A review by bernadettebloom
Pony by R.J. Palacio
5.0
Part historical fiction, part ghost story, part non-fiction.
The book takes place in the years before the Civil War (that’s the history part). Silas’ father is a boot maker, and a photographer (the descriptions of the process and equipment is the non-fiction part) who is forced from his home one night by three riders. Silas sets out to rescue his dad, and follows on a mysterious horse that comes back for him, with a white face like a skeleton. His companion on the journey is Mittenwool, his best friend who happens to be a ghost he’s seen and known from birth (ghosty part, obvs).
This book reminded me so much of The Man from Snowy River but make the hero a kid coming of age with a horse only he can control. It’s pretty heavy stuff so 12 and older for sure.
The book takes place in the years before the Civil War (that’s the history part). Silas’ father is a boot maker, and a photographer (the descriptions of the process and equipment is the non-fiction part) who is forced from his home one night by three riders. Silas sets out to rescue his dad, and follows on a mysterious horse that comes back for him, with a white face like a skeleton. His companion on the journey is Mittenwool, his best friend who happens to be a ghost he’s seen and known from birth (ghosty part, obvs).
This book reminded me so much of The Man from Snowy River but make the hero a kid coming of age with a horse only he can control. It’s pretty heavy stuff so 12 and older for sure.