The Snow Pony
Alison Lester
Allen & Unwin
232p pbk
1-86448-930-8
The
Rileys live on a cattle farm, and after three years of drought, their home, and
their family, is falling apart. Among
the many problems on the farm is the Snow Pony, the brumby that young Dusty
loves. Only Dusty trusts and
believes in the Snow Pony, and the Snow Pony trusts no one but Dusty.
This
story begins with Dusty at the age of eleven, and gradually follows her life as
she becomes older. The style of
writing matures with Dusty, turning from a younger-reader style book that some
may find tedious into an older-reader style which is, over all, far more
enjoyable.
The
theme is also mature, so readers who find the very tame opening dull, may find the
adult themes and exciting situations that appear towards the end of the book
more interesting.
My
first impression of this book was that it was a horse story: about horses, for
horse lovers. However, it is much
more than that: it tells of the struggles of family life, the loss of old
friends and the finding of new, and the hard times that can be faced on a farm
during drought.
The
story is interesting, and the book is made more so by some beautiful small
photos scattered throughout.
The
language stays fairly simple throughout, and although there are quite exciting
moments, there is little suspense.
The beginning may be very boring and hard to get past for those that aren't head over heels for horses, but it's worth sticking with because it eventually evolves into an enjoyable, easy to read story with a satisfying ending.
Christine, Year 9, NSW
It goes on to tell about the terrible drought they are having in the part of Australian bush/country where she lives, how her family manage all the problems that arrive during this harsh dry summer and how she, her friends and of course her "Snow Pony" help the family through.
This is definitely a book written for horse lovers, it is about the best 'horse story' that I've ever read probably. The writer manages to really paint a masterpiece of a picture in your mind placing you right in the middle of the story. Probably for a large range of young readers, perhaps even 7-15, would understand it easily enough but would probably do well even being read three times spread over the span of these 8 years.
I thought that this book had some very tense and exciting moments and highly recommend it to just about anyone.
Isaac, 12, Sydney
The Snow Pony is an adventure/social realism book from Alison Lester who also brought us The Quicksand Pony.
The book is about a girl named Dusty. When Dusty sees a gorgeous grey mare in the high plains she has to have it, but when she does finally get it she is the only one who can approach and the mare.
Three years later drought has destroyed the Riley’s farm. Just before winter Dusty, her father and her brother ride up the high plains to muster there cattle back down to there farm before the heavy snow fall that has been predicted begins to set in, but this is not the worst of there problems, half way up the high plains the Riley’s run into a sudden eruption of violence.
The Snow Pony was an excellent book to read; it was not only interesting, but it made me feel as if I wanted to join them on there journey to the high plains. I believe this book is best for the ages 9 to 15 and recommend it to anyone who enjoys adventure, horses and action.
Carlie,
Year 9, Canberra, ACT
Alison Lester's second novel about horses The Snow Pony deserves to be a bestseller like her first novel! It is a realistic story about Dusty, her family and the brumby found by Dusty and her father Jack when they go to check on their high plains house at the start of spring. After her first glimpses of the mare Dusty is smitten by her and after she is eventually caught and trained she becomes Dusty's horse. Dusty usually has a very close relationship with her stubborn and impatient father but often he cannot appreciate this and he uses anger and alcohol to cope with problems. The family's farm is in the grip of a three year drought which is straining her parent's marriage and Dusty is expected to win showjumping prize money to help her family stay above water, however, everything does not go according to Jack's plan and this threatens everyone's security. When Dusty and the Snow Pony are called upon to save Jack, Dusty shows just how brave and tenacious she can be.
This story is far beyond the usual ‘pony’ story with strong characters in a setting which is both beautiful and unforgiving.
Kaitlin,
Canberra, ACT
