even the ghost element felt entirely believable. At times I felt as though I was sitting on Silas' shoulder and right there alone with him in his quest to find his father. From the wartime atmosphere to the vivid history which seemed so real, this story is about the connections between people, both the living and the dead.
Pony is a coming-of age Western spanning an extraordinary journey of self-discovery, full of heart, and exploring themes of love and how it never dies. It gave me goosebumps and it certainly made me tear up at various points. I'd recommend R.J. Palacio's writing to both young and old alike as each of her stories offers something valuable.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• Palacio's writing
• middle grade
• genre blending stories
⚠️ CW: death, death of parent, child death, grief, violence, gun violence, murder, bullying, injury/injury detail, blood, war, colonization, drowning
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Even if we can’t see it, the sun never stops shining."
"The connections that bind us are astounding, as I’ve noted. The invisible threads weave in and around us in places and at times that we may not ever see, or that only make sense over time."
"If life is a journey to the great unknown, then death must be a journey too. And while some people might know exactly where they’re going, other people might not. Maybe they meander a little, not sure where they’re headed, or feel a bit lost. Maybe they need a map, like foreigners in a new country. They’re looking for landmarks. A compass. Instructions on where to go."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Death, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Colonisation and War
drowningamanda9269's review against another edition
4.0
i think all historical fictions have a certain sense about them that makes them so special and eerily different than any other novel you could ever read. this book was set in america during the late 1800s and the history that it told although fictitious seemed so real and lifelike. pony was a beautiful story about ghosts of the past and present. it was written so well and truly beautiful that the story fully immersed itself with you. the characters silas, mittenwool and the farmer were written exceptionally well. i would definitely recommend this book to historical fiction readers and anyone wanting to escape into the past.
reading_ladies_blog's review against another edition
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Written for YA or adult.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
litpicks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
veecundill's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I picked this up because I really enjoyed the movie of Wonder (haven’t read the book 🙈) and also because I love horses. Well it turns out that neither has a lot to do with this book which is basically a children’s Western. That said, I did enjoy this and there are some really tender heart warming moments as well as a sprinkling of action. Not sure it’s one that’ll stick with me, but enjoyable at the time.
louisa_pre's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Halte die Review auf dieser Plattform mal etwas kürzer. Die Geschichte spielt 1860. Der Anfang war etwas schwer um ins Buch reinzukommen, aber es ist super schön geschrieben. Habe Silas sehr ins Herz geschlossen. Er ist ein 12-jähriger Junge, der sich auf die Suche nach seinem entführten Papa macht und es war zum Teil echt traurig und auch etwas düster. Andererseits auch abenteuerlich und unheimlich mutig von Silas. Obwohl er oft allein ist, findet er irgendwie doch ein Zuhause.
pomeread_34's review against another edition
2.0
No he podido, ritmo lento y cosas que no he considerado importante ademas muy aburrido
gytha's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
Not the most lighthearted children's novel I have read. A touching coming-of-age story nonetheless, with a nice (and unexpected) hint of paranormal elements.