Pony by R. J. Palacio

Pony mixes elements of historical fiction and fantasy to create a memorable coming-of-age tale.

Pony by R. J. Palacio. Knopf, 2021, 304 pages

Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12

Recommended for: ages 10-14

“It was my bout with lightning that inspired Pa to become immersed in the photographic sciences, which is where this all began.”

Surviving a lightning strike that left a photographic image on his back is Silas Byrd’s one claim to fame. Otherwise he believes there’s nothing particularly noteworthy about him. His father is the genius in the family, who becomes so “immersed in the photographic sciences” that he invents his own process for capturing and developing images. The photography business earns them a nice living in Boneville, Ohio, but leads to trouble when Martin Byrd’s fame spreads to the ears of notorious counterfeiter Roscoe Ollerenshaw.

One night Ollerenshaw’s men ride up to the Byrd homestead, leading an extra horse and a white-faced pony and demanding Silas’s father come along with them. Pressured beyond resistance, Pa acquiesces, ordering Silas to stay put until he returns. As the men disappear into the forest, Silas’s companion Mittenwool seconds the warning. But when the white-faced pony returns to the homestead the boy is torn. Against all his instinctive fears, he packs a few provisions, mounts Pony, and rides away. Mittenwool comes along against his better judgement, to the boy’s great relief. His friend has particular talents: besides being like an older brother, Mittenwool is, for lack of a better distinction, a ghost.

The mid-19^th-century setting, the antique tinge of the first-person dialogue, and the dreamlike quality of the narrative make this an engrossing and original tale with the feel of a classic western. Mysteries like the origin of Mittenwool (and his unusual name), the backstory of Martin Byrd, and the provenance of the title character slowly come into focus like the daguerreotypes featured in the opening pages. Though set in a particular time period, the story walks a line between reality and fantasy with the two overlapping frequently. That line is where children come of age. Despite flashes of violence it’s a beautiful story, albeit with one consideration (see below).

Consideration:

• After the main action an Epilogue follows the characters into later life, during which one secondary character is revealed as having a homosexual (possibly platonic) relationship. It’s not part of the story and could easily be passed over.

Overall rating: 4.25 (out of 5)

• Worldview/moral value: 3.5
• Artistic/literary value: 4.5

Read more about our ratings here.                 

Also at Redeemed Reader:

• Reviews: R. J. Palacio is the author of Wonder and White Bird.
• Reviews: More for horse lovers: Storm Horse, War Horse, and Race Horse (Come On, Seabiscuit!)

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