THE SNOW PONY

A somewhat incoherent adventure set in Australia’s plains. Dusty, 11, is thrilled when her father catches the wild Snow Pony and brings her to their farm for her horse-trainer mother to break. Despite careful work, Snow Pony retains a savage streak, yet she and Dusty win prizes galore—fortunately, since drought has reduced their cows and their income to gauntness. Dad guzzles beer; Mom rages; brother Stewie withdraws. Snow Pony is Dusty’s only constant. Part Two is a story of a different color. Dusty and Stewie accompany their sobered father on a cattle round-up. After a series of accidents, Dusty and a friend must ride for help out of the snowy bush—Dusty on Snow Pony. Crisp writing and terrific adventure scenes propel the reader (but for an Aussie glossary!), but it’s neither a whole story nor only one story; the layers mingle, and lack suspense. Still, horse lovers will persevere. (Fiction. 10-15)