Book Review: Pony by R. J. Palacio

 Pony

by

R. J. Palacio 

 

The highly anticipated, unforgettable new story from the internationally bestselling, multi-award-winning author of WONDER.

 

 Publisher: Penguin Random House Australia

 

Imprint: Puffin

 

Publication date: 28th September 2021

 

Genre: Middle Grade Historical Fiction 

 

Pages: 304

 

RRP: $26.99AUD

 

Format read: Hardcover

 

Source: Own copy

 

About the book

 

When Silas Bird wakes in the dead of night, he watches powerlessly as three strangers 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. But then a mysterious pony shows up at his door, and Silas knows what he has to do. So begins a perilous journey to find his father - a journey that will connect him with his past, his future, and the unknowable world around him.

 

My review

 

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!

 

My rating 5 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

About the author

 

Photo credit: Goodreads

 
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.