I could not put this book down, I ended up losing sleep because I could not stop reading. Now if you think this story is about a pony it isn't it really is about a boy, a boy that can see ghosts now the pony is an important part of the story. but the story is mainly about this strange boy and his quest to find his father after he is kidnaped. The book is much different then what I normally read but I am telling you it is good. The way the chapters are set up, the pictures, the way the story is told is just a work of art. I can't wait to get this book into the library and see what the students think!

This is a fantastic novel of a completely different genre than R.J. Palacio's debut hit, Wonder (also amazing). Pony is an adventure story set in the 1800s and features a twelve year old boy, Silas. The time period, setting and relevant details required research to feel historically accurate and R.J. Palacio does a thorough and impressive job. The dialogue also rings true for the time and the novel feels nostalgic because it's a story that takes place many years ago. Silas has the ability to communicate with ghosts which contributes in many ways to the plot. There are memorable characters - both villains and friends, some living and some already parted. I loved the measured tone of this novel and the character of Silas who is an earnest and kind boy. At the heart of the story is love and remembrance, family and survival - timeless themes that never grow old.
I highly recommend this gem of a book.

Silas lives a solitary life with his Pa and companion Mittenwool, a ghost. His life is shattered when a group of men come to his house in the middle of the night to take his father away. Silas promises to stay put. Then, the pony that accompanied the strangers returns, and he feels compelled to seek out his father. Thus starts a thrilling and mysterious journey that leads Silas out of his sheltered childhood and towards the edge of a new, treacherous world.

Pony by R.J. Palacio is as haunting as it is enthralling. Palacio’s talent for creating memorable characters and thought-provoking conflicts is on full display. The writing itself is simply exquisite. Still, there are plot points where a reader must blindly accept some odd developments in order to uphold the narrative’s mystical atmosphere. Verbose monologues and lengthy descriptive passages also may tax some readers’ attention, especially in the beginning. By the end, though, the mystery of Silas’s story will motivate all to keep turning pages deep into the night.

The beauty of Pony is that it is nothing like Palacio’s mega-sensation, Wonder. That is a good thing. It stands out for being different and highlights Palacio’s versatility and storytelling chops. Therefore, educators will surely encourage young people to read the novel. It contains several avenues to explore the history of the time period in which it is set. It will also keep students engaged throughout due to mystery elements embedded in the narrative. In fact, a cross-curricular photography project may just be the perfect opportunity to use the novel as a lens for viewing change across the past and present.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher, Knopf Books for Young Readers, for an eARC of this book.

I definitely appreciate that Palacio's true follow up to Wonder is nothing like Wonder. It's set in the 1860's and is kind of a father/son story with a touch of the supernatural. It's also kind of a Western, but kind of a mystery too. I'm not sure how to feel about this book. On one hand, the characters were well written and the plot was interesting enough. However, there were some pacing issues throughout and, if I'm being honest, I felt unsatisfied by the ending. Also, I'm not sure why the book is called Pony. Pony has his moments, but this is Silas's story. All in all, this book is worth your time and I take my hat off to Palacio for doing a 180 and not writing a piece of mindless formula fiction just because she struck gold with Wonder.

Silas is 12 years old just before the Civil War. Outlaws take his father away. Pa orders Silas to stay inside. A pony comes, so Silas decides to go into the Woods to search for Pa. He is accompanied by Mittenwool, a combination of an imaginary friend and a ghost.

Silas, just like the boy in the movie Sixth Sense, sees dead people. While reading this book, I kept thinking how great a movie it would be.

Each chapter opens with a daguerreotype and a short quote from an old book. Palacio, in her author’s notes at the end, tells she collects daguerreotypes and ancient books. She explains the history of photography and violins, among other loves that she inserts in her book.

Love is a theme. When the dead people talk to Silas, “even when they don’t always remember their own names, they always remember who they loved. .... Love. It transcends. It leads. It follows. Love is a journey without end.”

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Childrens, Knopf Books publishers. I plan to order this book for my grandson.

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.

This is a beautifully written story from the author of Wonder about a boy who risks everything to find his father after being he is kidnapped. Silas is about to find out that people in his life might not be who he thinks they are including the ghosts he can see and talk to.

A very different book from the author of Wonder. This is a good book for discussion for middle grade readers. It is a beautiful story with an ending that does not disappoint.

PONY is bound to become an instant classic. I was enthralled by the first line and it kept my heart racing all the way through. Although PONY is the namesake of the story, the main character, Silas, captured my heart. His spiritual connection carried such depth and heartfelt intimacy that it gave me goosebumps. So many mysteries, hidden treasures, and reveals to be found on every page. I loved it! I pre-ordered as many copies as my wallet would allow for guided reading with my fifth grade students. I'd love additional copies if it's in the stars. Here's a link to a Jamboard I"m working on for it. These are just the frames for the first 70 or so pages. https://twitter.com/GiftedTawk/status/1439214127461945359?s=20 Thank you for publishing such a treasure. It's a title that should be on every teacher's "must-read" list.

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.

This is the book I will recommend to all of the readers in grades 5-8, or even older (I loved it!), and especially to the boys who loved Gary Paulsen's Hatchet or Cynthia DeFelice's Weasel. . A twelve year old boy is on a mission to save his dad, who has been kidnapped by counterfeiters. His journey, taking place in the 1860's, takes him through unmarked trails with the help of ghosts and an amazing pony. It is a a page turner. that will not disappoint.

I don't read much middle-grade fiction anymore, but when I saw Pony (and its author Palacio), I couldn't pass it up. I wasn't disappointed. Pony's appeal reaches much farther than the middle school population.

The book is magical and no specific time period is given that I could find, but it seems like it must be the mid-1800s, given the photography element. Silas and his father live an isolated life. His father, though uneducated, is very scientific and is working on a photographic process using chemicals beyond the common daguerreotype. Some mysterious men visit and want to take Silas and his father away so his father can help with some nefarious scheme requiring chemicals. His father negotiates with them to leave Silas, and he will come with them willingly. Silas is to stay put.

But the next day, the pony that Silas was supposed to ride reappears, and Silas vows to find his father, even though it requires entering the deep, scary woods that aren't far from their home. Fortunately, he is always accompanied by his invisible friend, Mittenwool. Mittenwool has been with Silas for as long as he can remember, and he doesn't know why, but he provides a lot of comfort.

Silas meets a U. S. Marshal in the woods who is hunting for some counterfeiters. Silas is convinced these are the men who took his father and convinces the Marshal to let him come along. So begins a big adventure, and Silas must be very brave.

The best part for me is that once the part about Silas' father is over, there is still much more to the story. We learn about Silas in the future--and about his past. Somewhere I read that the crime you think happened isn't really the crime. Well, that's not entirely true, but there is much more to the story than just counterfeiting.

So I think that is all I'll say. The story is rich with details that I haven't mentioned, but given the author, I'm sure you can be confident in this selection. I recommend Pony to pretty much everyone.

I was eagerly awaiting Pony by R. J. Palacio because I loved Wonder so very much. It is very hard to compare the two though because they are very different books. Pony is a western adventure story with bits of magical realism whereas Wonder was realistic fiction. Silas, the main character, is a 12 year old boy who lives alone with his father, but he can see spirits and has a spirit friend whom he calls, Mittenwool. In the middle of the night, Silas and his father are visited by three men who bring along horses, including Pony, They leave with Silas' father and when Pony returns to the house alone, Silas ventures off with Mittenwool alone to track and find his father. This book is full of bravery, adventure, drama, mystery, love and loyalty and shouldn't be missed for those students who love action and adventure.

There are not a lot of westerns being written for kids and this definitely qualifies which "bad men" sheriffs, the idea of posses, etc. There is a quest, a young protagonist who sees and talks with ghosts and has been less than courageous in the past, but when his father is forced to go off with some potential 'bad guys, he follows his gut and goes after him, feeling his father's need. The adventure is slow moving at times but worth the journey as the resolution is fitting. There would be lots to discuss if this book was used for a book club.

I received an electronic ARC from Random House Children's Publisher through NetGalley.
A different style novel than we've seen from Palacio. Silas is a typical child in many ways with the unique ability to see and hear ghosts. In fact, his only friend is a ghost named Mittenwool. His dad shields and protects him in their out of the way cabin. Early on, some strangers come and force his dad to go with them. Silas decides to follow and the adventures begin. He braves the woods and the unknown voices within to rescue his dad. Mittenwool and he encounter a federal marshal who reluctantly agrees to have him come along to capture the outlaws who took Silas's father. The title character, Pony, is a beautiful and unusually marked horse who comes back for Silas and stays with him throughout the action.
Palacio blends reality with the mystical and readers may have some surprises along the way. The book flows smoothly and is a quicker read. Middle grade readers will appreciate the twists and reveals though they may figure some parts out as they move through the story.

Today I book talked this soon to be released title to over 100 8th grade students telling them it's a must read! At the start of the story, Silas' father is taken away by 3 nefarious strangers and when Pony arrives back at the cabin, Silas knows there is something wrong. He embarks on a dangerous journey with Pony and his only friend (a ghost) called Mittenwool as a companion. He meets unexpected characters and challenges along the way. I was a bit surprised at the outcome of this story and want to warn of the violence within. Still, I know this will be a winner and enjoyed by middle grade readers and up. R. J. Palacio has created another gem! Thanks to Net Galley for allowing me to preview this book.

R. J. Palacio's latest is captivating. It is the story of a boy on a quest to find his father who has been kidnapped by a small band of unscrupulous men. Silas Bird and his best friend, Mittenwool, wake up in the middle of the night to a group of three armed men on their doorstep. These men want to take Silas and his father; they have even brought a white faced pony for the boy to ride. But the father refuses to go unless they leave Silas at home. He makes Silas promise to stay at the house (which is in the middle of nowhere Ohio) until he returns. But when the white-faced Pony shows up all alone, Silas decides his father must be in trouble and sets out on a quest to find him. With Mittenwool. Who is, by the way, a ghost.
I have been pondering exactly what genre fits Pony. It is a bit supernatural because it has ghosts but it is not overly scary. It is historical because the story takes place just before the Civil War - when people still rode everywhere on horseback. And some historical facts are discussed. It's also a bit of a mystery because there are a lot of unknowns that are resolved by the end of the book. It's realistic fiction because it is the story of the relationship between a boy and his father. But mostly it's a quest story which is why I would mark it an adventure. With a sprinkling of mythology and ancient literature thrown into the mix. The dog's name, for example, is Argos. And Silas considers any number of names for Pony (such as Bucephalus, Alexander the Great's horse). But none of the names seems to suit as well as Pony.
I think it would make an excellent read-aloud for a classroom of 5th/6th graders. There is a lot to discuss; the chapters are short; and no one is going to want to stop reading it once they truly get into the story.
And then there are the antique photographs sprinkled throughout the chapters and sections. The author explains those in her note at the end!
Thank you to the publisher for an e-galley!

I could not get the book to download but I needed to remove it from shelf. Looks great but technology....Maybe they could have put it was a kindle..

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a DRC of this title for review. All opinions are my own.

I'm not sure what rock I have been living under to not realize that R. J. Palacio, author of the astoundingly popular Wonder, had another book about to be published, but it must have been a big one. I only discovered this book the other day when browsing the Scholastic website to prep for our upcoming book fair, and this immediately grabbed my attention. I love the cover, and I liked the idea of a book by Palacio that wasn't part of the "Wonder-verse."

This book definitely delivered. It was just the middle grade book I have been looking for and one that I will definitely be ordering and recommending to all of my building teachers. I might even buy a copy for my 6th grade son's classroom. It is an adventure story (Silas has to go through the wilderness to track down his father after he is abducted by a group of outlaws); it's a ghost story (Silas's best friend is a ghost); it's a coming of age story (there is a clear before and after to Silas and his life and his narration of it is beautiful).

One published review of this book (I'm looking at you Kirkus) mentions that the depiction of Silas and his horse Pony is unrealistic. That as a "novice" rider, he couldn't possibly ride the way the book describes it. This book is magical realism and that is such a minute detail in the rest of the story, it should not be a consideration when thinking about this book.

Verdict: This is probably a first purchase. Besides the obvious name recognition and pull of the author, it's a good story.

This was a very powerful story that I read in 2 days. I quickly connected with the main character, Silas, who is on a quest to find and save his father who was taken by bandits in this story that is set in the past. Silas can see and talk to ghosts which is an interesting twist to this tale. This is the story of Silas, on his adventurous journey through the scary Woods and of the people who help him along the way. It is the story of mother who loves him very much but is no long with him. It is a story of the power of love that never dies. Even when the physical body might pass, the power of love carries over into the next life. Being a Science teacher, I liked all of the Science references in this book too. Some people are trying to compare this book to Wonder. Pony and Wonder are 2 very different stories. I don't think you can compare them or choose one over the other. Both are very powerful with their own unique messages. RJ Palacio's books always pull at my heart strings and I hope my middle school students will feel the same way when they read this new story, which I will recommend to them. Special thanks to NetGalley for letting me read an advanced copy of this book. #Pony #NetGalley