Post by Claire on Feb 9, 2011 15:05:52 GMT 1
THE HORSE ON THE BALCONY
By JANE AYRES
MAIN CHARACTERS:
JENNI - A teenage horse-mad girl, fourteen years old
ELLA - Jenni's friend
HOLLY - A teenage girl, about sixteen
CLAIRE - Holly's younger sister, twelve years old
SMOKEY - Jenni's pony
DYLAN - Ella's pony
SETH - A homeless teenage boy
SAMURAI - Mystery palomino horse
SUMMARY:
The story begins with two girls, Jenni and Holly, devastated by two different tragedies, one involving a riding accident, the other involving Holly's little sister Claire. Both girls feel terrible guilt and find it hard to relate to other people any more. They are brought together by the fleeting glance of a beautiful golden horse on the balcony of a high rise flat. As the girls seek out the horse which they think may be in danger, they learn to move on from their troubled pasts and face a more optimistic future.
REVIEW:
This book is aimed at older teenagers, as the children are in their mid to late teens and the issues explored in the books are quite challenging.
The Horse on the Balcony is not just another teen mystery pony story. In my opinion it is - along with Transitions - the best of all the author's works, and is in fact one of the best of all the Stabenfeldt books I have reviewed so far.
Like another of the author's books Zephyr of Wild Horse Island, this story is a mixture of different elements. There is a bit of mystery and a bit of the supernatural and both a horsy character and non-horsy character. The main theme however, and one which is handled superbly, is of the two heroines learning to overcome their sorrow and guilt. All the elements are blended together seamlessly. Unlike the Pony Club Secrets series by Stacy Gregg, in which to my mind, the supernatural element never seems to sit with the rest of the story, a very similar plot device here works well. In fact when Jenni sees the ghost we are left wondering if it may in fact be a product of the trauma she is suffering, rather than a real spirit.
This mixture of elements ensures the book will appeal to a wide range of readers. The fact that one of the main characters is not horsy also means that this book cuts across the barrier into the mainstream children's book market, and I can guarantee even those who are not pony obsessed will find this book an interesting read. Those who are, will also find Holly's part of the book interesting, and worry not you horse-mad readers, she does start to become interested in horses as the story goes on!
What takes the book out of the ordinary however is the depth of the character development and the thought-provoking exploration of the themes of loss and guilt. We really feel for these characters and we are forced to think deeply about the situations the girl's find themselves in and how guilt effects a person. Ms. Ayres seems to excel at portraying unhappy and troubled characters (although if you have read some of her other books you will know she is also adept at writing in a light and chatty tone too). It is a bold move in a world where most teen characters in contemporary pony books are worried more about boys or their looks than anything of import, but this story really gives the reader something to sink their teeth into, and proves that some publishers at least are not obsessed with wrapping their young readers in cotton wool and protecting them from anything harsh or thought-provoking. However, this does not mean that the story itself is static or overly introspective - or indeed morbid. The plot moves on nicely with the mystery element of the strange horse drawing the reader along with it.
As with all the best novels, our heroines learn and grow throughout the book, partly through their contact with the mystery horse, but mainly through their relationship with each other, as they find out they are not alone in their pain. Although there are upsetting and downbeat moments in the book, the author does not wallow in them. Instead she gives the story an upbeat hopeful tone which is enhanced by the ending of the story. Perhaps the girl's problems are resolved a little too easily, but this is needed to give the book a positive conclusion and without such an ending the book would be overly dark.
Relationships are also at the heart of the book, and Jenni's relationship with her horse Smokey is seen as no less important than that of Holly's with her sister Claire. The bond that she and her pony share is seen as powerful, and even unbreakable, and her pain at the loss of him is as real as if he were human. It is stressed that both Jenni and Holly are equally affected by their traumas. I think this emphasis on the bond between girl and pony is very important, especially in a world of shallow modern pony stories where there seems to be no love at all between the characters and their horses. And I can't help but compare Jenni's all encompassing love for Smokey with another girl in a contemporary pony story (which will remain nameless!) who sells her pony so she can pay to get in a posh school! I certainly know which book I would rather a child of mine read.
In summary, an outstanding modern pony novel which although not a comfort read, is excellent for those who like to explore human emotions as well as reading an interesting story. I think it is especially suited to older readers who will get more out of the exploration of the girl's emotions and motivations.
4-5 HORSESHOES: VERY GOOD TO EXCELLENT
By JANE AYRES
MAIN CHARACTERS:
JENNI - A teenage horse-mad girl, fourteen years old
ELLA - Jenni's friend
HOLLY - A teenage girl, about sixteen
CLAIRE - Holly's younger sister, twelve years old
SMOKEY - Jenni's pony
DYLAN - Ella's pony
SETH - A homeless teenage boy
SAMURAI - Mystery palomino horse
SUMMARY:
The story begins with two girls, Jenni and Holly, devastated by two different tragedies, one involving a riding accident, the other involving Holly's little sister Claire. Both girls feel terrible guilt and find it hard to relate to other people any more. They are brought together by the fleeting glance of a beautiful golden horse on the balcony of a high rise flat. As the girls seek out the horse which they think may be in danger, they learn to move on from their troubled pasts and face a more optimistic future.
REVIEW:
This book is aimed at older teenagers, as the children are in their mid to late teens and the issues explored in the books are quite challenging.
The Horse on the Balcony is not just another teen mystery pony story. In my opinion it is - along with Transitions - the best of all the author's works, and is in fact one of the best of all the Stabenfeldt books I have reviewed so far.
Like another of the author's books Zephyr of Wild Horse Island, this story is a mixture of different elements. There is a bit of mystery and a bit of the supernatural and both a horsy character and non-horsy character. The main theme however, and one which is handled superbly, is of the two heroines learning to overcome their sorrow and guilt. All the elements are blended together seamlessly. Unlike the Pony Club Secrets series by Stacy Gregg, in which to my mind, the supernatural element never seems to sit with the rest of the story, a very similar plot device here works well. In fact when Jenni sees the ghost we are left wondering if it may in fact be a product of the trauma she is suffering, rather than a real spirit.
This mixture of elements ensures the book will appeal to a wide range of readers. The fact that one of the main characters is not horsy also means that this book cuts across the barrier into the mainstream children's book market, and I can guarantee even those who are not pony obsessed will find this book an interesting read. Those who are, will also find Holly's part of the book interesting, and worry not you horse-mad readers, she does start to become interested in horses as the story goes on!
What takes the book out of the ordinary however is the depth of the character development and the thought-provoking exploration of the themes of loss and guilt. We really feel for these characters and we are forced to think deeply about the situations the girl's find themselves in and how guilt effects a person. Ms. Ayres seems to excel at portraying unhappy and troubled characters (although if you have read some of her other books you will know she is also adept at writing in a light and chatty tone too). It is a bold move in a world where most teen characters in contemporary pony books are worried more about boys or their looks than anything of import, but this story really gives the reader something to sink their teeth into, and proves that some publishers at least are not obsessed with wrapping their young readers in cotton wool and protecting them from anything harsh or thought-provoking. However, this does not mean that the story itself is static or overly introspective - or indeed morbid. The plot moves on nicely with the mystery element of the strange horse drawing the reader along with it.
As with all the best novels, our heroines learn and grow throughout the book, partly through their contact with the mystery horse, but mainly through their relationship with each other, as they find out they are not alone in their pain. Although there are upsetting and downbeat moments in the book, the author does not wallow in them. Instead she gives the story an upbeat hopeful tone which is enhanced by the ending of the story. Perhaps the girl's problems are resolved a little too easily, but this is needed to give the book a positive conclusion and without such an ending the book would be overly dark.
Relationships are also at the heart of the book, and Jenni's relationship with her horse Smokey is seen as no less important than that of Holly's with her sister Claire. The bond that she and her pony share is seen as powerful, and even unbreakable, and her pain at the loss of him is as real as if he were human. It is stressed that both Jenni and Holly are equally affected by their traumas. I think this emphasis on the bond between girl and pony is very important, especially in a world of shallow modern pony stories where there seems to be no love at all between the characters and their horses. And I can't help but compare Jenni's all encompassing love for Smokey with another girl in a contemporary pony story (which will remain nameless!) who sells her pony so she can pay to get in a posh school! I certainly know which book I would rather a child of mine read.
In summary, an outstanding modern pony novel which although not a comfort read, is excellent for those who like to explore human emotions as well as reading an interesting story. I think it is especially suited to older readers who will get more out of the exploration of the girl's emotions and motivations.
4-5 HORSESHOES: VERY GOOD TO EXCELLENT