Francis Kalnay

A Newbery Honor book from the late 50s. It was the era when multiculturalism was big in the Newbery winners - at least if it was from a culture in the Americas or China... And teaching some trivia about Argentine ranch culture is about all this book has going for it. There is very little story, and what there is of one is pretty bland, with one dimensional characters that you don't really care about. And the titular horse isn't even a character at all - just a prop in the story. Recommend skipping this one.… (meer)

Despite the fact that it won the Newbery Honor, I am not impressed with this book. The characters are very shallow, and there is practically no conflict.

So Pedro gets himself a wild pink pony, and yet the first time he gets on the horse, it is merely described as such: "Pedro got up earlier than usual one morning - long before Juan got up. In fact, he made quite certain that Juan was asleep. Then without the customary blind-folding or the use of the kicking strap, he jumped on Chucaro's back" (33). The following sentences jump to several days ahead. ... That's it?! No planning, no nervousness, no excitement, no worry, not to mention the fact that Chucaro's reaction is not described. So Pedro got up one day with a subconscience plan made up on the spot, practically, to get on his new, wild horse for the first time ever, and without any pertinent thoughts or feelings he jumps onto Chucaro... and did Chucaro buck or accept Pedro's being on him? And depending on which he did, what were Pedro's feelings about it? Determined or surprised? Did Pedro clamber back on or see his error after being bucked, or did he merely sit on complacent Chucaro or urge Chucaro to trot or gallop?

It explains at the beginning that Juan raised Pedro as opposed to the Vaquero, Pedro's own father, yet no reason is given. And when Juan and Pedro leave, so that Pedro can keep Chucaro, why is it that Pedro doesn't appear to feel any emotions when he and his father see each other for the last time? Pedro loves the Pampas more than his own father - "No, you can't say adios to each blade of grass" (110)

The descriptions of the Pampas have the heaviest tone and emotion in the entire book, and the setting is certainly described very well, especially geared to younger readers, yet the Pampas have no purpose related to plot, character, or theme, other than that the story is in a part of South America where wild horses live.

As a story about a wild, pink, South American pony, the story is sparsely done.

As a story about a boy named Pedro, whose mother is dead, who is being raised by a man other than his father, and who becomes the owner of a wild, pink pony, the story is flat.

As a story set in the Pampas, though, the reader is left knowing quite a bit about the Pampas and can see it in his mind's eye fairly well, even if... in fact especially if he is a younger reader.… (meer)