Pony by R. J. Palacio
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Web ID: 13391326Gorgeous
I just completed Pony by R.J. Palacio. This was a middle grade novel and is a ghost story. Everything about this book is stunningly gorgeous - the cover of the bald faced horse, the writing, the setting, the characters - just everything. It is also about the loves, events and circumstances we deal with and how it is all bound together. The story is likened to True Grit and I can see the comparison. This is not True Grit. In my opinion, Pony is so much more beautiful! I recommend this to anyone and gave it 5 stars.
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Don't miss this one!
From the night in 1860 when Silas's dad is spirited away without explanation by three unsavory men, until the conclusion where all the generational threads of the story are woven together, my interest never wavered. Silas's mother died giving birth to him, and it seems that Mittenwool, a ghost, appeared and has remained by twelve year old Silas's side ever since. Since Silas is the only one who can see him, problems arise with other children so his Pa, Martin, provides his son an education, rich in poetry, ballads, literature, and science. Martin is a reclusive boot maker and photographer who has also dabbled in several inventions, including daguerreotypes, which is the process of transferring images onto paper. A few days after Pa is abducted, a bald faced horse arrives outside Silas's door, and Silas takes it as a sign to follow his Pa. Mittenwool goes with him but has serious reservations based on the fact that Silas's father has instructed him to stay home. The bald faced pony seems to know exactly the route to follow, and that includes a creepy bog inhabited by ghosts. They come upon a weathered old man named Enoch Farmer who says he's a Federal Marshal tracking a band of criminals. Applegate shares a generous author's note where she explains the symbolism, themes, and personal motivation for various aspects of the book. My favorite theme is the importance of connections and this runs throughout the plot. For example, the ghost may not know how they died, but they remember who they loved, and that connection is never broken. Genre is historical fiction with magical realism. It is difficult to identify an appropriate age group because it would appeal to a wide range of ages, especially upper middle school through adult. Would it make a good read aloud or book club selection? Yes. Is is a book I will read more than once? Yes. Highly Recommend.
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