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Marguerite Henry's Misty Inn #1

by Kristin Earhart, Serena Geddes (Illustrations)

In this first book of a chapter book series inspired by Marguerite Henry’s Misty of Chincoteague, siblings Willa and Ben Dunlap begin their new life on Chincoteague Island.

Ten-year-old Willa Dunlap and her eight-year-old brother Ben are new to Chincoteague Island, but it’s a homecoming for their mother, who grew up there. Willa and Ben’s parents are busy planning the opening of their bed and breakfast, which gives the kids free rein to explore the island. But with so many new people and places to get used to, will Chincoteague ever feel like home?

Genres: Chapter Books, Childrens, Horses, Friendship, Middle Grade, Juvenile, Animals

128 pages, Hardcover

First published June 16, 2015

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was surprisingly rather lovely! It has a gentle, almost old-fashioned feel that I found a welcome change from many of the present-day children’s books about present-day kids – it’s a little bit like The Penderwicks in that regard. You know it’s present-day, but kids aren’t on computers or texting, they are outdoors, engaging with animals and nature, making their own fun. Parents and grandparents are present and loving but also allow the children some autonomy. Mom and Dad are opening a bed-and-breakfast; Grandma is a veterinarian. Brother and sister have a few squabbles but are generally supportive and amicable. I haven’t read the Marguerite Henry books since I was a child so I can’t really say how well these books reflect the tone of those, but I appreciate that references are made to Misty and the other horses of Chincoteague and that the author fully acknowledges Henry’s books were the inspiration for the series. Overall, I was rather charmed and look forward to the rest of the books in the series. My boys also enjoyed the read-aloud and asked for more in the series. Though the cover art shouts “girl book” and the main character is a girl, the brother is present throughout and there’s also a neighbor boy. It’s not jam-packed with adventure, but it will probably appeal to kids who want a gentle animal story without too much peril.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding entertaining horse stories for young chapter book readers is challenging. After reading the Breyer Stablemates titles they'll always ask for more horse stories. Welcome Home the first title in the Misty Inn series meets that unfulfilled need with a delightful tale about a family moving to an old home on Chincoteague Island. The children are sad to leave their friends and old home in the city, and are apprehensive about the move. However, feelings change when horse loving Willa spots a new visitor at her grandmother, a veterinarian's, farm. A creamy butterscotch pony with a gorgeous cocoa mane and tail arrives unexpectedly. This wholesome tale depicts a young family realistically, whom readers will relate to, in this entertaining, attractively illustrated chapter book series opener.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a girl named is Willa and have a brother named Ben. They moved to Chincotegue and her grandmother owned a shelter for horses and one series is about when Willa tried to be friend with the horse named Misty Inn.
FUN FACT: There are a lot of series in just one book.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute children's series book #1 set on Chincoteague Island. It has a nice family story that will be fun for most kids. I think children from around here (Maryland) whose families have vacationed at Chincoteague will especially love these books.

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book follows a girl named Willa and her brother Ben. They're moving with their parents from a city to a small island where her mom is from and where her grandparents live. She's not happy and doesn't want to go, but the one saving grace is that they have horses. Her parents are going to open a bed and breakfast and I really wanted more about that and their life, but this is really just about the grandparent's horses and adding a new horse to the group. There is some body shaming in this book and I didn't love that at all. If I could take out that paragraph, I would definitely pass this on to my daughter, but as it is I don't think I will.

[Angelika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read read chapters with great illustrations that match the story. Will, 10 and her brother Be, 8, move with their parents to Chincoteague Island where mom grew up to open a B&B, be closer to grandparents and maybe to also to remove the quiet Ben from a situation with bullies. The parents initially don't want pets, which is just silly, since they have a barn and grandma is a vet. Soon they make friends with a real chincoteague pony and also the neighbor kids. I liked the story, Willa and Ben get along great, and the family interactions are realistic.

[Renata Shura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gentle read for beginner readers. The only thing that bothers me is that the depiction of long gravel driveways and huge three story houses on many acres isn’t very authentic. Maybe a hundred years ago, but not these days. And draft horses on the island…none that I know of. Registration papers…that’s not really a thing either. And when they went for ice cream, it should have been either Mr Whippys or Island Creamery. It kind of makes me think the author had never been to chincoteague.

[Beth Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read aloud to Gwen. It was fun to have the Chincoteague ponies featured in a younger kids book. The story took a while to really develop, but we will try the second book because Gwen really enjoyed it. This would be a great pick for young horse lovers.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story about a little girl working through the transitions of a move and building a friendship.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet story about an area close to us!

[Liana Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is fun, and I love horses so it's a great book. I love the horse Starbuck and I think everybody should read this book.

[Isabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do not judge me I cannot go to a library and desperate times calls for desperate measures.

[Courtney Boynton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read with Chase! Now to read the rest in the series.

[Reagie Mac · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn’t like it because it didn’t have much that was interesting.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. It referenced the Misty books, but that may have been a mistake because I wanted the feeling those Misty books give me. This was not that. It was fine.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Willa Dunlap and her younger brother, Ben, are nervous about moving to their mother's hometown of Chincoteague, where their parents will open a bed and breakfast. Everything on the island is so different from what they're used to! However, when their grandmother, a veteriniarian, takes in a new horse called Starbuck, Willa falls in love with him, and suddenly she realizes that living on Chincoteague might be exciting after all. There is always a high demand for horse books, and though there are many at the middle grade level, there aren't as many for the lower elementary grades. This book fills that gap with a wholesome family story which lacks the mean girl drama of series like Saddle Club and Canterwood Crest and is a bit easier to read than Catherine Hapka's Ponies of Chincoteague titles. Kristin Earhart is proving to be a welcome new voice in the world of fiction for 2nd to 4th graders. I look forward to seeing what else she comes out with in the future!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read for Misty fans!

My daughter and I love the Misty of Chincoteague books, so when I saw this book, I knew we had to read it! It sweetly blends the nostalgia of the old books with the new characters facing every day challenges like fitting in, bullying, moving and friendship!

[Dolores · Rating 4 out of 5]

Willa and her family have just moved to Chincoteague Island, where her parents are busy opening a bed and breakfast. She doesn't have any friends yet, but fortunately she has her brother and trips to her grandparents' house--where there are plenty of animals to keep her happy, including horses. Very cute.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter loved this book as a nightly read aloud. We live about a hour from Chincoteague Island, the setting of the story, so it made it even more relevant for my six year old. This series is a perfect stepping stone to the Misty books by Marguerite Henry.

[Fox Lake District Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Radical Readers thought this book was GREAT! We talked about Assateague island and how they thought the wild horses got there. We also talked about Misty the horse and many of the kids want to watch that movie now.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

The lure of the ponies of Assateague never diminishes. This new series could create a revival of interest in Misty. Plus the message of this book itself is pretty good on its own.

[Taelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like that there is a new horse and her name is Starbuck, which sounds kind of like the candy Starbursts.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Moving to their mother's hometown on Chincoteague Island..." Reading that much was enough for me to choose this book. It's well-written, and I love the connection to Marguerite Henry. AR 4.0