The Fellows family has joined numerous others striving to make a go of homesteading in the Oregon high desert. But the venture has been disastrous from the start. Mr. Fellows, who is not a farmer, resents any advice from his wife, who grew up on a farm. Ma is not only troubled about the farming, but 7-year-old Ellie s chronic illness has become a source of constant worry and expense. 12-year-old Chris, who cannot seem to please his father no matter what he does, eases his own misery by stealing time away from work to watch ...
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The Fellows family has joined numerous others striving to make a go of homesteading in the Oregon high desert. But the venture has been disastrous from the start. Mr. Fellows, who is not a farmer, resents any advice from his wife, who grew up on a farm. Ma is not only troubled about the farming, but 7-year-old Ellie s chronic illness has become a source of constant worry and expense. 12-year-old Chris, who cannot seem to please his father no matter what he does, eases his own misery by stealing time away from work to watch a neighbor s scarcely broken black pony, only to get into more trouble. When it seems circumstances could not get worse for the struggling family, Fellows gets drunk and dies. Not willing to give up, Ma stubbornly and creatively seeks a way for the family to stay in Oregon. Frank Chase, an unintentional element in the death of Chris s father, is added to the mix and challenged by Ma to keep his word to help the family. The resultant dramatic and sometimes humorous contest of wills comes to a satisfying culmination when, after Frank s purchase of the wild black pony for Chris, Ma is reluctantly forced to once again use her backbone of steel for the good of all. Walt Morey s careful research and vivid storytelling talent warmly bring to life the struggles and triumphs of homesteading in the Oregon high desert country in the early 1900 s. A great family read-aloud!"
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Add this copy of Year of the Black Pony (Living History Library) to cart. $3.50, good condition, Sold by Goodwill rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Brooklyn Park, MN, UNITED STATES, published 2008 by Bethlehem Books.
Add this copy of Year of the Black Pony (Living History Library) to cart. $3.51, very good condition, Sold by Books From California rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Simi Valley, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2006 by Bethlehem Books.
Add this copy of Year of the Black Pony (Living History Library) to cart. $12.95, new condition, Sold by Eighth Day Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Wichita, KS, UNITED STATES, published 2008 by Bethlehem Books.
Add this copy of Year of the Black Pony (Living History Library) to cart. $73.11, new condition, Sold by GridFreed rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from North Las Vegas, NV, UNITED STATES, published 2008 by Bethlehem Books.
This is a well-written, sensitive novel about a boy coming of age. Both boys and girls will enjoy it. It was one of the most enjoyable children's books I've read in some time. Set in the West in the late-nineteenth (or possibly early twenthieth) century, the book details the events following the death of Chris Fellows' father. Mr. Fellows had been an alcoholic dreamer of weak character. Mrs. Fellows is a strong-willed woman of farming stock who will do what is necessary to survive. Her solution is not one that Chris would have chosen, but all ends well. "Year of the Black Pony" contains little objectionable content, but there are enough conflict, guns, and horses to keep most readers' attention for some time.
