{"id":40505,"date":"2021-12-29T23:02:28","date_gmt":"2021-12-30T03:02:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=40505"},"modified":"2021-12-29T23:02:50","modified_gmt":"2021-12-30T03:02:50","slug":"review-of-pony-by-r-j-palacio-read-by-ian-m-hawkins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=40505","title":{"rendered":"Review of Pony, by R. J. Palacio, read by Ian M. Hawkins"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Pony<\/em><\/p>\n

by R. J. Palacio
\nread by Ian M. Hawkins<\/p>\n

Listening Library, 2021. 7 hours.
\nReview written November 29, 2021, from a library eaudiobook
\nStarred Review<\/p>\n

Wow. If you read the author\u2019s book Wonder<\/a><\/em>, you won\u2019t be surprised that she can tell a good story, but this one is completely different from that one \u2013 but completely captivating.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve got a 12-year-old narrator named Silas who lives alone with his Pa outside a small town in 1860 in the west. His Pa is a bootmaker who has figured out how to print daguerreotypes on paper. One night, some rough men come to their house and take his Pa away with them, saying they want him to help them out with a job. They bring a pony for Silas, but Pa refuses to go with them if they take Silas. He tells Silas to stay in the house and not let anyone in.<\/p>\n

When the pony comes back a couple days later, Silas takes it as a sign that he should go find Pa. Sometime in there we discover that Silas has the ability to see ghosts. And he\u2019s got a ghost companion, a sixteen-year-old boy he calls Mittenwool. Mittenwool tries to convince him to stay home like Pa told him, but Silas is determined to help Pa.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, they come across a federal marshal named Enoch Farmer who is on the track of a gang of counterfeiters. They establish that the men he\u2019s after are the ones who took Pa. The marshal helps Silas navigate the wilderness, have food to eat, and follow the track of the counterfeiters. The marshal doesn\u2019t know how much Mittenwool helps them stay on track. But when they\u2019ve found the counterfeiters\u2019 lair, an accident means Silas is going to need to get help on his own.<\/p>\n

This story had me not wanting to stop for anything. The part after the dramatic confrontation is a little long, but kids do like loose ends being tied up, so I can\u2019t really fault the author for that. And I was happy to know how things turned out for Silas.<\/p>\n

This is a wonderful yarn with danger and adventure and a kid you can\u2019t help but love, a kid who\u2019s got the smartest and best Pa in the world. And the help of a remarkable pony.<\/p>\n

listeninglibrary.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Childrens_Fiction\/pony.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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