Riding by Starlight: A Matty Trescott Novel [Paperback]

Carroll Thomas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 30, 2002 | Age Level: 9 and up | Series: Matty Trescott

Fifteen-year old Henry Trescott is concerned about the drought that is destroying his family's farm, so he leaves home to become a Pony Express Rider. A good rider can make $25 a week, and Henry is sure he can earn enough to save the farm in a few weeks.  It is almost a year before Henry is able to return home, but he makes new friends, including (Buffalo) Bill Cody, and comes of age in a rough and dangerous world.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7-Matty's brother Henry gets his turn to relate his adventures when he leaves their Kansas farm to become a Pony Express rider in this fourth book in the series. But even though the first-person narrative describes scary and bone-breaking work, it lacks good character development, particularly in its portrayal of William Cody, the teen's friend and a colorful individual in real life. Only Nine Finger Louie, a curmudgeon with a soft heart, comes alive; Ephraim Levy represents the traveling Jewish peddlers of the time. Natural pitfalls, Indian raids, and outlaws plague Henry but they are often dispatched with a lucky accident or two. The descriptions of an avalanche that traps him and Cody in a cave at Christmastime engage readers, but the boy spends more time as a scout, station attendant, and waiting than he does as a Pony Express rider. The volume has an excellent list of Web sites and, like its predecessors, an extensive section of historical notes. Choose Diane Yancey's Life on the Pony Express (Lucent, 2001) for the facts. For fun, recommend Brix McDonald's Riding on the Wind (Avenue, 1998), which has little historical accuracy but captures the thrill and weariness of the Pony Express with a girl rider, and Kristiana Gregory's Jimmy Spoon and the Pony Express (Scholastic, 1994) for a fast read.
Tina Zubak, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Author

  Riding by Starlight is the story of Henry Trescott's adventures. The story idea was suggested to us by one of our friends, Judy Cowell, a middle school teacher who has been a great supporter of our books. After reading Blue Creek Farm, Judy commented that Henry was such an interesting character that he needed his own story. When we wanted to write a fourth book, it seemed that Henry's story was a natural.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 174 pages
• Publisher: Smith & Kraus Books for Kids; 1st edition (September 30, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575253151
• ISBN-13: 978-1575253152
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,533,274 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Carroll Thomas is the pen name of two writers, Carole Shmurak and Thomas Ratliff.
Carole Shmurak has taught biology and chemistry in middle and high schools, and is currently Professor Emerita of education at Central Connecticut State University. She also writes mysteries for adults under her own name (see Amazon's page for Carole Shmurak for more information about the mysteries.) Tom Ratliff has taught social studies and English in middle and high schools and is currently an instructor of history at CCSU. He also writes serialized historical fiction for the Hartford Courant NIE program and other newspapers. Together, they write as Carroll Thomas and are authors of the young adult series which includes Matty's War, Blue Creek Farm, the Agatha-nominated Ring Out Wild Bells, Riding By Starlight. Town on Rambling Creek and Under the Open Sky. Find out more at their website www.MattyTrescott.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting Adventure of the Pony Express, November 28, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Riding by Starlight: A Matty Trescott Novel (Paperback)

Riding by Starlight is an exciting adventure story with non-stop action. I couldn't put it down! I highly recommend it for anyone who loves stories of the cowboys and the west.