Monday, August 31, 2015

Middle Grade Monday: Maddie's Dream

http://motherdaughterbookreviews.com/kid-lit-blog-hop-65/19841004  


Title: Maddie's Dream (Marguerite Henry's Ponies of Chincoteague #1)
Author: Catherine Hapka
Publisher: Aladdin, 2014. 91 pages (per my Nook. Paperback is listed as 224 pages).
Source: Library (digital)

Publisher's Summary:
Maddie is desperate to keep her favorite horse from being sold in this first book in a contemporary middle grade series in the tradition of Marguerite Henry's "Misty of Chincoteague." Madison "Maddie" Martinez loves her weekly riding lessons, and she loves working with her favorite horse, Cloudy, every time. So she is shocked when she finds out Cloudy's former owners might want to buy her back! Maddie desperately concocts various plans to stop the sale: maybe she can raise money to buy Cloudy herself, or what if she can make the potential buyers lose interest? Maddie's online Pony Post friends--Brooke Rhodes, Hayley Duncan, Nina Peralt, who all share a love of Cincoteague ponies--can tell something is up, but at first Maddie is afraid to tell them what's happening. If she loses her only connection to Chincoteague, will they even want to be friends with her anymore?

My Review:
This was a quick, horsey read for younger middle-grade readers. The personal issues and aspects are present, but the horse interest is, in my opinion, higher. The story is well-written, moves quickly, and proceeds without much diversion toward the expected conclusion. The tie-in to Misty of Chincoteague is tenuous, at best: the series is based on the idea of a number of tweens around the country who own, or ride (as in Maddie's case) Chincoteague ponies. The girls are on-line friends through a network Maddie has established.  The main thing I felt this book shared with Misty was reading level, and a kid who is in love with a horse over all other interests (that's pretty well in keeping with Paul and Maureen Bebee).

Maddie's problem is real enough to make young readers sympathize with her, and her solutions will seem either clever or absurd depending on the sophistication of the reader. The solution to the problem felt a little too easy to me, but in a way it was just a side-note anyway--the real story is how Maddie deals with the threat.

Recommendation:
Girls between about 8 and 11 who are horse-crazy will probably enjoy this book (and presumably the series). Any child who has read all Henry's books about Misty and her descendants will appreciate the tie-in, however tenuous, and will sympathize with Maddie's struggle to keep the horse she loves.

Full Disclosure: I checked Maddie's Dream out of my library, and received nothing from the writer or publisher in exchange for my honest review.  The opinions expressed are my own and those of no one else.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."  

8 comments:

  1. Sounds like one for me... although I really need to read the Marguerite Henry books first. I'm sure I saw a film when I was about ten or so, maybe it was based on her books? The books didn't make it into UK libraries then, at any rate. But then, I doubt whether Ruby Ferguson's books made it in US ones ;)

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    1. I thought of you when I read it! But yes, you must read some of Marguerite Henry's books. Misty at the very least! You have no idea how tempted I am to ship a few of them out to you :)

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  2. That reminds me; we need to do another 'Classic Children's Books Challenge' for 2016. Don't we?

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    1. Good idea. I have a classic coming up for next week's review. Unless I use it Wednesday, which I'll have to do if I don't get cracking!

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  3. You know, I have never read a horsey book, and I just can't see myself ever being able to, but my little G may want to, so I will have to probably change that one day. Thanks for a really succinct review and for joining us on the Kid Lit Blog Hop

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    1. I know I was really horse-crazy back in grade school, and read every horse book I could get my hands on. I knew everything about horses, in theory, and had essentially zero actual experience with them :D

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  4. Loved horses when I was younger. My daughter may enjoy this series. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts on the hop.

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    1. I think I would have been nuts over this when I was 9 :)

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