In the forests of Siberia, in the first years of the 20th century, a white pony runs free with his herd. But his life changes forever when he's captured by men. Years of hard work and cruelty wear him out. When he's chosen to be one of 20 ponies to accompany the Englishman Robert Falcon Scott on his quest to become the first to reach the South Pole, he doesn't know what to expect. But the men of Scott's expedition show him kindness, something he's never known before. They also give him a name—James Pigg. As Scott's team hunkers down in Antarctica, James Pigg finds himself caught up in one of the greatest races of all time. The Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen has suddenly announced that he too means to be first to the Pole. But only one team can triumph, and not everyone can survive—not even the animals.
Books
Kids Fiction
The Winter Pony
The Winter Pony http://www.yabookscentral.com/media/reviews/photos/thumbnail/200x285s/9b/29/6d/_WinterPony_1335701998.jpg
Author(s)
Publisher
Genre(s)
Age Range
10+
Release Date
November 08, 2011
ISBN
9780385733779
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Editor reviews
The cover of this book is what caught my attention at first. It's a beautiful picture of a white pony in the snow. I love horses and usually jump at the chance to read books that feature them but this one was a little tougher to get through. Why? Well, the story is told from the horse, who is eventually named, James Pigg's, POV and the opening reminded me a lot of Disney's, Bambi. *cries*
He's born in the wilderness but once he's captured, he's treated cruelly for the first few years of his life until he's sold to Captain Scott, an English explorer. From there, James Pigg finds himself caught up in the adventure of his life when the English and the Norwegians begin a race to see who can get to the South Pole first. While Captain Scott does his best to care for James Pigg and the other ponies, none of them can escape the cruelties of the harsh climate that end in the deaths of both men and ponies.
The story itself is interesting but again, being a horse lover, it was a tough read for me. I had intended to pass this on to my friend's daughter who is also a horse lover and whose pony, Ariel looks A LOT like James Pigg but I decided doing so might not be the best decision.
He's born in the wilderness but once he's captured, he's treated cruelly for the first few years of his life until he's sold to Captain Scott, an English explorer. From there, James Pigg finds himself caught up in the adventure of his life when the English and the Norwegians begin a race to see who can get to the South Pole first. While Captain Scott does his best to care for James Pigg and the other ponies, none of them can escape the cruelties of the harsh climate that end in the deaths of both men and ponies.
The story itself is interesting but again, being a horse lover, it was a tough read for me. I had intended to pass this on to my friend's daughter who is also a horse lover and whose pony, Ariel looks A LOT like James Pigg but I decided doing so might not be the best decision.
| Overall rating | 4.0 | |
| Plot/Characters/Writing Style | 4.0 | |
| Illustrations/Photos (if applicable) | N/A |
Not for the softhearted horse lover.
The cover of this book is what caught my attention at first. It's a beautiful picture of a white pony in the snow. I love horses and usually jump at the chance to read books that feature them but this one was a little tougher to get through. Why? Well, the story is told from the horse, who is eventually named, James Pigg's, POV and the opening reminded me a lot of Disney's, Bambi. *cries*
He's born in the wilderness but once he's captured, he's treated cruelly for the first few years of his life until he's sold to Captain Scott, an English explorer. From there, James Pigg finds himself caught up in the adventure of his life when the English and the Norwegians begin a race to see who can get to the South Pole first. While Captain Scott does his best to care for James Pigg and the other ponies, none of them can escape the cruelties of the harsh climate that end in the deaths of both men and ponies.
The story itself is interesting but again, being a horse lover, it was a tough read for me. I had intended to pass this on to my friend's daughter who is also a horse lover and whose pony, Ariel looks A LOT like James Pigg but I decided doing so might not be the best decision.
Good Points
Pretty cover, well written. Interesting POV.
Bad Points
LOTS of ponies die. :(
Do You Recommend?
Maybe
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