The Stone Ponies [Hardcover]

Tom Willard (Author)

Book Description

Series: Black Sabre Chronicles | Publication Date: August 19, 2000

Franklin LeBaron Sharps is a young paratrooper sent to Vietnam in 1965. The son of Brigadier General Samuel Sharps, a former Tuskeegee Airman, Franklin fights a war on two fronts: in Vietnam, he is determined to repay the Viet Cong for their killing of his brother, and at home, he fights against his fathers attempts to reconcile with the family he deserted.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In the fourth book of the Black Sabre Chronicles series, Willard continues to recount the often extraordinary personal efforts and professional exploits of five generations of a distinguished African American military family. Unlike his great-grandfather, a legendary cavalry officer; his grandfather, a World War I hero; and his father, an original "Tuskeegee Airman" and the first black brigadier general, young Franklin Sharps initially spurns a career in the military. After his older brother, Adrian, is killed in Vietnam, however, Franklin joins the 101st Airborne Division as a medic. Determined to avenge Adrian's death and to prove his independence to his estranged father, he initially enters the combat arena utterly unprepared for the barbaric cruelty of a bush war. Because the author is himself a veteran of the Vietnam War, the graphic battle scenes feature a gritty, realistic edge. The result is a stirring family saga as well as a compelling look at the controversy surrounding the conflict in Vietnam, especially as it applied to the disproportionate number of black soldiers involved. Margaret Flanagan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"Willard's storytelling is remarkable."-The Post and Courier (Charleston, South Carolina)

"I [am] a direct descendant of all the black men and women who have served the nation in uniform. I will never forget my debt to them."-General Colin L. Powell, former Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Howard University Commencement, 1994

"Because the author is himself a veteran of the Vietnam War, the graphic battle scenes feature a gritty, realistic edge. The result is a stirring family saga as well as a compelling look at the controversy surrounding the conflict in Vietnam, especially as it applied to the disproportionate number of black soldiers involved."-Booklist

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 316 pages
• Publisher: Forge; 1st edition (August 19, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312857632
• ISBN-13: 978-0312857639
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,012,986 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Awsome, January 19, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Stone Ponies (Hardcover)

The Black Sabre Chronicles are awsome.
Cant't wait for Book 5!!!

5.0 out of 5 stars A GREAT STORY CONTIUNES IN BOOK FOUR, March 20, 2001

By 

RODNEY TRIPP - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Stone Ponies (Hardcover)

I got this book sometime ago and I am very surprised that this author's books has not taken off in sales. In this fourth book, Willard takes on the horror of the Vietnam war. The story seems to be more edgey. The edge in this story is probably because Willard is a highly decorated paratrooper. The characters comes off as real people. And because TW has witness war firsthand, it really shows in the writing. TW deals with issues peculiar to blacks in the military with insight and compassion. This is a history lesson told in an adventurous, dramatic and sometimes a funny way. TW next book deals with a member of the Sharp family in Desert Storm. Those of you who have not read the Sabre Chronicle need to check out this great story for the first time. I recommend you start from the first book named Buffalo Soldier, then The Sable Doughboys and later the Wings of Honor. This story will not disappoint; guaranteed !!!!