The first time that ken McLaughlin sees Flicka galloping past him on his family's Wyoming horse ranch, he knows she's the yearling he's been longing for. But Flicka comes from a long line of wild horses, and taming her will take more than Ken could ever have imagined. Soon, Ken is faced with an impossible choice: give up on his beautiful horse, or risk his life to fight for her.
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
Review
For very different reasons, this, too, is a book which should prove easy selling in days when most fiction presents a problem. A story of a boy and a horse (a ??earling filly, to be exactly and of how each helped bring the other through to greater matually. The publishers suggest an analogy with The Yearling. Personally, ?? felt is somewhat closer to National Velvet in its appeal. It is the story of an eleven year old boy, at odds?? with his father whom he never seems to please, but this is offset by a very perceptive mother. The boy lives in a perpetual daydream - his one intenas desire that he have a colt of his own, though he is allowed to ride virtually any horse an the ??. The whole action of the story takes place against the pattern of a ?? devoted to rela?? blooded horses, out in Wyoming. At last his wish is granted, and he shoo?? his yearling, against all advice. The story is centered on the process of winning "Flleka" and of proving the rightness of his choice, against terrific ?? There is acarcely?? any touch of sentimentality - there's plenty of action - there's a vigorous picture of the activities, the heartbreaks, the psychology of life on the ranch. High percentage readability. (Kirkus Reviews)
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
Mary O’Hara was born on July 10, 1885, in Cape May Point, New Jersey. She was a screenwriter during the silent film era and wrote several novels, including the range country trilogy My Friend Flicka, Thunderhead, and Green Grass of Wyoming. She also authored a novella, The Catch Colt, and Wyoming Summer, based on her diary of sixteen years. She died on October 14, 1980.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
68 of 68 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Long relegated to the ranks of children's books, My Friend Flicka is indeed a wonderful story for a thoughtful child. I first read it at the age of 9, and have read it many, many more times throughout my life.
As a 9-year-old, I loved the story of the sensitive boy, Ken, and his filly Flicka, who has questionable bloodlines and does not meet with the approval of Ken's stern rancher father, Rob McLaughlin. Boy and horse must surmount that initial disapproval and all sorts of other challenges as they struggle and grow together.
But on another level entirely, My Friend Flicka is the story of a marriage that is so real, so adult, and so compelling, that any adult can appreciate the story. In a nutshell: Rob McLaughlin, a former captain in the Army (this was written shortly after World War II), is struggling to make a success of his Goose Bar Ranch, where he raises thoroughbreds in the rugged Wyoming countryside. His wife, Nell, is a blueblood from the East whose apparent fragility masks an inner strength that is Rob's lifeline. A delicate-looking beauty, Nell nevertheless can deliver foals at midnight, weather all the storms that ranching throws her way, and still feed a hungry crew of workers three times a day.
Rob and Nell's marriage is strong and passionate. But their one bone of contention is their second son, Ken, a daydreamer who simply does not fit the mold of Rob's ideal son. Older boy Howard is the perfect McLaughlin: athletic, strong, personable, talented, outgoing. Ken is slight, small, quiet, sickly, and above all, a creative dreamer. But when he sets his sights on a horse of which his father strongly disapproves, Nell fiercely backs his choice. And Ken begins to grow as a man--in his own way and in his own speed. And Rob learns some strong lessons about being a man, a father, and a husband.
If you have never read this book, or if it lives on your child's bookshelves, give yourself a treat. It's much more than you think.
36 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
(Note: This review gives away some elements of the story. I do not believe that it will spoil it for anybody, but am warning you as you are the best judge of that.)
Many of the reviewers below have said that this is a must read for anybody who loves horses. Goodness knows they're right, but I'm just writing (as one who is only a very mild fan of horses) to say that it is just as much of a must read for anybody who likes people.
This book is about a sensitive 10 year old boy who is misunderstood by his authoritarian, ex-military father, and struggles to live up to the high standard set by his older brother. His continued failures drive him further and further into the dream world that is their cause. He dreams of having a horse of his own to be his friend (his father owns a horse ranch).
The plot really gets interesting when his mother convinces his father to give him a horse, which she believes will teach him responsibility, and -- to his father's dismay -- he chooses one of the wildest, most unmanageable fillies on the ranch. The remainder of the book unfolds what the boy (as well as his father) learns about life, and his developing relationships with both his father and his horse. I will go no farther in revealing the plot.
This book will be appreciated by horse lovers for obvious reasons. I hope I have been able to show a little of why it will also be appreciated by anyone who enjoys good literature with a good plot, or is a student of human nature or of good writing.
Finally, a word on style. While O'Hara's style is not unique to the extent that Barrie's, Tarkington's, or even Joyce's is, it is highly enjoyable, perfectly fitted to the content, and well above average. The book is the kind that is genuinely fun to read, one of those books that you can't put down, and the reading as well as the plot of which will provide a pleasant memory.
-Stephen
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
On the Goose Bar Ranch in Wyoming, between the World Wars, former Army captain Rob McLaughlin and his Eastern blue-blood wife, Nell, are raising two sons and an ever-growing herd of thoroughbred horses. Rob, a stern but loving father, doesn't know what to do with younger son Ken. The boy daydreams constantly, and for that reason just failed to be promoted at his boarding school. Why should Rob give small Ken a colt of his own, as he already has older son Howard, when Ken can't do anything that demonstrates he's responsible enough to be trusted? Yet a colt is what Ken wants more than anything else in the world. Until he finds out what happens to male horses when they're two years old - after which he decides he'd rather have a filly.
Not just any filly, though. Flicka, born to the half-wild mare called Rocket. Flicka is faster already than her sire, the ranch's stud horse Banner, and Ken believes he'll be able to train Rocket's "bad blood" out of the yearling. Rob thinks his son is (to use his word for it) dumb, for a lot of reasons that now include choosing this filly that Rob is sure will turn out to be just as "loco" as her dam. Untrainable, and downright dangerous to those who try to handle her.
This novel is a perfect example of the type of children's classic that, when read by adults, proves to have depths and layers its target audience never perceives. I know I read it as a young girl, and enjoyed it as both a good "horse story" and coming of age tale. But in reading it again now, I was amazed by the detailed and multi-faceted characters of Rob and Nell. Their love story is one of the most interesting I've read, because the author not only captures the tensions between these two very different people - she also captures the way that raising their children, who are (for better or worse!) a blending of those differences, affects their relationship. No wonder this book is still in print more than 60 years after it was first published. Simply wonderful!
Not just any filly, though. Flicka, born to the half-wild mare called Rocket. Flicka is faster already than her sire, the ranch's stud horse Banner, and Ken believes he'll be able to train Rocket's "bad blood" out of the yearling. Rob thinks his son is (to use his word for it) dumb, for a lot of reasons that now include choosing this filly that Rob is sure will turn out to be just as "loco" as her dam. Untrainable, and downright dangerous to those who try to handle her.
This novel is a perfect example of the type of children's classic that, when read by adults, proves to have depths and layers its target audience never perceives. I know I read it as a young girl, and enjoyed it as both a good "horse story" and coming of age tale. But in reading it again now, I was amazed by the detailed and multi-faceted characters of Rob and Nell. Their love story is one of the most interesting I've read, because the author not only captures the tensions between these two very different people - she also captures the way that raising their children, who are (for better or worse!) a blending of those differences, affects their relationship. No wonder this book is still in print more than 60 years after it was first published. Simply wonderful!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Read It Many Times
I read this book many times when I was ages 10-12. The western setting of a Wyoming ranch appealed to me, and I liked and felt I understood the characters: father Rob McLaughlin,... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Ohioan
Not your average "horse book"...
It's somewhat of a shame that this book is often grouped with other "girly horse books" like "Misty of Chincoteague" and the Black Stallion books, because, as good as those are (I... Read more
Published 8 months ago by rundustyrun
"Bloodlines"
If I were told I could only pick two books to take with me to Eternity, it would be difficult indeed, even agonizing, but in the end, it would have to be "My Friend Flicka" and... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Strawgold
flicka
The merchant was on time shipping the book `My Friend Flicka` and it was packaged ok. I knew it was used and it did arrive used which I did some repair before giving it to my... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Linda Fox
One of my all time favorite books
It's not often that one can read a horse book (actually series) that is appealing to different age groups, that treats animals in a non-fantasy manner, that deals with family... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Bonnie Martin
Be Very Warned
This has a lot of sexuality and violence, although just about all of the sexuality and violence are commonplace events on a farm or ranch. Read more
Published on May 14, 2010 by RJ Conte
great service
I bought this for a young girl, who loves it. Arrived quickly and in great shape.
Published on April 22, 2010 by C.
Horse books for boys
Mary O'Hara wrote three books about life on the McLaughlin ranch. This is the most well-known but all three are of interest to horse lovers. Read more
Published on January 13, 2010 by L.K.Mackin
My Friend Flicka
This is such an old & sweet story. Our soon to be 9 year old is reading it. She loves to read and loves animals, especially horses.
Published on October 4, 2009 by Veronica L. Myers
Wonderful Horse Story
Ken is bored with school and doesn't apply himself so fails English. He is given a horse to take care of in order to make him take responsibility. Read more
Published on January 28, 2008 by Lynda Richter
Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
HIGH UP ON THE LONG HILL they called the Saddle Back, behind the ranch and the county road, the boy sat his horse, facing east, his eyes dazzled by the rising sun. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
brood mare bunch, spring colt, bunk house, feed box, horse colts, little filly Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Calf Pasture, Saddle Back, Stable Pasture, Castle Rock, Charley Sargent, Lincoln Highway, Goose Bar Ranch, Doc Hicks, The Story of Gypsy, Home Pasture, Rock Slide, Lone Tree Creek, Neversummer Range, Country Road, New England, Pole Mountain, Sherman Hill New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
HIGH UP ON THE LONG HILL they called the Saddle Back, behind the ranch and the county road, the boy sat his horse, facing east, his eyes dazzled by the rising sun. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
brood mare bunch, spring colt, bunk house, feed box, horse colts, little filly Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Calf Pasture, Saddle Back, Stable Pasture, Castle Rock, Charley Sargent, Lincoln Highway, Goose Bar Ranch, Doc Hicks, The Story of Gypsy, Home Pasture, Rock Slide, Lone Tree Creek, Neversummer Range, Country Road, New England, Pole Mountain, Sherman Hill New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
27
books
cite this book:
See all 27 books citing this book
- Wild About Horses: Our Timeless Passion for the Horse by Lawrence Scanlan on 5 pages
- A Call to Character: Family Treasury of Stories, Poems, Plays, Proverbs, and Fables to Guide the Development of Values for You and Your Children by Colin Greer in Table of Contents, page 334, and Index
- The Man Who Listens to Horses by Monty Roberts in Front Matter (1), and Front Matter (2)
- Thunderhead by Mary O'Hara in Front Matter, and Back Cover
- Children's Literature (Blackwell Guides to Literature) by Peter Hunt on page 303, and Index
See all 27 books citing this book
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