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Misty #4
Misty's Twilight
Misty's Twilight is part thouroughbred, part Chinoteague pony, and one hundred percent fire and talent. A direct descendant of the most famous pony ever, Misty of Chinoteague, Twilight has greatness in her blood. Now it's her turn to shine, perhaps as a cutting horse, a jumper, or in the graceful art of dressage.
Can Twilight, whose ancestors were wild ponies living on an untamed island, do it? Can she compute against the best horses in the world...and win?
Can Twilight, whose ancestors were wild ponies living on an untamed island, do it? Can she compute against the best horses in the world...and win?
144 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1992
40 people are currently reading
1493 people want to read
About the author
Marguerite Henry
124 books748 followersMarguerite Henry (April 13, 1902–November 26, 1997) was an American writer. The author of fifty-nine books based on true stories of horses and other animals, her work has captivated entire generations of children and young adults and won several Newbery Awards and Honors. Among the more famous of her works was Misty of Chincoteague, which was the basis for the 1961 movie Misty, and several sequel books.
"It is exciting to me that no matter how much machinery replaces the horse, the work it can do is still measured in horsepower ... even in the new age. And although a riding horse often weighs half a ton and a big drafter a full ton, either can be led about by a piece of string if he has been wisely trained. This to me is a constant source of wonder and challenge." This quote was from an article about Henry published in the Washington Post on November 28, 1997, in response to a query about her drive to write about horses.
Marguerite Henry inspired children all over the world with her love of animals, especially horses. Author of over fifty children's stories, including the Misty of Chincoteague series, Henry's love of animals started during her childhood. Unfortunately, Henry was stricken with a rheumatic fever at the age of six, which kept her bedridden until the age of twelve. Born to Louis and Anna Breithaupt, the youngest of the five children, Henry was a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Because of her illness, Henry wasn't allowed to go to school with other children because of her weak state and the fear of spreading the illness to others. While she was confined indoors, she discovered the joy of reading. Soon afterward, she also discovered a love for writing when her father, a publisher, presented her with a writing desk for Christmas. On the top of stacks of colored paper her father wrote, "Dear Last of the Mohicans: Not a penny for your thoughts, but a tablet. Merry Christmas! Pappa Louis XXXX."
Henry's first published work came at the age of eleven, a short story about a collie and a group of children, which she sold to a magazine for $12. Henry always wrote about animals, such as dogs, cats, birds, foxes, and even mules, but chiefly her stories focused on horses.
In 1923, she married Sidney Crocker Henry. During their sixty-four years of marriage they didn't have children, but instead had many pets that inspired some of Marguerite's stories. They lived in Wayne, Illinois.
In 1947, she published Misty of Chincoteague and it was an instant success. Later, this book—as well as Justin Morgan had a Horse and Brighty of the Grand Canyon—were made into movies.
She finished her last book, Brown Sunshine of Sawdust Valley, just before her death on November 26, 1997 at the age of 95.
"It is exciting to me that no matter how much machinery replaces the horse, the work it can do is still measured in horsepower ... even in the new age. And although a riding horse often weighs half a ton and a big drafter a full ton, either can be led about by a piece of string if he has been wisely trained. This to me is a constant source of wonder and challenge." This quote was from an article about Henry published in the Washington Post on November 28, 1997, in response to a query about her drive to write about horses.
Marguerite Henry inspired children all over the world with her love of animals, especially horses. Author of over fifty children's stories, including the Misty of Chincoteague series, Henry's love of animals started during her childhood. Unfortunately, Henry was stricken with a rheumatic fever at the age of six, which kept her bedridden until the age of twelve. Born to Louis and Anna Breithaupt, the youngest of the five children, Henry was a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Because of her illness, Henry wasn't allowed to go to school with other children because of her weak state and the fear of spreading the illness to others. While she was confined indoors, she discovered the joy of reading. Soon afterward, she also discovered a love for writing when her father, a publisher, presented her with a writing desk for Christmas. On the top of stacks of colored paper her father wrote, "Dear Last of the Mohicans: Not a penny for your thoughts, but a tablet. Merry Christmas! Pappa Louis XXXX."
Henry's first published work came at the age of eleven, a short story about a collie and a group of children, which she sold to a magazine for $12. Henry always wrote about animals, such as dogs, cats, birds, foxes, and even mules, but chiefly her stories focused on horses.
In 1923, she married Sidney Crocker Henry. During their sixty-four years of marriage they didn't have children, but instead had many pets that inspired some of Marguerite's stories. They lived in Wayne, Illinois.
In 1947, she published Misty of Chincoteague and it was an instant success. Later, this book—as well as Justin Morgan had a Horse and Brighty of the Grand Canyon—were made into movies.
She finished her last book, Brown Sunshine of Sawdust Valley, just before her death on November 26, 1997 at the age of 95.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
March 3, 2025
Well, as much as I have always adored the first three books of Marguerite Henry's Misty of Chincoteague series (Misty of Chincoteague, Sea Star: Orphan of Chincoteaque and Stormy, Misty's Foal), this fourth instalment, which was written in the 1990s, and thus many decades later, really has none of the magic of the first three novels and actually leaves me mostly rather majorly annoyed, hugely textually frustrated. And first and foremost, the reason for my annoyance (at least for me) is the unfortunate fact and truth that the author's, that Marguerite Henry's general writing style is so different from her usual offerings, so strangely distancing and strangely told that Misty's Twilight almost feels as being from the pen of someone else entirely (as there is absolutely NONE of the charm, none of the authentic seeming and sounding Chincoteague vernacular that have always made the first three novels about Misty so special and endearing, so evocative of time and place, of ponies and horses in general).
However, even the story itself, the presented themes and plot-lines of Misty's Twilight, they leave rather much (actually leave everything) to be desired. Sure and granted, I do realise that Misty's Twilight is not a book about Misty and even about the island of Chincoteague, but about Misty's descendants, namely Twilight, and that Dr. Price, the owner of Twilight, while a horse enthusiast, is also and obviously not in any way even remotely a horse expert. However, Dr. Price, as the owner of Twilight, when she basically just sends the mare off to get training, now any REASONABLE and conscientious horse or pony owner, would absolutely monitor this training and not just callously and trustingly assume that the horse trainer (that ANY given horse trainer, no matter what his or her reputation) would automatically be a good trainer and one who uses humane and reasonable training methods (and I find the fact that this obviously does not really occur until it is almost too late for Twilight more than a bit galling, and while I do of course mostly blame the unsuitable and really quite nasty trainer for using what I personally consider abusive training methods on Twilight, I also think it quite neglectful and dangerous that Twilight's owner, that Dr. Price and her children did not monitor said trainer more closely and personally attend at least a majority of the sessions). And while perhaps, I should, in fact, consider rereading Misty's Twilight in order to pen a more substantial review, sorry, but a one time perusal is all I can and am able handle (even though with the first three books of the Misty of Chincoteague series, I have reread all of them with equal and even often increasing joy at least ten if not fifteen or more times since childhood). Not recommended except for Misty of Chincoteague completists!
However, even the story itself, the presented themes and plot-lines of Misty's Twilight, they leave rather much (actually leave everything) to be desired. Sure and granted, I do realise that Misty's Twilight is not a book about Misty and even about the island of Chincoteague, but about Misty's descendants, namely Twilight, and that Dr. Price, the owner of Twilight, while a horse enthusiast, is also and obviously not in any way even remotely a horse expert. However, Dr. Price, as the owner of Twilight, when she basically just sends the mare off to get training, now any REASONABLE and conscientious horse or pony owner, would absolutely monitor this training and not just callously and trustingly assume that the horse trainer (that ANY given horse trainer, no matter what his or her reputation) would automatically be a good trainer and one who uses humane and reasonable training methods (and I find the fact that this obviously does not really occur until it is almost too late for Twilight more than a bit galling, and while I do of course mostly blame the unsuitable and really quite nasty trainer for using what I personally consider abusive training methods on Twilight, I also think it quite neglectful and dangerous that Twilight's owner, that Dr. Price and her children did not monitor said trainer more closely and personally attend at least a majority of the sessions). And while perhaps, I should, in fact, consider rereading Misty's Twilight in order to pen a more substantial review, sorry, but a one time perusal is all I can and am able handle (even though with the first three books of the Misty of Chincoteague series, I have reread all of them with equal and even often increasing joy at least ten if not fifteen or more times since childhood). Not recommended except for Misty of Chincoteague completists!
August 6, 2013
I remember this book being about Misty. Spoiler alert: it isn't. It's about a family that hopes to keep the Misty of Chincoteague legacy alive, but instead they just try to recreate the fame of Twilight's ancestor by forcing the horse to compete in tons of absurd contests, hoping she'll be famous and have a legacy.
I didn't care for the characters or the horse; they all seemed shallow and uninteresting. I also wished the book had kept with the Chincoteague trend and setting, and maybe kept us with the Beebes. Sandy Price and her kids make such a big deal about Misty, but they don't follow up on trying to preserve her memory. It's as if the book was a reminder of Misty of Chincoteague, trying to poke people and say, "Hey, hey, do you remember that famous book? Remember? Please don't forget it." It seemed a little desperate of a book, as if Marguerite Henry's publisher forced her to write a book and she had no good ideas left.
I didn't care for the characters or the horse; they all seemed shallow and uninteresting. I also wished the book had kept with the Chincoteague trend and setting, and maybe kept us with the Beebes. Sandy Price and her kids make such a big deal about Misty, but they don't follow up on trying to preserve her memory. It's as if the book was a reminder of Misty of Chincoteague, trying to poke people and say, "Hey, hey, do you remember that famous book? Remember? Please don't forget it." It seemed a little desperate of a book, as if Marguerite Henry's publisher forced her to write a book and she had no good ideas left.
May 17, 2013
First of all, I didn't like this one's lack of the Beebe's and the lack of explantion as to what happened to them. We heard Grandpa Beebe had died but what about Paul and Maureen why weren't they running the ranch?
Secondly, I feel that there was never time to really get to know any of the new characters in this book and I kept getting them all confused.
Thirdly, Twilight was not as endearing as her ancestors.
Fourthly, the whole story seemed disjointed.
Fifthly, what was up with that ending? I'm so confused. It left me feeling like this book was written more for a public service announcement or to bring back the hype that Misty had than to wrap up what is otherwise a wonderful and delightful series. I'm going to have to pretend that this one didn't exist and that the series ended with Stormy.
Secondly, I feel that there was never time to really get to know any of the new characters in this book and I kept getting them all confused.
Thirdly, Twilight was not as endearing as her ancestors.
Fourthly, the whole story seemed disjointed.
Fifthly, what was up with that ending? I'm so confused. It left me feeling like this book was written more for a public service announcement or to bring back the hype that Misty had than to wrap up what is otherwise a wonderful and delightful series. I'm going to have to pretend that this one didn't exist and that the series ended with Stormy.
November 12, 2017
It's sad: I remember really liking this (well over a decade ago, by now). But this is stiltedly written and has next to no plot, and what there is of the plot revolves around forcing a horse to find a way to perform, so that the horse can live up to her famous grandmother. It's not enough of an impetus.
And there's some really frustrating dialogue. "Do you want to work clearing kids' skin forever, Mom?" Horses! So much more important than teenagers and doctoring! That's just one example; the entire ending rubbed me the wrong way.
This also suffers in comparison to The Grey King, which I reread immediately after this. I know Marguerite Henry can write - but she didn't do very well here. And Susan Cooper can write. The contrast is remarkable (and not in a good way).
And there's some really frustrating dialogue. "Do you want to work clearing kids' skin forever, Mom?" Horses! So much more important than teenagers and doctoring! That's just one example; the entire ending rubbed me the wrong way.
This also suffers in comparison to The Grey King, which I reread immediately after this. I know Marguerite Henry can write - but she didn't do very well here. And Susan Cooper can write. The contrast is remarkable (and not in a good way).
November 1, 2016
What did I despise most about this book? The lack of the Beebe family? The constant references to the earlier books in the series? The flat characters or the absurd plot? I'll just be over here pretending this volume doesn't exist and loving the original three.
April 6, 2018
Fun read aloud. <3
September 27, 2016
I read this book shortly after reading the original three Misty books, which I also read as a child. I loved those three then, and I love them now - those books have so much to offer, with excellent stories and character development.
Unfortunately, Twilight was very disjointed and unfocused, without a clear story or goal, or even main character. Part of the problem is that this story covers almost two decades of time, which is a lot of ground to go over in a children's book.
In Twilight, Sandy Price has always dreamed of owning a Chincoteague pony, ever since she was a little girl and read Misty. As an adult, she takes her two children - who are completely uninterested - and drives to Chincoteague where they attend Pony Penning Day and buy four ponies, including one of Misty's granddaughters, Sunshine. Back home in Florida, the ponies who were purchased are basically ignored in the story until Sunshine is bred and foals - Misty's Twilight. Twilight is trained for a few different things over her lifetime, but Sandy doesn't really do any of the training, and much of the time Twilight is off having her own adventures - but the narration is stuck at home with Sandy who just receives letters or phone calls with updates on Twilight. I think the story would have been much more interesting if we had focused on Twilight instead of Sandy.
Published in 1992, I think that in some ways this book was an effort to introduce a new generation of readers to the Misty books. This was one of the last books that Henry ever wrote - she was 90 years old at the time. By this time, Wesley Dennis, the illustrator of so many of Henry's books, had already passed away, so I think this book also somewhat lacked in that area. Dennis's illustrations are so amazing, genuinely bringing so much of the story to life. While Karen Haus Grandpre's illustrations are standard, they lack the magic of Dennis's.
I have a genuine love for Marguerite Henry's books, but this one just wasn't as focused. Readers should stick to the original three Misty books.
Unfortunately, Twilight was very disjointed and unfocused, without a clear story or goal, or even main character. Part of the problem is that this story covers almost two decades of time, which is a lot of ground to go over in a children's book.
In Twilight, Sandy Price has always dreamed of owning a Chincoteague pony, ever since she was a little girl and read Misty. As an adult, she takes her two children - who are completely uninterested - and drives to Chincoteague where they attend Pony Penning Day and buy four ponies, including one of Misty's granddaughters, Sunshine. Back home in Florida, the ponies who were purchased are basically ignored in the story until Sunshine is bred and foals - Misty's Twilight. Twilight is trained for a few different things over her lifetime, but Sandy doesn't really do any of the training, and much of the time Twilight is off having her own adventures - but the narration is stuck at home with Sandy who just receives letters or phone calls with updates on Twilight. I think the story would have been much more interesting if we had focused on Twilight instead of Sandy.
Published in 1992, I think that in some ways this book was an effort to introduce a new generation of readers to the Misty books. This was one of the last books that Henry ever wrote - she was 90 years old at the time. By this time, Wesley Dennis, the illustrator of so many of Henry's books, had already passed away, so I think this book also somewhat lacked in that area. Dennis's illustrations are so amazing, genuinely bringing so much of the story to life. While Karen Haus Grandpre's illustrations are standard, they lack the magic of Dennis's.
I have a genuine love for Marguerite Henry's books, but this one just wasn't as focused. Readers should stick to the original three Misty books.
October 26, 2023
I enjoyed the middle of this book. The details about Twi's journey from cutting to jumping to dressage were as engaging as Henry typically is. It's the beginning and ending I took issue with; the ending simply leaves something wanting.
The beginning reads more like Misty of Chincoteague fanfiction. Well-written fanfiction, but fanfiction nonetheless. Note that I don't say this without love, having been a prolific purveyor of fanfiction myself up until a few years ago. I'm also aware that this book is likely the closest to being accurate out of any of the Misty books, but that doesn't make it any less aggravating to see an owner repeatedly leave her horse to the hands of trainers for months at a time, or to see a mother ignore her kids' feelings about a trip she planned for their birthdays.
The beginning reads more like Misty of Chincoteague fanfiction. Well-written fanfiction, but fanfiction nonetheless. Note that I don't say this without love, having been a prolific purveyor of fanfiction myself up until a few years ago. I'm also aware that this book is likely the closest to being accurate out of any of the Misty books, but that doesn't make it any less aggravating to see an owner repeatedly leave her horse to the hands of trainers for months at a time, or to see a mother ignore her kids' feelings about a trip she planned for their birthdays.
October 4, 2023
Maybe I just went in with the wrong expectations, because a title like “Misty’s Twilight” and knowing this is the fourth and last book of the series led me to believe that this would be all about Misty’s golden years, rather than a completely different horse. Oh well.
This book was written decades after the third installment, and it’s about a dermatologist dragging her kids to Chincoteague to fulfill her childhood dream of owning an island pony for herself. The entire first third of the book plays out as a bizarre “remember when?” of the characters pointing at things and saying something along the lines “wow, remember when this happened in the book?”
Gone is Henry’s descriptive style - “Misty’s Twilight” reads as cold and clinical by comparison. I had to double check to make sure this was the same author. It’s just so passionless.
The worst part is that the protagonist, Sandy, represents the worst kind of horse owner (aka stinking rich). She sends Twilight to a trainer for three weeks without doing any kind of background check, nor does she bother to make visits or check in on how things are going. Big surprise, Twilight ends up traumatized and emaciated by abusive training methods. A completely avoidable situation that Sandy only blames the trainer for.
It’s weird to read about a couple kids visiting taxidermy Misty in the fourth book of the Misty series, right? I’m not the only one who thinks that’s weird?
This book was written decades after the third installment, and it’s about a dermatologist dragging her kids to Chincoteague to fulfill her childhood dream of owning an island pony for herself. The entire first third of the book plays out as a bizarre “remember when?” of the characters pointing at things and saying something along the lines “wow, remember when this happened in the book?”
Gone is Henry’s descriptive style - “Misty’s Twilight” reads as cold and clinical by comparison. I had to double check to make sure this was the same author. It’s just so passionless.
The worst part is that the protagonist, Sandy, represents the worst kind of horse owner (aka stinking rich). She sends Twilight to a trainer for three weeks without doing any kind of background check, nor does she bother to make visits or check in on how things are going. Big surprise, Twilight ends up traumatized and emaciated by abusive training methods. A completely avoidable situation that Sandy only blames the trainer for.
It’s weird to read about a couple kids visiting taxidermy Misty in the fourth book of the Misty series, right? I’m not the only one who thinks that’s weird?
August 25, 2025
This is one of Henry's worst books. It begins promisingly and then soon dives into a mess. There are continuity errors (for example: what happened to the other 5 ponies bought with Misty's Twilight's dam?) The owner seems clueless as to what to do with her long-suffering and talented half-thoroughbred, half-Chincoteague pony.
The ending is confusing, convoluted and head-scratching. Misty's Twilight is to represent wild creatures (How?) even though she'd never spent one day as a wild equine. From what I gather online, Misty's Twilight spent the rest of her days quietly in a pasture after having three foals -- one by the piebald Dutch Warmblood Art Deco. She was never ridden in her last years because (according to one website) she "made it clear that she was no longer interested in such things when Dr. Price rode her one day." No other details are given.
The illustrations are incredible, if you can get a hardback. I used to have a first edition, which I sold years ago. Here's an image of a first edition cover:
This book was the inspiration for a really nice Breyer model horse, though:
The ending is confusing, convoluted and head-scratching. Misty's Twilight is to represent wild creatures (How?) even though she'd never spent one day as a wild equine. From what I gather online, Misty's Twilight spent the rest of her days quietly in a pasture after having three foals -- one by the piebald Dutch Warmblood Art Deco. She was never ridden in her last years because (according to one website) she "made it clear that she was no longer interested in such things when Dr. Price rode her one day." No other details are given.
The illustrations are incredible, if you can get a hardback. I used to have a first edition, which I sold years ago. Here's an image of a first edition cover:
This book was the inspiration for a really nice Breyer model horse, though:
January 9, 2018
I loved the Misty books when I was a child.
This one lost me when they took the much too young foal away from it's mother.
The claim was it was too young to swim back and they wouldn't let the woman buy the mare.
She was supossed to be some expert horsewoman but she just HAD to have this foal without regard IMHO of it's health and safety.
Didn't finish, extremely disappointed.
This one lost me when they took the much too young foal away from it's mother.
The claim was it was too young to swim back and they wouldn't let the woman buy the mare.
She was supossed to be some expert horsewoman but she just HAD to have this foal without regard IMHO of it's health and safety.
Didn't finish, extremely disappointed.
January 17, 2018
This one was a bummer after reading the other Misty stories. It just didn’t have the same magic. My daughter loved it but she’ll listen to a horse story any day.
June 12, 2022
This book is the last in a series, although this book is VERY loosely connected to the first three. This one is set much farther in the future with different characters and not set on Chincoteague. My son and I liked it, but not nearly as much as the first three books.
November 3, 2023
3.5 stars
Much like Sandy, I’ve been enthralled with the Chincoteague ponies since reading Misty as a child. This book gives me hope that I will someday visit Chicoteague and have a Misty experience of my own
Much like Sandy, I’ve been enthralled with the Chincoteague ponies since reading Misty as a child. This book gives me hope that I will someday visit Chicoteague and have a Misty experience of my own
November 16, 2017
My daughter enjoyed this true horse story in the Misty of Chincoteague series. Misty's Twilight is the grandaughter of Misty, born after the daughter of Misty named "Sunshine" is bred to a thoroughbred son of "Bold Ruler".
Twi, as she is known, goes on to become a champion dressage horse.
Twi, as she is known, goes on to become a champion dressage horse.
June 25, 2023
This is a sweet children's story about Misty's Twilight , a descendent of Misty of Chincoteague. Pretty detailed drawings of ponies are scattered throughout this children's chapter book.Mistys Twilight is started in various riding disciplines only to somehow not appeal to the judges even though her skill excels. The story follows Twilight finding her place as a competitor in the horseworld arena .All along she captures the hearts of her riders and family. Misty's Twilight is indeed a very special pony.
January 17, 2014
I have read other Marguerite Henry books and really liked them. They were not boring and were easy to follow. But Misty's Twilight is hard to follow and boring. The characters don't make any sense and I don't understand the beginning. It's hard to tell who the kids are and only said three names, but there are more characters than that. I don't know which horse is the red one. Trust me: don't read it!
June 16, 2018
I had read most of the Misty books as a child and wanted to see if the books held up all these years later. Maybe I chose the wrong one to read. Even a 5-year old would be frustrated by the questions left unanswered in this book.
July 9, 2024
This book was vastly different than the other Misty books. It didn’t feel as much like a story where I got to know and feel connected with the characters. Perhaps it was because it covered so many years. It was still good and rather interesting to learn about Twilight, but think more biography.
January 16, 2020
Read aloud to 4yo niece
August 18, 2021
Very good series, so fun to read. And the pencil sketch illustrations throughout are just amazing too.
August 30, 2020
What even is this terrible excuse for a book.
It doesn't feel like it's written by the same author; I've criticized some of Henry's writing before, but I've never seen it this stilted and soulless. I ... kind of hated this book, and that actually doesn't happen often.
Like most of Henry's work, this is drawn from a true story, about a woman who traveled to Chincoteague to buy some ponies, including one of Misty's descendants. And there is absolutely nothing interesting about her story.
Like the Beebes, Dr. Sandy Price has two children, Chris and Pam, who do basically nothing in the story, other than complaining their way through their first trip to pick up ponies, then bullying their mother into quitting her dermatology (?) career to take care of her horses. More realistic, I suppose, than all of Paul and Maureen's fictional heroism and devotion to their ranch, but man does that make for a boring book.
Sandy herself is dull as rocks. All she does is ship her horses off to various trainers to have them do all the work. Again, realistic, but why would you write a book about this woman?? It's also grating to see how careless she is with Twilight, the filly she breeds from the Misty-horse she bought. Henry periodically throws in something about how Sandy has a bond with Twilight and used to share apples with her, but I don't get any sense she cares a fig for this horse, other than for what she can get out of Twilight.
The plot is messy and fragmented, like Sandy's decision-making abilities. First Twilight is a cutting horse. Then Sandy decides she should be a jumper. Then she does dressage. This poor horse. And meanwhile, Sandy gets high-and-mighty about how she gives her horses freedom and treats them so well. Okay? Where is that shown, because I don't see it.
Absolutely nothing happens by the end of the book, and I just felt immensely sorry for this poor pinto.
It's weird, too; it almost feels like Henry wrote this book spitefully, perhaps to please publishers who wanted another Chincoteague story. I'm pretty certain I never read this one as a child (thankfully), but how traumatic would it be to speed your way through the Misty books, loving this horse and the Beebe family, and then come across passages like:
Sandy agreed. "And before we leave I intend to see every one of Misty's family."
"You said she was dead." This was Chris.
"She is! But not really. She lives on in her colts and grandcolts. Stormy, her third colt, is still very much alive."
"I heard that Misty is stuffed and mounted for everyone to see." This was Pam.
Christ looked scornful. "Who wants to see a stuffed horse with shiny eyes that can't even see?"
What is this??? Again: it's really weird. It seems pretty clear that Henry didn't like what folks did with Misty's legacy after her death; through Sandy, she criticizes the museum, the taxidermied Misty, and how all Misty's descendants are kept in stalls in the barn for display. Sandy, a rich amateur horse enthusiast from Florida, sweeps in to "save" one of the ponies. Who's basically never mentioned after Sandy breeds her to a thoroughbred to produce Twilight.
What of the other three ponies she bought? The two she bought for her spoiled children, who seemed to use and discard them like uninteresting toys. The tiny little 3 week old colt she named after the Pied Piper and was going to bottle feed (despite all Grandpa Beebe's warnings in earlier books). They're barely mentioned, either, because Sandy just collects horses for the clout and the headlines, I guess. And then she even managed to get a book written about her.
This book is infuriating. It barely fits with the other books and spends half its time praising the legacy of Henry's first Misty book, with Sandy and her kids regularly quoting lines from it. You're...not quoting Grandpa Beebe, Henry. That was a fictional depiction of him. You're just sliding your own lines into this later book, which really only shows the striking difference in quality.
It doesn't feel like it's written by the same author; I've criticized some of Henry's writing before, but I've never seen it this stilted and soulless. I ... kind of hated this book, and that actually doesn't happen often.
Like most of Henry's work, this is drawn from a true story, about a woman who traveled to Chincoteague to buy some ponies, including one of Misty's descendants. And there is absolutely nothing interesting about her story.
Like the Beebes, Dr. Sandy Price has two children, Chris and Pam, who do basically nothing in the story, other than complaining their way through their first trip to pick up ponies, then bullying their mother into quitting her dermatology (?) career to take care of her horses. More realistic, I suppose, than all of Paul and Maureen's fictional heroism and devotion to their ranch, but man does that make for a boring book.
Sandy herself is dull as rocks. All she does is ship her horses off to various trainers to have them do all the work. Again, realistic, but why would you write a book about this woman?? It's also grating to see how careless she is with Twilight, the filly she breeds from the Misty-horse she bought. Henry periodically throws in something about how Sandy has a bond with Twilight and used to share apples with her, but I don't get any sense she cares a fig for this horse, other than for what she can get out of Twilight.
The plot is messy and fragmented, like Sandy's decision-making abilities. First Twilight is a cutting horse. Then Sandy decides she should be a jumper. Then she does dressage. This poor horse. And meanwhile, Sandy gets high-and-mighty about how she gives her horses freedom and treats them so well. Okay? Where is that shown, because I don't see it.
Absolutely nothing happens by the end of the book, and I just felt immensely sorry for this poor pinto.
It's weird, too; it almost feels like Henry wrote this book spitefully, perhaps to please publishers who wanted another Chincoteague story. I'm pretty certain I never read this one as a child (thankfully), but how traumatic would it be to speed your way through the Misty books, loving this horse and the Beebe family, and then come across passages like:
Sandy agreed. "And before we leave I intend to see every one of Misty's family."
"You said she was dead." This was Chris.
"She is! But not really. She lives on in her colts and grandcolts. Stormy, her third colt, is still very much alive."
"I heard that Misty is stuffed and mounted for everyone to see." This was Pam.
Christ looked scornful. "Who wants to see a stuffed horse with shiny eyes that can't even see?"
What is this??? Again: it's really weird. It seems pretty clear that Henry didn't like what folks did with Misty's legacy after her death; through Sandy, she criticizes the museum, the taxidermied Misty, and how all Misty's descendants are kept in stalls in the barn for display. Sandy, a rich amateur horse enthusiast from Florida, sweeps in to "save" one of the ponies. Who's basically never mentioned after Sandy breeds her to a thoroughbred to produce Twilight.
What of the other three ponies she bought? The two she bought for her spoiled children, who seemed to use and discard them like uninteresting toys. The tiny little 3 week old colt she named after the Pied Piper and was going to bottle feed (despite all Grandpa Beebe's warnings in earlier books). They're barely mentioned, either, because Sandy just collects horses for the clout and the headlines, I guess. And then she even managed to get a book written about her.
This book is infuriating. It barely fits with the other books and spends half its time praising the legacy of Henry's first Misty book, with Sandy and her kids regularly quoting lines from it. You're...not quoting Grandpa Beebe, Henry. That was a fictional depiction of him. You're just sliding your own lines into this later book, which really only shows the striking difference in quality.
January 14, 2021
This book was such a disappointment. The kids and I have been working our way through a box set of Marguerite Henry books. We really enjoyed Misty of Chincoteague and Stormy Misty's Foal. Sea Star wasn't quite as good as those, but was still enjoyable. Misty's Twilight was so different from those that I honestly am struggling to believe that Marguerite Henry wrote it. I know it was written in the 1990s, so a substantial amount of time had elapsed between the other Misty books and this one. However, it still just doesn't make sense that an author that showed so much story-telling talent in the first three books then churned out this clunker.
The dialogue was terrible. The story was set in the 80s or maybe the 90s so it didn't have the old-time charm we enjoyed when reading the first three books. The "plot", such as it was, was dreadfully boring. It was all about horse training and trying to discover what Twilight would be best at, but the character who tells the story is doing hardly any of the horse riding and training herself. She's just shipping Twilight off to various trainers and experts to learn various skills. So effectively this book is reading about someone watching people training horses. So. Boring.
It took us months to finish this because none of us were particularly interested in it so sometimes weeks would go by while we read something else and then I'd say "Well, should we read a couple of chapters of Twilight?" and we'd read a couple but then eagerly move on to something else again.
The funny thing is, I could have sworn I read this book as a kid and enjoyed it, but obviously I'm thinking of something else because I didn't enjoy this as an adult so I don't think there's any way I would have found it interesting as a kid.
The dialogue was terrible. The story was set in the 80s or maybe the 90s so it didn't have the old-time charm we enjoyed when reading the first three books. The "plot", such as it was, was dreadfully boring. It was all about horse training and trying to discover what Twilight would be best at, but the character who tells the story is doing hardly any of the horse riding and training herself. She's just shipping Twilight off to various trainers and experts to learn various skills. So effectively this book is reading about someone watching people training horses. So. Boring.
It took us months to finish this because none of us were particularly interested in it so sometimes weeks would go by while we read something else and then I'd say "Well, should we read a couple of chapters of Twilight?" and we'd read a couple but then eagerly move on to something else again.
The funny thing is, I could have sworn I read this book as a kid and enjoyed it, but obviously I'm thinking of something else because I didn't enjoy this as an adult so I don't think there's any way I would have found it interesting as a kid.
August 17, 2013
THREE-IN-ONE PINTO TALENT
This charming story takes place long after Misty's death, but the spirit of this famous Chincoteague pony lives on--inspiring another generation of horse-loving children and adults. Down in Florida on Stolen Hours Farm Dr. Sandy cherishes a dream: to travel to the coast of Virginia to purchase some Chincoteage ponies of her own. Captivated by the MISTY book and nationally-beloved story about the little filly of Pony Ranch, she drags her unenthusiastic kids along--returning home with four ponies in her trailer.
But sSandy pins great hopes on Sunshine, a direct descendant of Misty. Working with a wise and generous horse breeder she envisions a special blend of Chincoteague and Thoroughbred. The result is a pinto spitfire filly whom she names Twilight. But which equine path will be best for
Misty's lively great-granddaughter? Should Sandy train her to be a Cutting horse--facing cows and bulls-or to be a Jumper in the show ring, or to learn the noble art of Dressage? This spunky blend of both equestrian worlds is eager and willing to try all three paths to fame.
But many years later Sandy realizes that Twilight has an even greater challenge; to help people realize the value of preserving a place for the wild things. This talented pinto will serve as a "symbol of what Nature has to offer us." A pleasant read for horse-lovers of all ages, this book reminds us of what we stand to lose if we fail to honor the legacy of Misty.
(July 29, 2012. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)
This charming story takes place long after Misty's death, but the spirit of this famous Chincoteague pony lives on--inspiring another generation of horse-loving children and adults. Down in Florida on Stolen Hours Farm Dr. Sandy cherishes a dream: to travel to the coast of Virginia to purchase some Chincoteage ponies of her own. Captivated by the MISTY book and nationally-beloved story about the little filly of Pony Ranch, she drags her unenthusiastic kids along--returning home with four ponies in her trailer.
But sSandy pins great hopes on Sunshine, a direct descendant of Misty. Working with a wise and generous horse breeder she envisions a special blend of Chincoteague and Thoroughbred. The result is a pinto spitfire filly whom she names Twilight. But which equine path will be best for
Misty's lively great-granddaughter? Should Sandy train her to be a Cutting horse--facing cows and bulls-or to be a Jumper in the show ring, or to learn the noble art of Dressage? This spunky blend of both equestrian worlds is eager and willing to try all three paths to fame.
But many years later Sandy realizes that Twilight has an even greater challenge; to help people realize the value of preserving a place for the wild things. This talented pinto will serve as a "symbol of what Nature has to offer us." A pleasant read for horse-lovers of all ages, this book reminds us of what we stand to lose if we fail to honor the legacy of Misty.
(July 29, 2012. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)
September 23, 2022
This book is practically an advertisement for Misty of Chincoteague.
I was very confused about the passage of time from this book from the first three (considering Grandpa Beebe and Misty have died) and then the way time moved in the book itself. At the end of Misty's Twilight she said it was 15 years since the start of the book and I sat there like ??🤠?? when did that happen? Overall I found the book quite boring and I believe it is an unnecessary addition to the series. The ending also felt very out of place for Sandy to want to protect Assateague as a nature preserve, when the entire book she was training Twilight to compete in many different fields and said nothing about preservation.
I would skip this read if I were you.
{~* Want to follow me? https://linktr.ee/shelbyyyyyyrrrr *~}
I was very confused about the passage of time from this book from the first three (considering Grandpa Beebe and Misty have died) and then the way time moved in the book itself. At the end of Misty's Twilight she said it was 15 years since the start of the book and I sat there like ??🤠?? when did that happen? Overall I found the book quite boring and I believe it is an unnecessary addition to the series. The ending also felt very out of place for Sandy to want to protect Assateague as a nature preserve, when the entire book she was training Twilight to compete in many different fields and said nothing about preservation.
I would skip this read if I were you.
{~* Want to follow me? https://linktr.ee/shelbyyyyyyrrrr *~}
October 25, 2011
I've always loved Marguerite Henry's wonderful world of Chincoteague ponies, but this one seemed to lack the vibrance the others held. It still had a fairly interesting plot, but I really missed the old ponies, characters, and setting. It didn't have the same magical feel Henry had incorporated in her other books.
February 3, 2023
I never thought I would give a Marguerite Henry book a bad review, but this is undoubtedly my least favorite book of hers. There is just something about the characters that makes them unlikable and unrelatable. It is a very different book than the Misty books or any of the other ones. Those books are about people who overcome obstacles, this one, they solve their problems by paying people or luck
June 29, 2020
This fourth volume of the Misty series was written almost thirty years after the third volume. It is a shame she bothered since it is a pitiful end to the series. This is a superlatively uninteresting book that appears to perform little function purpose beyond making kids hate reading.
September 15, 2021
Where was the Beebe family? Where was Misty? What happened to them all? We loved the first three books and their characters. This book is not about anyone in previous books AND the new characters have no heart or soul. I didn’t care about anything that happened in the book.
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April 20, 2011It was a good book.
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