If you are looking for something similar to Wonder, this book is not for you. Palacio's latest novel is a historical fiction book about a boy who tries to find his father after he rides off in the night with some strangers. Aided by the mysterious pony that shows up at his house and his ghost friend, Mittenwool, Silas ventures into the frightening woods. Definitely not her usual story, which will be disappointing to kids who are familiar with the author. The story, as well as the main character, is a little strange. There is also quite a bit of violence. Not something I would recommend for my elementary library.

Incredible!! I was unsure how anything could live up to Wonder, but Pony is downright genius in its own right. Very different from anything I’ve read- but it grabbed me from start to finish. Brilliantly developed, Pony has layers upon layers to peel through and discover. Presents with opportunities for powerful, meaningful discussions about what a person’s past says about them, the power of family, making hard choices, what’s real/ not real- does it matter?, the impact of social status.... I feel it would be best suited for readers grade 5 and up.

Pony by R. J. Palacio is a phenomenal read. In fact, I completely devoured this book in one sitting. The hero in this book is Silas, a 12 year old boy who was struck by lightning. That event led his dad to be a photographer. One day, some men show up at their house and want to take his dad with them. They really don't take no for an answer. His dad agrees only if they leave Silas behind and Silas agrees to stay put in their house until he returns in a week. With his father gone, Silas knows he needs to go after his father to help him. On his journey, he is joined by his ghost companion and a horse.

This is a story that is full of mystery, magic, and adventure. Palacio leads us on a journey full of twists and turns with no emotion left out. This is a beautiful book that will be loved by many.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

For fans of Some Kind of Courage by Dan Gemeinhart and The Journey of Little Charlie by Christopher Paul Curtis.
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Set in 1860, Silas finds himself staring at men threatening to take him and his Pa. His Pa, an innovator of sorts, has many skills that all go hand in hand with his very high intelligence. Pa tells the men he will go, but Silas has to stay. They oblige and take off through the woods with Pa. Silas finds himself leaning on his companion, a ghost by the name of Mittenwool, to figure out how to go save his father. Silas has no one but Pa after losing his Mom in childbirth, because of this - he heads out on this magical Pony to find these bad guys.
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An adventure that is packed with history, magic, and emotion - this is unlike Wonder if every way. This story is written beautifully and will be loved by many. I loved the language, the descriptive writing, and how much emotion was packed into this kid led adventure.

“You can travel thousands of miles, over strange lands, and still never find anything unknowable as love.”
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Twelve-year-old Silas Bird is woken up in the middle of the night to the sound of his father being kidnapped by three outlaws. Armed with only the ghost who has been with him his whole life, Mittenwool, Silas rides a horse he names Pony that was left behind by the outlaws. Pony seems to know exactly where to go to find Silas’s dad. Thus begins a perilous journey connecting Silas’s past and his future.
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If you know me, you know I’m not a huge historical fiction fan, but when RJ Palacio releases her first non-Wonder book you read it immediately. This MG novel blew me away. After taking a bit to get into it, I was hooked and couldn’t stop. Fans of Some Kind of Courage by Dan Gemeinhart will definitely enjoy Pony. This middle grade book was moving, adventurous, and will be sure to be a future classic. Pony releases 9.28.

CW: death, guns

Mystery, historical fiction, adventure
Silas lives outside of town with his father on a small farm. Silas can see ghosts and has one, Mittenwool, that hangs out with him daily. One night men show up, with extra horses including a pony, to take Silas and his father to do a job - promising to return them in a week. Silas' father goes, but tells Silas to remain here. When the pony comes back for Silas, he knows he needs to go find his father. This starts an adventure that leads to a gang of counterfeiters, sheriffs, gun fights, more ghosts, and many questions.
Narrated by Silas, a story that many will be able to relate even though it takes place in the late 1800s.

Thanks to the publisher, I received and read this as an e-ARC. If you're reading this because you loved Wonder, and want something like it, this isn't it. It's a more challenging read for children, and topically has no relation to Wonder.

That being said, I really struggled with how to rate this book. I enjoy historical fiction, particularly from under represented time periods like this one (this novel is set the 1860's). I wanted to love it, but found myself really having to push myself to read it. It moved slowly for me, and didn't pull me in. I liked the emotion of the ending, and would ultimately give it 3.5/5 stars.

You could be forgiven for expecting R.J. Palacio, acclaimed author of "Wonder," to return with a similar story for her latest novel "Pony."

However, Palacio goes a remarkably fresh direction with "Pony" while still weaving a tapestry of themes so often found in her writing including friendship, connection, and the bonds that tie us across time, place, and adventure.

Set for the most part in 1860, "Pony" centers around a 12-year-old boy named Silas whose mysterious last night adventure one night leads to disappearance of his father and Silas having to find parts of himself previously undiscovered. "Pony" is a gently paced tale that is still filled with adventure, at times a Western in the tradition of "True Grit" and other times as tender and poignant as a story such as "War Horse."

Left shaken and scared by his father's unexpected departure, Silas's only true friend is a "ghost" named Mittenwool. This remains true until Silas works up the courage to begin exploring the woods that have always scared him and he stumbles across an old U.S. Marshal by the name of Enoch Farmer. As the story unfolds, the adventure increases while Palacio never forsakes humanity for adventure. She delightfully develops the characters in "Pony" and we come to care about them as much as they come to care about each other.

There is, of course, a pony that comes front-and-center in this story and this pony becomes a key inspiration for Silas growing into the boy he is meant to be. To give away much of this rather simple, straightforward story would be inexcusable but I think it's fair to say that Palacio has written in such a way that our embrace of these characters is absolutely essential.

There are hints of the supernatural throughout "Pony," but it's mostly in the ways in which our loved ones stay with us long after they are gone and also the ways in which we connect ourselves to past and present throughout our lives. It's gentle, honest, and emotionally resonant.

"Pony" is both historical fiction and fantasy, a book targeting middle-graders that will most likely be more appropriate for those who are solid readers given references to daguerrotypes and other concepts not always understood by children of this age. It's a gently challenging read - the vast majority of the book is likely to resonate greatly as Silas overcomes doubts, his and those of others, and learns to trust himself and the world around him.

"Pony" is most certainly a different type of novel from R.J. Palacio, however, it fits easily within her relational and empowering writing and her hope-filled worldview. It's a lovely, engaging novel filled with memorable characters and exciting adventures.

R.J. Palacio masterfully writes a middle grade story with broad appeal. Set in the 1860's, twelve-year-old Silas Bird must overcome multiple obstacles while pursuing the men who took his father. This book could be a great classroom resource, and I felt compelled to research more about daguerreotypes (Silas' father was a trailblazer in the field of photography) after I had finished reading. One word of caution...Silas has the ability to see ghosts and some young readers might be disturbed or confused by this power. Overall, I highly recommend this title.

Silas's father was taken by some men to help make counterfeit money. Even though he was told to say at home, Silas embark on a journey with a Pony and a ghost to get his father back. Silas meets a sheriff that offer to help him, until he becomes injured. Read more to see if Silas and his father make it home.

Silas's father has been taken by men who want him to help make counterfeit money. Silas decides to go after the men. He meets up with a sheriff who is also tracking the men, and two of them learn to work together. When the sheriff gets injured, Silas has to go to the nearest town and convince the lawmen to help him. The three of them head off to face the criminals and to save Silas's dad.

I liked how the author showed readers the person Silas became as a young adult. It just felt a little unbalanced somehow with how long the main story took. I also don't understand why the story is called Pony or why the horse takes up the entire cover.

R.J. Palacio has a way with words. I was hooked from the beginning and read this in one sitting. I loved Silas and his willingness to try everything and to take this adventure to find his father. A lovely book, filled with history and ghosts and little sprinkles of magic.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!

A very cool historical fiction/magical realism adventure story! The inclusion of ghosts was well-done - plot-relevant and not overdone - and I enjoyed all the historical details. It took me a few pages to adjust to the narrator's voice, but then I really enjoyed it.