PANKY IN THE SADDLE

by Nancy Saxon ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 18, 1984

Less buoyant than Panky and William (1983), and hamstrung by structural problems: a more conventional horse-and-family situation drama. Instead of letting Panky, now ""almost eleven"" and eating less/losing weight, get on with the story of her saving involvement, as a dud-newcomer in posh Old Forge, Conn., with dud-horse William, Saxon leads off with a cutesy ""journal"" line-up (Relatives, Friends, Clubs, and Organizations), a needless explanation for the journal (in lieu of a diary, to focus on ""learning to ride""), and a straight recap of what-went-before (that will spoil Panky and William for those who haven't read it). Then Panky has her first riding lesson--shaming herself before Fox Run regulars Tiffany and Caroline (whose class she shouldn't be in, horsey readers will think); wondering if sole friend/groom's daughter Katie, on a difficult horse, is really a good rider. We see little, thereafter, of how Panky learns to ride--except, too-soon, how she learns to ride William. Rather, we see her satisfaction in getting riding togs, in looking better and better in them--along with her discovery that Tiffany and Caroline and nemesis #3 Melanie all have Problems. Meanwhile the family cloud-on-the-horizon materializes: her father loses his steel-executive job, his morale plummets, he regrets moving his family to Old Forge, he gets ready fora second start in Wyoming--as Panky shifts from panic and martyrdom (she'll give up William), to resourceful coping (a way for him to earn his keep). Then Dad comes home with a job; Mom, who's made a quick, gallant shift from concern with ""doing the right thing"" in Old Forge to becoming a caterer, and Panky will both pursue their endeavors regardless (Dad classes them his ""liberated women""), and all ends almost too blissfully in a burst of mutual appreciation and self-understanding. A drop-off from the blunt self-awareness of the first book; still, sufficiently likable and active to keep pages turning.

Pub Date: April 18, 1984

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Atheneum

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 1984

Categories: FICTION