As with all of Szymanski's books, parents and other adults form strong role models for the young characters. The beautifully realistic illustrations enhance the story. I love the interaction between the older and younger sister as they alternate between getting along and bickering - just like real sisters! And the setting is so detailed, I feel like I could go to Assateague & Chincoteague Islands and feel right at home. Syzmanski provides a moral to the story when Alison and Laura find that learning to give is so much more important than getting.

When Matt and Holly find a pony frozen in the ice,they knew they needed to get help. After getting her to the firehouse and discovering she was alive, they cared for her. They could have never known what was going to happen next. This book was great! We loved it!

If you like horses, you will LOVE this book! At our house, we couldn't put it down until we finished every last word. We highly recommend it!

A young girl's compassion for an abused pony becomes an allegory for her relationship with the neighbor bully. It's a very readable tale, with enough detail to build the characters' personalities and paint a realistic setting. Young readers will be able to identify with Niki and her struggle to see the value in a "lost cause" and act on her convictions.