Customer Reviews

No Small Thing

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Life hasn't been easy for Nathaniel and his two sisters, Queenie and Cid, ever since their father left them. Now living with their single mother, they all want something to make them the happy family they used to be. Then one day, Nathaniel, Cid and Queenie see an ad for a free horse in the newspaper. They can hardly believe it. However, they're hesitant to say anything to their mother because they're positive she won't let them keep it. Surprisingly, though, she says yes. The day finally comes for them to take their new horse, Smokey, home.

Having Smokey around makes the children feel happy again. They ride him, take care of him, and share many joyous times together. Then one day, a fire destroys the barn in which Smokey lives. Fortunately, the horse survives. But things get worse when the family is forced to sell their house and someone wants to buy Smokey. Will they be able to take Smokey to their new home, or will they become sad once again?

I very much enjoyed this book because its focus is horses, one of my favorite animals to read about. This coming-of-age novel is full of heart and humor, and not to be missed!

   --- Reviewed by Ashley Hartlaub

Nat, Cid, and Queenie live with their single mother, and struggle to make ends meet. However, when they see an ad in the newspaper for a free horse, they cannot resist. After getting the pony they struggle but manage to find a a place for it to stay. The soft, white horse named Smokey is perfect in their eyes. A dream come true for everyone. This brings joy and happinessto Nat, who is struggling to grow up without a father. Queenie is somewhat odd, and Cid is the controlling oldest. But together, they bond over a horse. Nat has to defend Queenie, who is made fun of, and deal with a girl who hardly knows he exists. Dealing with consant troubles and a lot more he can only find true happiness with Smokey. That is, until diaster strikes. Not being able to afford Smokey anymore, these three kids have to make one of their toughest decisions of their life, giving up what they love most.

The book No Small Thing is a great book by Natalie Ghent is a great and adventurous book that helds a memorable story.Once a rich family and now poor since divorced now lives in a small village.Three kids to care care of of one mother.Soon the three kids finds themslves with a horse that may actually change their lives.With the accidents and the adventure of finding their dad again in the big city that moved away because of them.

I liked this book because it was a really sad and happy story together.Each chapter would at least give you a clue of what you would be reading next and it just makes you want to keep on reading.It's book in something that's really memorable to me because of the details that they describe the events going on through the problems.It may be hard to understand but in some parts it gets really emotional and it just makes you feel ike you're in the story.

Another reason that I like the book is because of how she wrote the book.On how one family had so many difficulties on one horse that she wanted her children to keep because they were so happy with it.It's sad when she tells how Queenie fell off the horse and it was really emotional for me how she wrote the story.On how three kids took care of one horse while being poor and at the edge of starvation.The whole story is based on how a horse changes the family and always give them the joy that even that if they were really poor they could still face the things ahead and forget the bad things and live while they can.

My favorite part of the book was when Queenie fell off the horse and broke her shoulder. Then their mom got mad and told them to give bakc the horse that they got for free.Then they got into a rage and ran off to the barn to protect her and tell her that they will never take her back.That they will always kepp her safe.I liked that part because i thought that that was really realistic and the way she described made me feel like sometimes that was me and it made me feel how my parenst feel if i really do shut out that i hated you and just run off to a unexpected place.

No Small Thing is a really great book! The way Natale Ghent describes her characters is really good. I would not recommend it for 10 years or under. I'm 11 and I thought it had too much boyfriend/girlfriend stuff. But altogether it is realy good.

this book is my favorite, ive read it 3 times becaue i cant let any of that wonder book escape my mind because i want to remember it forever.if you are thinking about buying this book, BUY IT!!!!!!!!!!! you will love it and catch yourself wanting to read it over and over again.

this book is my favorite, ive read it 3 times becaue i cant let any of that wonder book escape my mind because i want to remember it forever.if you are thinking about buying this book, BUY IT!!!!!!!!!!! you will love it and catch yourself wanting to read it over and over again.

No Small Thing

By: Natale Ghent

Twelve-year-old Nathaniel and his sisters, Cid and Queenie, find an ad for a free pony, and they just can't believe their luck when their single mom says yes they can get it. But how will they afford to take care of it and where will they keep it? Well Nat has money he's been saving in a box his dad gave him. He has $95.36 from his paper route. He uses that money to feed and clean Smokey. But when they are on the way home from getting Smokey, (Queenie's riding) they get attacked by a big dog, which spooks Smokey and Queenie falls off and breaks her collarbone. They were all scared. But they make it through it, all the fighting and tears and form a special bond. -Smokey. Well one day the barn Smokey stays at, catches fire. It destroys the barn completely, so where will they keep Smokey? Nat sells him. It hurts to sell Smokey, but he knows it's the right thing to do.

i really liked this book at first i thought it was going to be about some sappy horse story but it wasn't it was a tale of the hardships the characters face and in the middle of it all is the horse the end

Ghent's work is precise, well paced and captivating. While by all means a horse story, No Small Thing has many other layers, and is not at all for hippophiles only - of course, equine enthusiasts will find it special, too. A distinctive peice of equine literature, it covers a theme uncommon to all horse books before it; it's not about winning a show, or rescuing an injured foal. Instead, it covers a much more intense, realistic topic- a trio of sibling's uphill struggle to afford to keep their pony, in the face of severe povery.

An interesting mix of characters, occurances, and memories blend together smoothly to create this "different" kind of a horse story.

No Small Thing

Imagine you are a teenage boy. You have two sisters, one older than you, and one only eight years old. You and your older sister had horses and a farm before your Dad left, and your little sister doesn't even remember having them. Then, one day, you come across an ad for a FREE white pony named Smokey. Believe it or not, you are imagining the book No Small Thing, by Natale Ghent. I liked this book because it was a wonderful, gripping novel.

The special characters that make up No Small Thing are Nat, Queenie, Cid, Mom, and, of course, Smokey! They all have very unique personalities. Queenie is very brave; she was the first of the kids to ride Smokey, and imaginative, because she sometimes went into her own little world. Even though Nat was the middle child, he seemed more mature and was basically Smokey's owner; he paid for almost all of Smokey's things. Cid seemed to be a little shyer than the other kids, which she showed in the very beginning of the book. The Mother was extremely caring, and she could never resist giving Queenie what she wanted.

The main parts in this took place in the barn and at the kids' schools. The barn that Smokey was in was an important place in No Small Thing. An interesting thing about the barn-yeah, it was said to be haunted. The hay that Nat discovered somewhere and fed Smokey in the barn was edible, but most of it was covered in mold. It apparently wasn't the best barn ever. The kids' schools were also places where the kids met great people...or were given tragic news.

There are four basic themes that make this novel great-family, friendship, love, and courage. Nathaniel, Queenie, and Cid show a tremendous amount of courage throughout the book, and the first thing that they did was go out and get a pony-with their mom knowing. If that doesn't show courage, I don't know what does! Everyone eventually welcomes Smokey into the family, and even the other horses in the barn that Smokey lives in become friends with the three kids! Nat even loved Smokey enough to use almost all of his money on him for renting the stable and getting MANY other things. These are only a couple examples of how the themes show in the book.

To me, this book was extremely descriptive and engaging from the very first page. There was a lot of action and suspense throughout No Small Thing, sometimes even pain. With all of these interesting characters, it's hard to stop reading!! No Small Thing will just jump out at you with the wonderful plot. And, of course, ANYONE would want to know how they get Smokey and how they take care of him!! Don't you?