Misty of Chincoteague (Hardcover)

by Marguerite Henry (Author), Wesley Dennis (Illustrator) "A WILD, ringing neigh shrilled up from the hold of the Spanish galleon..." (more)
Key Phrases: penning grounds, colt pens, roundup men, Pied Piper, Black Comet, Grandpa Beebe (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
On an island off the coasts of Virginia and Maryland lives a centuries-old band of wild ponies. Among them is the most mysterious of all, Phantom, a rarely seen mare that eludes all efforts to capture her--that is, until a young boy and girl lay eyes on her and determine that they can't live without her. The frenzied roundup that follows on the next "Pony Penning Day" does indeed bring Phantom into their lives, in a way they never would have suspected. Phantom would forever be a creature of the wild. But her gentle, loyal colt Misty is another story altogether.

Marguerite Henry's Newbery Honor Book has captivated generations of boys and girls both with its thrilling descriptions of true incidents from the tiny island of Chincoteague, and its realistic yet wonderfully magical atmosphere. This story of an animal brought into captivity poignantly reveals the powerful opposing forces of humans and nature. Wesley Dennis's pen-and-ink ponies are masterfully depicted with rippling muscles, shaggy coats, and free spirits. (Ages 9 to 12) --Emilie Coulter

Review
American Library Association Booklist "...an exceptionally appealing book..." -- Review

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (November 30, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0027436225
• ISBN-13: 978-0027436228
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (76 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #477,390 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #7 in	Books > Children's Books > Series > Horses > Misty
  #17 in	Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( H ) > Henry, Marguerite
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Timeless Classic, February 24, 2006

By	Diogenette - See all my reviews

I first read "Misty of Chincoteague" when I was a child in the 1950s. I loved the story so much that I ended up memorizing it so that I could tell it to myself after lights-out. My parents took me to Pony Penning Day in the late 1950s, when Chincoteague was still very much like the town Marguerite Henry described and the bridge to Assateague was way, way in the future.

Pony Penning Day was very exciting, but even more exciting was the fact that Misty was still alive and living at the Beebe ranch! I still have a picture of me petting her. Marguerite Henry was there, too -- a wonderful woman, with a genuine love for children. So was Grandpa Beebe, looking very much like Wesley Dennis drew him.

I will always treasure the memory of that vacation, and judging by the other reviews of this book, there are many, many people out there for whom this book occupies a special place in their hearts.

Even though times have changed since this book was written (Maureen would probably not play so much of a second fiddle to Paul these days), the story itself is timeless: the love of the children for the Phantom; their yearning to own her; their willingness to do whatever it took to buy her; Paul's eventual triumph; and, once again, the love of the children for the Phantom that compels them to do what it best for her: these things make up a story that will continue to captivate children for many generations to come.

I would also like to add that the Wesley Dennis illustrations in all of Marguerite Henry's books are simply wonderful. That was a very serendipituous partnership, because his drawings add so much to Mrs. Henry's spledid stories.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book I ever read-Jamie, May 18, 2000

By A Customer

I really like the book Misty because I really like horses and colts. I think the book was good also because Marguerite Henry was a good author. The climax is: Will Paul and Maureen ever get to get the Phantom to her colt at Penning Day? My first opinion is I think Misty is the best for kids to read. My second opinion is: People that love horses should read the book Misty. My last opinion is: Misty was the best book I have ever read. Jamie

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A basic for the horse-lover's library, December 19, 2000

By	breyergal "breyergal" (Seattle) - See all my reviews

If you have a child that loves horses, you've probably already seen this book.......either brought home from the library... or in their own collection. This is one of the staples of any horse-lover's collection.

The story of Misty, a wild pony from Assateague Island off the coast of Virginia who is captured as a foal and adopted by Paul and Maureen Beebe. True story of a truly wonderful foal and her family. This story sparked three sequels that still sell millions of copies around the world.