Fire Pony

by Rodman Philbrick

A tale of one boy's overwhelming passion and loyalty, this book combines the emotional intensity of The Horse Whisperer with the excitement and suspense of a mystery thriller. From the award-winning author of Freak the Mighty. Synopsis Everybody is welcome at the Bar None ranch, and to Roy and his big brother Joe, it seems like the ideal place to escape their past. Joe has a special way with horses and it soon becomes obvious that Roy takes after his brother when he breaks in the wild pony Lady Luck. But Joe also has a way with fire, a secret passion that Roy fears, because if Joe can't keep control, it could send their new life up in smoke.

Genres: Fiction, Horses, Young Adult, Animals, Childrens, Middle Grade, Juvenile

181 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1996

About the author

Aka William R Dantz, Chris Jordan, W.R. Philbrick.

Rodman Philbrick grew up on the New England coast, where he worked as a longshoreman and boat builder. For many years he wrote mysteries and detective novels. The Private Eye Writers of America nominated two of his T.D.Stash series as best detective novel and then selected Philbrick's 'Brothers & Sinners' as Best Novel in 1993. Writing under the pen name 'William R. Dantz' he has explored the near-future worlds of genetic engineering and hi-tech brain control in books like 'Hunger', 'Pulse', 'The Seventh Sleeper'. And 'Nine Levels Down'.

Inspired by the life of a boy who lived a few blocks away, he wrote 'Freak The Mighty', the award-winning young-adult novel, which has been translated into numerous languages and is now read in schools throughout the world. The book was adapted to the screen in 1998 as 'The Mighty', starring Sharon Stone, Gillian Anderson, James Gandolfini, Kieran Culkin, and Elden Henson.

Philbrick, a screenwriter as well as a novelist, is the author of a number of novels for young readers, including 'The Fire Pony', 'Max the Mighty', 'REM World', 'The Last Book In The Universe', 'The Journal of Douglas Allen Deeds' and 'The Young Man And The Sea'. His recent novels for adults include 'Dark Matter', 'Coffins', and 'Taken'. He and his wife divide their time between Maine and the Florida Keys.

Reviews

[Kerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A touching story about a young boy who is given a pony to train and enters a race. It's your classic horsey story with a dark undertone, as his older brother/caregiver is constantly moving them from one place to another. The older brother can be violent and prone to setting things on fire, but he is also a gifted horseman, and a good brother. He rescued his younger sibling from a life in the foster system and they are very close. I really loved the complexity of their relationship.

The ending of this story was incredibly tense and heart-wrenching, one that I keep thinking about. I had been expecting things to get quite darker but it went further than I had anticipated with both a human and an equine death. And, of course, fire.

[Kaitlyn *I Will Never Let Go* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodness. I remember this book. It is one of the few books from my childhood that I remember as anything more than a fleeting blur. This book left a lasting impression on me. I read it so many times, I could practically tell you every plot element. Even now, when I haven't thought of it, much less read it, in years, I remember. I remember Joe, who, for some bizarre reason, I wanted to be my brother, despite his obvious, erm, problems. I remember the lovely little pony and the heart-pounding last chapters. I remember beautiful scenery descriptions, an underlying sense of urgency, and this feeling that I never wanted the story to end. And I think that's the mark of a good story, isn't it? when you are counting the pages, not to see how long until it ends, but to see how much longer you have left to live in that world. So this is ultimately one of my favorite books ever, and I would be honored to read myself into its world again, even if Joe is still being chased by the police.

[Misch the Awesomest · Rating 4 out of 5]

made me cry....very very rare. lol

[Brandon O'Neill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the mark of a great writer - I love Rodman Philbrick, but just seeing this book did not interest me at all. You can count on 1 hand the times in my life I've been on a horse and I know nothing about ranching, so this book of his was not high on my "to read" list. I was wrong. The characters make it. If you have good, interesting characters, you can put them in almost any setting and it will be a good read.

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was about ten pages in when I realized how the story would end. I only kept reading to see if I was right.

Sadly, I was. Even about the bits not rooted in reality.

Can't anybody write an original horse story any more?

[Shawnee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure what to think.... I hated the ominous undertones, but I do like the ending.

[Danielle · Rating 1 out of 5]

My 8th-grade student picked this to read. It's more appropriate for grades 4-6, as far as the writing. But the story line? I don't think that's particularly appropriate for anyone.

There's an older brother who's an alcoholic and a pyromaniac, and he's "rescued" his younger brother from a foster home, but they're running from something bad that the older one did in Montana. It's a little like Of Mice and Men Jr. They go to a ranch. There is a pony. Good things happen and then very very bad things happen and then the book ends.

I did not like it one bit. I have no idea why Philbrick thought this was a worthwhile story to tell. It was both weird and boring and sad and violent.

I loved Freak the Mighty by the same author.

[Melanie Fair · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thought it was okay up until the race. If you have to make a cartoonishly evil adult to set a revenge scheme in order that doesn't completely villainize the older brother... Maybe consider other more organic ways to set Joe off, or even put more conflict into the rest of the story beyond mountain lions and storms. I'm clearly not the demographic but this book is even worse if you are, having the pyromaniac possibly alcoholic but clearly dealing with demons older brother as the caretaker for a young boy.

[Bookguide · Rating 5 out of 5]

(English below). Dit is een prachtig boek voor jonge tieners die van paardenboeken houden. Alles zit erin: het liefde voor paarden, temmen, jouw eerste pony, avontuur, spanning, een paardenrace. Maar zonder het zoetsappige van menig paardenboek. Achteraf zie ik dat de Sunday Times zei dat het leest als John Steinbeck, en dat snap ik wel: kort, krachtig met een setting in de paardenwereld van America, hard en genadeloos, de harde werkelijkheid. Het doet me denken aan Michael Morpurgo voor dezelfde leeftijd: 12-14 jaar. Aanrader. Uit het Engels vertaald.

English (read in Dutch): This is a great book for young teenagers who enjoy horse stories. It has it all: the love of horses, taming your horse, your first pony, adventure, tension, a horse race. But without the overly sweet tone of many horse books. Later I discovered the Sunday Times had said it read like John Steinbeck, and I can see what they mean: short, sharp, set in the hard, merciless horse world in America, harsh reality. It reminds me of Michael Morpurgo’s books for this age group: 12-14 years. Recommended.

[Lorie LovesBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this 3 stars not because I think it was poorly written but because I just didn't care for it, I don't think it was the right book for me. It is about a boy named Roy his brother Joe and them going to a horse ranch and working as ranch hands. The older brother has some issues, and the younger brother Roy was in a foster home, so they are enjoying a relaxing Bar None Ranch. This book was narrated by Roy and you see things from his perspective. I think if you like rodeos, and horse ranches you might like this book.

[Sarah Eagle · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like Steinbeck-esque prose but want something less convoluted, pick this up. If you liked Freak the Mighty and want more, pick this up. If you like anything to do with horses, pick this up. If you want your books to have great characters, pick this up.
If you like great books for kids and young adults, pick this up.

[Stefanie Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book at the Book Fair at school when I was a kid! I loved it so much. I must have read it one hundred times. In this book, two brothers are on the run. They wound up getting hired at a ranch, where one of the brothers is given the chance to keep a wild horse if he can break it. This book was so special to me. I am going to order a copy of this to keep as soon as possible.

[KK · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw that this book was by Rodman Philbrick, who wrote "Freak the Mighty", and knew that I had to read it. I wasn't disappointed. What a great book!

[Glorianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure what age range is appropriate. Some disturbing dysfunctional family dynamics.

[Ben · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of boring

[Ashley Hobgood · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had read this book in junior high. I liked the story because of the bond between the two brothers, Joe and Roy. I thought the novel was pretty good. It was a decent book but not a favorite.

[Mj]

Nice coming of age story until the older brother gets burned alive 🤷🏼‍♀️🥴

[Josiah · Rating 3 out of 5]

"But the thing is, you never really know what's going to happen next. Because anything can happen. Good things, bad things. And scary, crazy things, when the world starts going all to pieces just when you least expect it."

—The Fire Pony, pp. 90-91

Fire. It's the driving force behind everything about Roy's older brother, Joe Dilly, who has taken Roy on a clandestine trip across the U.S. to find a safe haven where the two brothers can find peace from the authorities that track them; peace that always eventually evaporates, but not before they have moved on to another new area of seeming safety. It's Joe Dilly's fire, really, that made it necessary to run in the first place, the result of his bouts of uncontrollable rage that burned his bridges behind him wherever they had traveled. Now, trekking across the country after snatching Roy without waiting to win legal claim to him, the brothers are forced to engage in a neverending game of cat and mouse.

Things settle down for a while when Roy and Joe Dilly serendipitously find a good home, living on the sprawling Bar None Ranch. Relatively few signs of converging law authorities spoil the idea that this could possibly be a long-term home for the semi-fugitives; in fact, the intense fire within Joe Dilly seems to have noticeably ebbed in the comfort of the friendly ranch home, as his unique talent for calming the wildest of horses quickly finds him an important niche on the homey spread. A ranch can always use the abilities of a master horse whisperer, and after a while it looks as if Roy has also inherited the gift for equine control.

Life on the Bar None Ranch is a sweet thing to behold; the writing absolutely teams with the scents of hard work and memorable times on the old frontier, the stories of ranch life practically dripping with the natural beauty of a simple existence lived communing with majestic horses. Sometimes the action is fierce and tense, while at other times the laid-back life of a modern cowboy is the stuff of dreams, enviable for the stark realism it contains just as much as for the romanticism of life on the open range.

Fire never truly dies, though; it just springs up in another location if one of its flame should be extinguished. When Joy Dilly's fire of vengeance roars up anew, inflamed by a sudden new target for his fury, the harm done in a single night could undo the good of an entire summer. Roy finds himself trapped between the new life he's been living and the old one of fear, of sneaking down back roads with Joe Dilly to avoid the detection of the cops. Now, the choice to stay or run may no longer even belong to Roy, as Joe Dilly's flameout changes the scope of everything in the form most fitting himself: fire...

Actually, Joe Dilly's anger is mostly a non-presence in The Fire Pony. Like all great writers, Rodman Philbrick allows the threat of an explosion to speak far more than the explosion itself ever could, maintaining the suspense of the situation for as long as it will last. We don't even find out very much about what caused Joe Dilly to have to swipe Roy and take him on the run in the first place; just a few basic details about the neglect of their two alcoholic parents and a few angry misdeeds committed by Joe Dilly, which led him to remove Roy from the foster home in which he had been residing and take to the open road together. It's a mixed bag of emotions from Roy's perspective, measuring loyalty to his brother against the kind of life that he hopes to lead but knows he never will, as long as they are together on the run.

As always, Rodman Philbrick's use of convincing first-person voice is nothing less than flawless. Roy is a totally convincing character with whom empathizing is an easy task, whether in the joys of victory as he tries to lead his quarter horse, named Lady Luck, to victory at the races, or in the sadness that comes as he realizes the inevitability of Joe Dilly's ultimate demise because of his personal fire. The Fire Pony is a well-written contribution to literature for young readers, one that I would recommend on nearly any level.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is one of those books that explores the tougher things in life for a child. Surely it isn't a heartwarming book and since it is geared at children, its surprising the amount of depth that it covers.

After living in foster care for awhile, Roy is sprung out of the place by his half brother Joe. Together they travel from place to place without ever staying long because of Joe's penchant for getting into trouble. But Roy doesn't mind, at least he's wanted by someone. They find themselves at the Bar None where for once they are accepted whole heartedly. Roy begins to think that maybe they'll be able to stay in one place for awhile, but that familiar fire sometimes sparks back into Joe's eyes and Roy can't get his hopes up too much. He knows that Joe is itching to do something, but he just isn't sure what it is yet. Meanwhile, Roy will just continue to love his horse and watch as his brother works his magic with the horses at Bar None Ranch.

Although this book is mostly about Roy, I think it is Joe who takes the center stage. As an adult I would probably classify Joe as being bipolar and a bit obsessive. As a child I just always thought he was one of those bad kids you read about that had a good heart but just couldn't stay out of trouble. He does certainly seem to have some demons chasing him. Roy is a standard kid, full of hopes and dreams yet wary of the future because of his brother. I liked the other characters in the story as well as they expressed the warmth and acceptance that was needed in such a dark novel.

There are a lot of hard themes in this book. Most of them are expressed through Joe's personality but there's also mention of death, drinking, and other hard topics. There's a lot going on in here for a kid to read but it all seems truthful and shows that just because someone does bad things, it doesn't make them a bad person at heart. Since the book is written from Roy's view it has a certain sound to it that is part child and part casual language. It is written like it would be spoken so there is a lot of slang and bad grammar, but that just makes it more real. And its something a kid could definitely relate to.

This book has been on my shelf for a long time and I still pull it out to read it every now and again. It explores the tough part of life, but still manages to give hope as well.

The Fire Pony
Copyright 1996
175 pages

Review by M. Reynard 2011

[Nate LeBoutillier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Assured and patient story-telling through the voice of 11-year-old Roy is masterful by Rodman Philbrick in THE FIRE PONY. The issues in the book that deal with pyromania, fatalistically-flawed brothers, the backdraft of alcoholism, and gentle and kind strangers with integral life knowledge they're willing to humbly impart and sorrows of their own were skillfully rendered into fiction. The cougar chapter and the last 50 pages were heart-thumping. Add to that that I feel like I learned plenty about horses, and, well, what more can you ask for in 174 pages (a nice length)?
Well, this: a timely and meaningful reading experience. There's no doubt that our experiences (in this case, reading a book) are colored by what's going on in our lives at the time. What's been going on with me is that I've had a tough time relating to my wife's ten-year-old son--and he's pretty clearly been more than happy to steer clear of me because I'm an adult, and, what's more, an adult who's not his real dad. But I picked this book up on a relative's recommendation (thanks Aunt Linda), started it with my "step"son on Thursday, and read some of it each day (even a few chapters with one of his derelict friends who stayed over one night and seemed, by turns, dismayed, and then intrigued, and then arrested by the prospect of listening to a book being read to him rather than playing video games or whatever you're supposed to be doing on a regular sleepover) until we finished it on Sunday night. And by the end, I felt closer to the kid, and he, at least for a few days, didn't seem so avoidant. And that's big thanks to this story that was able to speak to the both of us.

[KidsFiction Teton County Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

TCL Call #: J PHILBRICK

Chris’s Rating: 3.4 Stars
Roy (the narrator) was taken from his foster home by his half brother Joe Dilly and the two of them are on the run, partly because of Roy’s situation and partly because of an act of arson from Joe’s past. When the two come across the Bar None Ranch and Joe “breaks” an unbreakable horse, they are welcomed to stay. Roy knows it’s only a matter of time before the past will catch up to them, but he is enjoying his time at Bar None training a pony that Mr. Jessup (the owner) has said he can “break” her.
The Fire Pony is a poignant story capable of creating a lot of good discussion. Joe is a superhuman when it comes to horses but struggles connecting to humans, or controlling his temper; Roy is extremely loyal, observant (makes him a good narrator) and likable; while those who run the ranch are very accepting despite knowing very little about the two brother’s past. The story is well paced and enjoyable. Good for youth 10-13, especially boys.

[Kevin Zheng · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a really good book because it i read it on my free time and it was really interesting because it was in a really interesting way the author wrote to make you feel part of the story for example when the 2 kids go on there journey and land on a farm and the bigger one tames a horse that the other people could not tame so they stay and read on to find out what happens next....

[Charan.c · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that is book is a must read. Because the author makes the story very interesting. Even though I am more of a fantasy reader, when I read this I thought."Wow, is this what realistic fiction is? What have I been missing out all these years?" It is a really good book and I recommend it strongly for all readers.

[Danielle Singleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Good book about to brothers one older and one younger.
Who only have each other but move from place to place so his younger brother doesnt have to go to the orphange at the age of around 14.
This is a wonderful ranch book! I suggest it for anyone who likes books.

[Natasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting style of writing is used on this book. It reads like a first hand account/diary. I liked it, though some of the riding facts are incorrect, and being an animal lover I felt that it was quite unnecessary ending having the horse break its legs and die as well.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poignant little story about a boy and his brother finding some peace on a horse ranch while running from a mysterious past. There's a lot of realism and sadness in this novel without making it TOO heavy, considering the book is geared towards juvenile readers.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I found this book a bit contrived, I enjoyed it. I liked that although Joe Dilly was flawed as a human, he cared greatly for his brother. I loved how Nick treated Roy and how Roy treated Lady.

I think my students would really enjoy this book.

[Maja Jeppesen · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book just too slow for me. I felt it took forever to get to a point and more often then not, I thought I was reading a book forced on me by my school only to remember it wasn't ad then wonder why I was reading it.

[Kristen S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember this being a book that I first read independently for enjoyment and I loved it. I had received it as a gift years before I picked it up one late night to see if I would motivate sleep. This book captivated me. Great for young and older readers

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting look at barn burning.