A Pony for Keeps

Pony Pals #2

by Jeanne Betancourt, Robert S. Brown (Illustrator)

Anna will lose her pony, Acorn, if her grades don't improve. The Pony Pals help each other in school and train their ponies to jump, canter, and follow instructions.

Genres: Horses, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Chapter Books, Middle Grade, Contemporary

90 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

When I was growing up I never thought of being an author. I was a terrible speller and didn't want to write any more than I had to. I wanted to be a tap dancer when I grew up. After a few years of teaching junior high and high school, I wrote my first novel. It was a surprise to discover that I liked making up stories and writing them down. I liked it so much that eventually I stopped teaching and became a fulltime writer.

Besides novels for children and young adults, I've also told stories by writing scripts for television and the movies.

I live on the top floor of a sixteen-story building near the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. From my apartment I have a view of Manhattan that includes the Empire State Building and the Plaza Hotel. In my free time I draw, paint, and read. I still love to dance.

Some people think that a writer's life is lonely. But when I'm writing a story I don't feel lonely because I am actively involved with lots of interesting people – the characters in my books. I love knowing that some day readers will get to know these characters, too. If you are one of my readers I hope you have as much enjoyment in reading my stories as I have writing them.

Reviews

[Rosa Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a chapter book and book 2 of the "Pony Pals" series. My now grown daughter LOVED these books as a child (she begin to read them when she was about 8) and read all of the ones in the series. I found her copy of many of them and decided to try and read them to see what they were like.

It's a nice storybook of a beginning of friendship for three girls (all 5th graders) and the bond they form with each other and each of their horses. In this story one of the girls isn't getting good grades but she tries very hard. Her parents say that her pony has to be given back to the people they got him from. But after an adult neighbor visits with the little girl she realizes that she is dyslexic but had been hiding it well. After they figure out what is wrong then it helps her to understand she's not dumb and helps her parents understand that she is in fact doing her best. A really nice book to help address issues to children that they CAN talk to adults and they will understand. I can see where my daughter got 'hooked' on this series of books...

[Katt Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK the series took a more serious turn in book 2 and tackled some real learning difficulties. It seems that every series needs a dyslexia book or is that just me?

Anyway, here we get to know Anna better and find out that she's got some fairly serious problems at school that have an end result of losing her pony. Yikes! Poor girl!

I was glad to see the book come to a happy conclusion though once again there's no real strong characterization or voice that makes me want to read every book in the series. That makes me sad as I love a good horse/pony series.

Edit to add: Upon re-reading this book I feel like I might have been a little harsh. I'm going to keep going though because I feel like I know these characters better now. Could it be because I have my own ponies and maybe sympathize more with the characters?

[Hannah Conrad · Rating 5 out of 5]

After rereading a childhood favorite this year, I need to share my thoughts in this review.

A Pony for Keeps is an amazing book. It focuses on Anna discovering she has dyslexia and her struggles to do well in school, get her pony Acorn to jump, and to get her parents to understand her. Anna finds a mentor in Ms. Wiggins and outlets in art and riding her pony to help her keep going. This book shows the struggles of a undiagnosed child and how discovering the diagnosis helps Anna receive the help she needs. Anna is an especially good role model for children with any kind of diagnosis, no matter if it is dyslexia, autism, or ADHD. This is because Anna is not though of or portrayed as lesser or handicapped. She's accepted as she is and received support to help her succeed. This book is a must for any collection due to its powerful messages.

[Kaiden Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hmm. The book was well written. It was tremendous. Yeah. It was appetizing. I think that means yummy, keep it anyway. It wasn’t really yummy though. It was just a good book.

[Cair-Paravel De Loulay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nostalgia run for me. This Pony Pals book hit the shelves when I was 7 years old, though I didn't read it till my younger siblings were reading them later on. It really reminds me of The Saddle Club series as well.

Being an adult now, it flew by like a flash and had an equal amount of fun along the way. The story was neat and I hope to find other volumes laying around so I might devour them as well.

I really enjoyed it and am volunteering an honest review for the benefit of others.

[Chuyi Fang · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's such a great book! It touches my heart when I flip over the chapter that says that Acorn is about to leave.And when little girl skip the school just because she want to stay with Acorn one more day...It hurts. This book is for keep,it totally is.I hope I can get to read more chapters of it.

[Elora Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book <3 It never occurred to me how pretty diverse these books are too, considering they're 90's children's books. These are also wonderful post-sad books or very long books to read to give a breather for my brain as well.

[Kylie Abecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book is quite well done, especially with the discovery of Anna having dyslexia, though I do think more could have been explained about it to help young readers truly understand what dyslexia is.

[Brooke Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great way for introducing children to emotional difficulties in life and some children may feel very represented. I remember this book tugging on my heartstrings as a young girl and I still think about it to this day.

[Sherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ready my the series around to my five year old granddaughter. She chose this series from the library and is enjoying them.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used to love these books when I was a kid!

[L · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the series that started me reading. :)

[Mrs R Matthews]

I want to read it

[Maggie Haberman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m revisiting these books from my childhood. Extremely sweet and very lovely.

[Emma Lehmkuhl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book. I liked this book.

[Camille]

Surprisingly good rep for dyslexia considering the publish date. Not surprisingly bad response by parents to learning difficulties.

[Valentína Kuceljová]

Čítala som slovenský preklad, pekný príbeh, ale odporúčam najskôr prečítať 1.diel, lepšie prepojenie súvislosti

[JoReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Childhood favourite series (haven't read in a long time) giving all four stars unless it was a favourite as a child.

[Leeanne G · Rating 4 out of 5]

A re-read of a childhood favourite series!

I hate that Anna's parents threatened to get rid of Acorn just because Anna was struggling in school. How unfair to both Anna and Acorn! Thankfully, this is the book that Anna meets Ms. Wiggins and discovers a lot of similarities between them, including that they both struggle to read and write. Ms. Wiggins believes Anna may have dyslexia so her friends, her teacher, and eventually her parents get on board with getting her tested and figuring out a way to help her succeed academically. Acorn also has to face a sort of fear of his-jumping!

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Pony Pals series by Jeanne Betancourt. I got the first book in this series for our youngest, who is particularly horse-crazy right now. I really thought it was something that she'd love. She read it and said it was okay, but expressed zero interest in reading any more of the books in this series. I'm really not sure why. I read the book and thought it was pretty good. It's certainly more interesting than the insipid Rainbow Magic series that she loves so much.

I borrowed this book in the hopes that she'd change her mind. She didn't and chose not to read it. I read it anyway, and I liked it, but I doubt we'll read more of the books in this series.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the first book in the series certainly had its tense moments, this book really takes you for an emotional roller coaster, as Anna and Acorn have had more time to build a bond.

Anna's parents do seem a little mean in this book, and Anna's dyslexia seems pretty obvious, but a conversation with the Pony Pals makes it pretty clear Anna has been doing her best to hide her problems, and so it's still believable her parents would think she just wasn't trying hard enough--especially since this book was written in the 90's, before there was the big mental health/disorder push.

[Shylar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary- a pony for keeps is agout a girl named anna and she cant kepp he pony so the pony pals have to come up with a way to kepp annas pony


charcter trait- Anna is a very loveing and careing girl.Anna loves her horse acorn so much.anna likes to explore new stuff.


Most important event- The part that I thaught was important part was when anna went back to her barn and acorn was gone and she had to find a way to get acorn back.


recomdation-I persnoly think it was awsome book. if you like horses this is a book for you.

[Victoria Mars · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is the second in a series but a reader would be able to pick it up and not be lost without reading the first. The story is simple and offers some good lessons to young readers. One of the girls is having trouble in school and faces losing her horse because of it. Young readers who love horses or who love to ride and are facing trouble in school would love to pick this book up!

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

AR Reading Level 4.1, AR Points 2.0.

Very good book. These little books teach good values, kindness and understanding.

I am including reading level and Accelerated reading points or AR points for those of you who need that information for grade school. I used to include quiz number also. But will not be doing that unless I have requests for it. Enjoy!

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like I said if you like horses this is abook for you to read. Its about a girl who's looking for the perfect pony. I can't tell you more because I'll tell you the hole story, Mr.Mackie doesn't want me to that. I Loved It!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:)

[Twyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the pony Pals was just about to lose acorn because she wasn't good at school. But when she finally able to buy acorn to keep she found out that one of the pony bullies had this pony already and but anna didn't know but if thats why he started being bullies to pony's and the pony pals.

[Alisha Brook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pony Pals was one of my favourite "horsey" series growing up. Jeanne Betancourt has a writing skill that makes the books easy to read and interesting. I read many of the series and I was enthralled with each new story.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book my daughter read and I read after she did. This series is so wonderful...the three girls work together, figure out solutions to their problems, stick up for each other, help each other out and take GREAT care of their ponies!

[Karissa Talks Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cute book for a younger girl to read. The focus on this one is less on ponies and more on dealing with having problems in school and finding solutions. Great for a child who might struggle with schoolwork.

[Jetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anna should really believe that she can do her school work. She just needs to find her own special way to learn. Since she has dyslexic. But Anna is really good at art, she might be able to show her work by doing art.