Fire Pony

by Sheila Ruble

Overview

Twelve year old Cricket O'Conner lives on a Montana horse ranch, where she reluctantly assists her mother with breaking young horses to saddle. When she finds out that her mother expects her to work with a particularly difficult three year old, Cricket thinks her summer can't get any worse. But Cricket's wrong---her summer does get worse. Much worse. When wildfire threatens the ranch and two valuable colts go missing, Cricket has to make a choice--help her mother try to save the house and barn or ride out alone on the half-broke Gonna Be to find the missing colts. Cricket clings to the hope that her birthday purchase of a unique, hand-painted model horse will bring her good luck and help save the ranch. But will it? Or will the mysterious Fire Pony attract fire, rather than repel it?

Fire Pony touches on crucial issues facing the intermountain West: drought, beetle-kill, and wildfire in the urban-wildlands interface. More than just an adventure story for middle graders, Fire Pony can be a thought-provoking read for any age.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780985258214
Publisher:	Sheila B. Ruble
Publication date:	03/25/2019
Pages:	278
Sales rank:	1,099,059
Product dimensions:	5.25(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.63(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Sheila Ruble is the author of Fire Pony and Don't Park on a Pig, as well as the co-author of Listening to Stones. Several of her poems have been selected for inclusion in regional anthologies of western writers. Inspired by true events, Fire Pony is her first middle-grade novel. Originally from Colorado, Ruble has lived most of her life on a small ranch in south-central Montana. Now retired, she served for many years as a 4-H leader and a U.S. Pony Club instructor and also gave private lessons in dressage and dog obedience. Ruble continues to volunteer with Pet Partners, a national organization devoted to providing animal therapy to those in need. An avid amateur photographer as well as horsewoman, she can usually be found during nice weather at her cabin in the Absaroka Mountains. She and her husband, Bob, raised two daughters and over the years have owned an assortment of animals, including dogs, cats, donkeys, sheep, horses, and the occasional goldfish. Ruble is presently working on a sequel to Fire Pony, as well as a new book of poetry for children about real animals she has known on the ranch.

Table of Contents

1. He’s Gonna Be a Great Horse 1;

2. The Fire Pony 7;

3. A Worrisome Lunch 13;

4. The Promise 17;

5. Found Out 23;

6. Making a Friend 29;

7. Mountain Fireworks 37;

8. A Safe Place for the Horses 41;

9. Storm Warnings 45;

10. Dry Lightning 49;

11. A Lapse in Good Judgment 55;

12. Getting Dumped 63;

13. A Visit to the Doctor 67;

14. He’s Not Mine 71;

15. An Unexpected Task 75;

16. A Visit from the Sheriff 79;

17. Heading Out 89;

18. Meeting Mrs. Katz 95;

19. A New Approach 101;

20. The Great Cat Capture 107;

21. Help Arrives 113;

22. A Hard Decision 117;

23. Bad News 121;

24. The Drop-Off 125;

25. Helicopters 131;

26. The Fire Meeting 137;

27. Now What? 143;

28. Packing to Leave 151; 29. Cricket Makes a Decision 155; 30. The Getaway 159; 31. The Hunt 163; 32. The Homestead 171; 33. Trapped 175; 34. Flames 181; 35. Where Is the Gate? 187; 36. Help from Above 193; 37. The Drop 197; 38. An Unwelcome Discovery 199; 39. Which Way Is Home? 205; 40. Snapper 211; 41. Rescued 215; 42. A Visit to the Vet 223; 43. The Long Wait 231; 44. What’s Left? 237; 45. The Burn 241; 46. Surprises 247; 47. Back to Katz 255;

Glossary 261; Acknowledgments 265

Editorial Reviews

"Fire Pony is a pulse-pounding adventure that will appeal to all kids who love suspenseful stories. Cricket's relationships with her horse, her family, and her friends make this a must-read." --Chris Putnam-Pouliot, Director, Frances C. Richmond Middle School Library

"Ruble has crafted a fast-paced, modern Western adventure with feisty Cricket O'Connor and her horse Gonna Be. Horse-loving kids will be swept away with Fire Pony." --Precious McKenzie, children's book author, Assistant Professor of English, Rocky Mountain College, and SCBWI Montana 2019 Regional Advisor

"Fire Pony is a beautifully written story about horse-loving twelve-year-old Cricket. The novel centers on the dramatic depiction of a Western wildfire that threatens Cricket's family and neighboring ranches, while following Cricket's journey from less-than-enthusiastic assistant horse trainer to true heroine. Sheila Ruble's expert knowledge of animals--most especially horses--is evident without stepping in the way of the tension- filled narrative. Richly drawn characters populate the evocative landscape. This is a wonderful read for any middle grader but especially those who love horses." --Janet Fox, multiple award-winning author of children's fiction and non-fiction, including a 2017 SCBWI Crystal Kite for The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle

From the Publisher

2021-08-20
When forest fires threaten her family’s horses, a Montana girl puts her courage to the test in this middle-grade novel.

Although her room is overflowing with model horses, Cricket O’Conner finds training the real animals to be irritating, especially when it comes to an ornery blue roan named Gonna Be. But Cricket has to work on the family’s Montana ranch even today—her 12th birthday. With her gift money, she buys a china horse painted with flames; Fuego, as she calls him, sometimes seems more than just a figurine. He stars in her daydream adventures, but when fast-moving wildfires threaten the community, Cricket must put aside imaginary conflicts and pitch in. After helping rescue a neighbor’s many pets (including 30 cats), Cricket returns home to discover that two colts are missing. Her mother, frantically trying to protect the ranch before they must evacuate, says there’s no time to find them. But Fuego seems to tell her a different story: “It’s up to you and Gonna Be. You need to figure out a way to find the colts. They’re in trouble.” Slipping out with Gonna Be, Cricket embarks on an arduous search that will challenge the colt’s mettle and her own. In her novel, Sheila Ruble nicely dovetails the plot with Cricket’s growing maturity. The girl shines in the pet-rescue episode; unlike flustered adults, Cricket pays attention, comes up with a feasible plan, and implements it. And hunting for the lost colts allows Cricket to appreciate what she’s been teaching—and learning from—Gonna Be. Fuego’s supernatural intervention is perhaps unnecessary but works as a symbol of Cricket’s newfound inner direction. Debut illustrator Robert Ruble, the author’s husband, provides appealing images. Though digitally created, they feel like hand-drawn pencil work and enhance the text, including a picture of a grumpy marmalade cat who figures in the plot.

An exciting and involving rescue tale, especially for horse-loving readers.

Kirkus Reviews