The Snow Pony

At 13, Janet has no friends at her new school. Her mother seems too busy to understand how lonely she is, and Janet misses her best friend, Maria. Then strange old Mr. Flower hires her to help retrain Pearl, the pony he bought for his nephew--even though Janet doesn't know anything about horses. Almost against her will, the girl gains self-confidence and a better understanding of other people's feelings through her after-school sessions with Mr. Flower and Pearl. Unlike most horse stories, the novel does not celebrate the glory of all things equine, but focuses rather on Janet's maturation and the minor tragedies at school and home. A quiet and thoughtful story, it will likely comfort readers like shy Janet herself. Ages 9-12. (June)