Pony

by R.J. Palacio

A story about a boy on a quest to rescue his father, with only a ghost as his companion, and a mysterious pony as his guide.

Twelve-year-old Silas is awoken in the dead of night by three menacing horsemen who take his father away. Silas is left shaken, scared, and alone, except for the presence of his companion, Mittenwool . . . who happens to be a ghost. When a pony shows up at his door, Silas makes the courageous decision to leave his home and embark on a perilous journey to find his father. Along the way, he will face his fears to unlock the secrets of his past and explore the unfathomable mysteries of the world around him.

Genres: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, Young Adult, Adventure, Audiobook

289 pages, Hardcover

First published September 28, 2021

About the author

R.J. Palacio lives in NYC with her husband, two sons, and two dogs. For more than twenty years, she was an art director and graphic designer, designing book jackets for other people while waiting for the perfect time in her life to start writing her own novel. But one day several years ago, a chance encounter with an extraordinary child in front of an ice cream store made R. J. realize that the perfect time to write that novel had finally come. Wonder is her first novel. She did not design the cover, but she sure does love it.

Raquel J. Palacio / R. J. Palacio is a pseudonym of: Raquel Jaramillo

Reviews

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t love it as much the second time around! I think I loved the cover more than anything. I’ll keep the kindle I got in a sale but trading in my hardback. I painted the edges a pretty blue like the eye color of the horse. Oh well!!

Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love is a journey without end. ~R.J. Palacio

Silas sees dead people. His closest friend, besides his father, is Mittenwool -- a ghost. One day three men take Silas's father away promising to return him in 24 hours. With them is an Arabian pony. When that pony returns alone, Silas and Mittenwool journey into the woods to find the missing father. Along the way, there are ghosts in the bog and deadly peril in many forms. Will Silas and his father be reunited? Why does Mittenwool's ghost remain with Silas when his own mother's did not? Why do the men think Silas's father is someone else, a criminal with a huge bounty on his head? This reminded me of True Grit and Liesl & Po. The chapter heads include black and white daguerreotypes and classic quotes from Plutarch, Homer, and Telemachus. Includes extensive author's notes on themes in the book like photography, the violin, and spiritism. This book is more suited for older middle grade readers -- definitely a more advanced text that that of Wonder. To get in the mood for this book, here is a link for the book trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSKfT...

Thank you to Random House Children's and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh man, it's been a couple of years since I've read Wonder, which I like to revisit every once in a while. I wasn't sure what to expect, because how do you live up to a book like Wonder? The answer is you don't--you write a different kind of novel. That is not to say that kindness is not an addressed theme in this book. How you treat people is definitely important. But this story was realistic fiction set in a historical setting (but fictional time and place) with supernatural realism. Because our protagonist sees and interacts with ghosts, while others just think he is touched in the head. And yet, the reality is that there may be some people (and young children) who may be able to see ghosts.

This was set around the time of the Civil War, but as I said, it took place in a fictional town and a fictional forest. Silas Bird lives with his father on the outskirts of town and besides the fact that his best friend Mittenwool is a ghost that only he can see, hear, and touch, he is also considered odd by the other kids because of his prodigious vocabulary and his knowledge of so many things, a product of his father's homeschooling. His father is known for making boots and taking amazing photographs, and for all his life, he has been a tinkerer and scientist, his accomplishments in photography a product of playing around with materials and chemicals. His mother died during childbirth so it's always just been the two of them. Until one day some bad men arrive and force his father to leave with them at gunpoint. This is the point when everything changes.

This was a story narrated by Silas as a young adult but told mostly from his 12-year-old self. In some ways, it was a slow build and reminded me a little bit of Little House on the Prairie in terms of the style. But it felt right for this story and I couldn't help but be drawn into Silas' journey. The author obviously did a ton of research, and her author's note at the end is definitely worth reading. She incorporated much of the history of photography, American spiritualism, our country's treatment of indigenous peoples (as well as other marginalized groups), the Civil War, counterfeiting, and even the photographic effects of lightning on a person. In fact, it's apparent she incorporated many of her passions in this book, including her love for old musical instruments. With so many things included in this book, it would seem like it might get out of hand, but I never felt that way. She constructed the story very skillfully and while Silas' story of how he ventures out to rescue his dad drives the entire thing, I loved how she was able to include so much in the tale. In her author's notes, she includes many recommendations for further reading, which I think is particularly awesome since this story targets middle school students.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. However, I am already planning on getting the audiobook so I can revisit Silas Bird, Pony, and Mittenwool.

[Sarah Swann · Rating 5 out of 5]

wooooo I loved this book! It's so unique. I love the western setting and the paranormal aspects that come in to play. The way the characters all connect was flawless. I was on the edge of my seat and feeling tense when there was danger..and there was danger! I loved this book so much, it's fantastic!

[podczytany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ocena: 3,5

[Liana Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I literally hugged this book and shed a few tears when I finished reading.

[Katie Ziegler (Life Between Words) · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this story so much. Cried buckets.

It felt like an historical, western, sixth sense mash-up. Strange premise but masterfully told story.

[Hayley (Backpacking Bookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

C.S. Lewis once said, "A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest" and that, to me, sums up Pony perfectly.

I read R.J. Palacio's other book, Wonder, last year and absolutely loved it. I had a feeling that Pony would be very different though and I was right - it was genre-bending, mysterious and full of adventure.

Set in 1860, Silas embarks on an unforgettable journey after his dad is kidnapped by three men on horses. Weaving his way through the forest with his sidekick, Mittenwool (technically a ghost but more like a brother) and a 'magical horse' that turned up on his doorstep following the kidnap, Silas joins forces with an agent who happens to be hunting the same men. But can the pair find Silas' father before it's too late?

I honestly thought I'd found my favourite book of 2021 until I read Pony - I had no idea what to expect as the blurb is quite vague (for good reason); I thought it would be a nice easy read with it being middle grade but it was so much more than that. Although the audience is technically children, I felt like it was written to be enjoyed by adults alike which is no easy feat for an author. The writing was simple yet engaging with witty one-liners, loveable characters (as well as boo-worthy villains), and a twist of the supernatural (something which, ironically, made the story come alive). There were a number of themes that were well researched and explored, and I love how some of the author's personal interests were woven into the story.

I'm already excited to reread this one, both as an adult and with my future child. I already know it will be a staple in our household.

Rating breakdown
Plot/narrative - 4.8
Writing style/readability - 4.8
Characters - 4.7
Diverse themes - 4.5
Ending - 4.7
Overall - 4.7

[Amber Kuehler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy moly, this was good. This will be in my top 5 books for the year and possibly one of my all time favorite books ever. It gave me Some Kind of Courage vibes which is a book I absolutely love. Definitely grab a copy of this when it comes out in September! Thank you Random House Kids for sharing an early copy with Book Expedition!

[Veronica ⭐️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you pick up a book written by the author of Wonder, you know you are going to be in for a great read.

R. J. Palacio has delivered in this wonderful historical fiction written for the middle grade reader but I'm sure will be loved by young and old alike.

Set in 1860 Ohio and narrated by 12 year old Silas. Silas was home schooled by his father where he lived with no constraints, free to be himself. We follow Silas as he ventures out to find his father after he was taken away by three armed men. Silas' companions are a stray horse, Pony, who appears to connect with Silas and urge him forward on this journey, and a ghost, Mittenwool, who is Silas' only friend.
Pony is rich in adventure, danger and suspense as Silas encounters life-altering moments and a battle for survival in the wilds of Ohio.

Silas' father is a boot maker and he also invented daguerreotypes, which is the concept of transferring images onto paper. Palacio has used real daguerreotypes and ambrotypes in the chapter openers with some characters physical attributes inspired by the photos, which gave an added visual element to the characters.

I can see Pony becoming a future classic. I could read it over and over!

Middle Graders will read Pony as a great adventure story as Silas must push himself past all his fears and confront difficult decisions. Through it all he is urged on by the love he has for his father. The older reader will see the heartbreak and love, that Silas has been brought up with, shine throughout the novel. Tissues will be required!

[Tonkica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Čisto sumnjam da postoji netko tko nije čuo za autoričino „Čudo“, bilo da se čitalo ili gledalo (istoimeni film „Wonder“ u kojem glavne uloge tumače Julia Roberts, Jacob Tremblay, Owen Wilson). R. J. Palacio napisala je i tri posebne priče kako bismo bolje razumjeli neke od likova iz „Čuda“ – „Auggie & ja: tri čudesne priče“. Od mene imate preporuke za sve navedeno!

Koliko je teško nakon takve neke odlično prihvaćene knjige i dalje uspješno i kvalitetno, dovoljno primjetno pisati? U nekom svom svijetu bih rekla lako jer se često očekivana kvaliteta pokaže kao talent, ali o „Poniju“ nisam baš viđala utiske nakon čitanja, nikakve. Kao da je prošao neprimijećen, kao da mu je marketing u Hrvatskoj nepostojeći. A sada, nakon čitanja, mogu reći da mi je zbog toga jako žao. :-( Jer ovaj mi je naslov najdraži pročitani u 2024. godini! Možda i ako navedem da sam pročitala 61 naslov prošle godine ova će izjava imati čvršće temelje.

Više o utiscima pročitajte klikom na link: https://knjige-u-svom-filmu.webador.c...

[Kate Henderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I adored Palacio's previous book 'Wonder' and it's a book I have reread multiple times. I was excited to read this book, but unfortunately I just felt disappointed (I know i'm in the minority based on the current reviews on Goodreads)
It took me a long time to get into this book, I don't know if it was the writing style or the strange mix of genres but I just couldn't get my head around it. Even when I did start following it, I wasn't really enjoying it. I didn't connect to Silas and I felt the plot a little bit jarring at times.
This really surprised me, as I said before, I adored the book 'Wonder'

This book just wasn't for me. Maybe, it just wasn't the right time for me to read it - I will try again some other time to see if I get on with it a bit better.

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pony is the latest long-awaited historical fiction novel from Palacio and the first book set outside of the world and characters of her 2012 debut Wonder. Set in 1860, we are introduced to the protagonist of the story, the introverted 12-year-old Silas Bird who is struck by lightning while standing in front of a giant oak tree and now has an imprint of it firmly and permanently on his back. He resides with his talented but reclusive father, a Scottish immigrant, bookmaker and experimental photographic scientist, as well as a friendly and protective teenage ghost called Mittenwool who is only able to be seen by Silas himself. However, one day his settled life is completely upended when three strangers on horseback arrive at the family's remote cabin near the fictional Ohio town of Boneville.

They take Silas' father with them and he promises his young son that he will be back in a week, however, the next morning Silas awakens to find one of the abductors' white-faced Arabian pony outside and takes this as an omen believing his father has sent it. So he follows the pony away from the relative safety of the farm to find his lost father who he agrees may be in trouble. He departs with the reluctant Mittenwool in tow with neither knowing exactly what they are getting themselves into. Not only does this expedition mean braving the elements it also means stymying his fear of the unknown and the darkness and treachery of the nearby time-warped woods where he happens upon a variety of unexpected and uninvited ghosts and three outlaws he comes to believe are the same people who took his beloved father. Will Silas and his father be reunited?

A captivating, richly imagined and delightfully compelling historical adventure, Pony takes readers on an exciting yet distinctly beautiful journey through the vast American landscape. It is a story of adventure, friendship and the invisible bonds that connect us, and readers will meet a young boy that only Palacio could envision. It is a story of resilience and bravery, an adventure story in the most classic of ways, part American western, part ghost story, but, at its core, it's a story about love. Silas teaches us to choose courage just as he does while embarking on his desperate search fuelled by the indomitable power of love, and in this poignant tale set against the backdrop of the 19th-century American frontier, the author weaves excitement, peril, friendship and just a hint of magic into an epic and unforgettable story for readers of all ages, which will sit alongside books such as The Book Thief, War Horse and His Dark Materials. Highly recommended.

[Elizabeth☮ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved, loved, loved. From beginning to end, I loved this book.

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read, but a tough sell: Pony is a psychospiritual Western epic about grief marketed to 12 year olds. The story is about a boy whose father is abducted by outlaws, so he sets off after them on a mysterious pony with a skull white face. The boy can see ghosts, and often receives help from the dead in one way or another as he progresses through his journey. This is a book less about plot however, and more about the big questions, the big themes, so to speak.

This is a better, more original story than Palacio's massive hit "Wonder", but I sympathize with her publishers. Pony is a strange, dark, deeply personal historical novel for kids. The striking but creepy cover and the vague title do not help it's marketability in the slightest.

I'm sure some would rather Palacio churn out feel good, Wonderesque tear jerkers for the rest of her career, but even so--this is undoubtedly a great work!

I give it 4.5 stars, very ambitious and it fell just short of the "classic kids book" mark for me.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW.
Do not read the jacket copy.
Do not judge this book (as not-for-you - like I did) by its cover.

Pick this book up right now, and read it. I loved it. I immediately ordered a copy for my shelves forever.

I couldn’t put it down, and I hugged it by the end. What a stunning story.

[Erica Keckley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hate it when this happens. Absolutely everyone seems to love this book, but it was just average for me. This felt too much like a western to me, and it reminded me a little of Dan Gemeinhart’s Some Kind of Courage, which I far preferred. Bummer.

[Mridu aka Storypals · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so heartwarming!

I read it just at the right time, all the comfort, warmth, and love that I needed. I got it.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stand back and watch this book show up on everyones lists of the books of the year. Deservedly so. This is a wonderful adventure and mystery, the story of Silas whose Dad is taken away one night by some very bad guys. They believe that Silas's dad is a famous counterfeiter, Silas knows this can't be true. Silas is left all alone with only his invisible friend Mittenwool for company and to offer him advice. Of course he can't stay home, he needs to find his dad and when a pony turns up, he takes the chance and races off to find him. And now our adventure begins, there is everything in here, dastardly criminals with no conscience, an unlikely hero who helps Silas on his quest, ghosts, loyal beasts and kind souls.

This book is such a fabulous treat. A real adventure with a solidness that makes you believe utterly in the characters. I cried and laughed and re-read the ending. I just didn't want it to be over. This novel cements for me that this author is one of the pre-eminent writers for kids. Her books are such treats, she writes thoughtful, interesting books with wonderful characters. I'm so looking forward to the next one.

[crίѕтίŋα•●Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ●• · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars ⭐️

“Memory is a strange thing. Some things come to you crisp and bright, like fireworks on a long black night. Others are as dim and fuzzy as dying embers. I have always endeavored to provide order to my memory, but it can be like trying to put lightning in a box.”
- Silas Bird

——

“Death is different for everyone. Just like life is. People see the world they believe in. ”
- Mittenwool

——

“I have come to believe: some souls are ready to depart the world, and some are not. That’s all there is to it.”
- Silas Bird

——

“They’re loves. Even when they didn’t remember their own names, they always remembered who they loved. That, I’ve learned, is what we cling to forever. Love. It transcends. It leads. It follows. Love is a journey without end.”
- Silas Bird

[Muffinsandbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Euuuuh je l’ai dévoré en fait ??! C’était très addictif, un peu lent au début, mais étrangement accrocheur. Plein de mystères mais aussi de poésie et de douceur, c’est un roman tout en contraste que j’ai pris beaucoup de plaisir à découvrir. Une histoire de western, mais pas que.

[Dolceluna ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

R.J. Palacio è l’autrice del celebre “Wonder”, da cui è stato tratto anche un film. Non mi spiego, sulla scia della sua popolarità, come mai questo suo altro romanzo sia così poco ricercato, addirittura la mia è la prima recensione italiana qui su Goodreads…e, a vedere che al suo acquisto hanno regalato una lampada da lettura in omaggio, mi si è stretto un po’ il cuore. Mi sono immaginata il romanzo sotto forma di un pony, quello ritratto in copertina, che nessuno voleva. Bollato come il più banale young adult, poi!
Ma pazienza.
A me, “Pony” è piaciuto molto. Ambientato nell’America di fine 1800, è una storia d’avventura e di formazione che non manca di toccare le corde più emotive di chi legge, esattamente come “Wonder”, anzi, oserei dire più di “Wonder”. Silas, il dodicenne protagonista, è un ragazzino molto sveglio che prende il cuore in mano per affrontare un viaggio non privo di insidie: la ricerca del padre, rapito da una banda di falsari banditi, sullo sfondo di un suggestivo Far West. Ad accompagnarlo saranno Pony, un bellissimo e arguto pony bianco e dagli occhi azzurri, a sua volta fuggito dai banditi, e Mittelwood, il fantasma di un giovane ragazzo che solo lui può vedere…eh già, perché proprio come il noto Ricciardi della serie di De Giovanni, anche Silas ha il dono maledetto di poter vedere alcuni morti di morte violenta e che ancora non sono pronti per andarsene del tutto. Lungo il tragitto non mancheranno incontri inattesi, sparatorie e inseguimenti, salti nel buio, sorprese e dolori. Silas è un personaggio straordinario, cresce con noi, sfida la fame e l’incredulità degli adulti, diventa uomo col suo coraggio e con la sua intelligenza.
R.J. Palacio ha scritto un gran romanzo che, sinceramente, non mi sento di consigliare solo ai ragazzi, ma a tutti. Devo poi forse soffermami sulla meravigliosa edizione Giunti, in cartonato con sovraccoperta ruvida al tatto?
Gioia per gli occhi, gioia per le mani…Wonderful!

[Stephen the Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

R J Palacio has created another moving story that should enthral, fascinate and in many ways educate readers.
Set in 1860s America, Pony tells the story of Silas who sets out on an adventure to find his father who has been taken by thieves to undertake counterfeit activities. Silas has never left home before and we soon discover that he has an extraordinary ability ( no spoiler) On his quest he is accompanied by Pony, a horse that escaped from the thieves , and who befriends Silas, He is also meets up and travels with Marshal Farmer ( their growing friendship is beautifully described) and by his side is his trusted friend Mittenwool.
The journey to find his father describes forest life in difficult terrain. The discovery of his father brings two further people into the tale - a Sheriff and his Deputy- both wonderfully formed characters. This is a fascinating story as interwoven through the book is the story of photography ( Silas’ fathers talent) and black and white daguerreotype imagery adds a further dimension to the book.

This is a story about survival, transformation and connections to our roots and family ( Silas has never known his mother ) . R J Palacio is never afraid to confront issues and life’s trials .

An adventure story with heart . This is different to Wonder and White Bird but there is a thread about survival in challenging circumstances and finding your own identify and future path.This may well become another classic.

Lovers of Katherine Rundell’s and Emma Carroll’s stories set in different historical periods will certainly find this book gripping

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy

[Betterinabook · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is weird. I felt like it was trying to be too much and ended up being a muddled disjointed mess. I didn’t connect to the characters, none of it felt authentic to me, the writing style was jarring, and the conclusion… well I was just happy it was over. Like I said it was a weird mishmash of stuff and should’ve been 2 different books. It is a western adventure with a boy who sees ghosts (that don’t all obey the same rules btw) that is trying to be literary fiction for kids, with some random spurts of political rants/activism that never came up again and had nothing to do with the rest of the story…also the pacing was way off. I’m kind of at a loss for words because Wonder was so good. I’m just confused, and mad that I wasted my time reading this.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

[Julie Schaefer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is for sure one of my top books of the year 🥹🤍

[vvenika.books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5/5 ⭐ Były elementy, które bardzo mi się podobały (końcówka top!), ale przez większą część książki było po prostu ok, nie zachwyciła.

[Boyschool · Rating 2 out of 5]

I never appreciate when a book meant for children, in this case a middle grade book, uses its platform to advance a hidden agenda, in this case the homosexual movement. A Christian parent could pick this book up for their child, thinking it’s just a cute book, somewhat western, with an underlying ghost theme, and a beautiful father and son relationship. Only to arrive at the very end of the book and be told that one of the characters is a gay man. I don’t introduce my children to this lifestyle, and I don’t appreciate it being “hidden” in a book meant for children. The Author's Note at the back of the book makes specific reference to an historical effort to “decriminalize homosexuality”. It is not up to you, author, to indoctrinate my children to your way of thinking. It is my job, as a parent, to raise my child up in the way I see fit. I’m disappointed in your using this platform, as a children's author, to push your agenda. I don’t recommend this book, and my children won’t be reading it.

[Skip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like most others, I think this book pales in comparison to RJ Palacio's brilliant first book, Wonder, which I think should be mandatory reading in all schools. Pony did not impress me, because Silas Bird was not a great character; Pony's role was better, but too limited in my opinion. Set in 1860 in a Western rural town called Boneville, a rural outpost in the West, we meet 12 year-old Silas, who decides to search for his father, who was kidnapped to work for wealthy and well-known counterfeiter, ignoring the pleas of his imaginary friend, Mittenwool. Travelling through the dark woods, he meets an elderly marshal, who tries to deliver him back to safety, but is eventually convinced to let him join him in tracking down his father and the outlaws. When the marshal is injured, Silas goes in search of the local constabulary, who are not inclined to believe his wild story. Subsequent events require a healthy suspension of disbelief.

[Marcella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Een filmisch avonturenverhaal, zo wordt Pony– het nieuwe boek van de auteur van het veel gelezen boek Wonder, R.J. Palacio – aangekondigd. Een boek over Silas, wiens vader midden in de nacht wordt meegenomen door een geheimzinnig clubje. Hoewel zijn vader belooft dat hij snel terug zal komen, slaan al snel de twijfels toe bij Silas. En als de volgende ochtend een geheimzinnige pony voor de deur staat, rest Silas geen andere keuze dan achter zijn vader te gaan.

Klinkt als het begin van een klassieke western toch?

Ja, dat dacht ik dus ook. Maar de eerste zin, “Het was mijn botsing met de bliksem waardoor pa zich in de fotografische wetenschap ging verdiepen, en zo is dit allemaal begonnen.”, deed mij toch vermoeden dat ik een heel ander boek voor mij had liggen.

Want ja, Pony is een western. En toch is dit boek ook alles behalve dat.

Lees mijn volledige blog op www.booksandmacchiatos.com!