Sea Star: Orphan of Chincoteague

by Marguerite Henry Narrated by John McDonough

Overview

Each year along the Eastern seacoast, the wild ponies of Assateague Island are driven across a narrow strip of ocean to Chincoteague. There the shaggy, untamed ponies are sold. When young Paul and Maureen Beebe rescue a drowning newborn foal, they take her home to nearby Pony Farm. Now the foal has grown into their free-spirited pony, Misty, and has been the subject of a popular children's book. One day movie-makers appear on the farm, asking to make a motion picture about Misty and the other wild ponies. Paul and Maureen are beside themselves with excitement-until they learn their beloved pet will have to leave the farm. The children's surprising solution to their problem has touched the hearts of youngsters for generations. Newbery Award-winning author Marguerite Henry based this beguiling sequel to Misty of Chincoteague on real-life people and animals. Narrator John McDonough's warm-hearted performance whisks readers back to a gentler time and place.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Chicago Tribune "Children will love this worthy sequel to Misty."

Kirkus Reviews "Fact and fiction adroitly merged in a heartwarming story that is a sure favorite."

DEC/JAN 01 - AudioFile

In this recording of the sequel to MISTY OF CHINCOTEAGUE, narrator John McDonough immediately establishes a warm and protective relationship with listeners. His airy and gravelly tones become the voice of experience that represents the novel’s deep wisdom--those family-centered values that cushion the character-building episodes in life. McDonough doesn’t use a large repertoire of vocal characterizations, but he imbues every syllable with feeling, so that listeners comprehend that he cherishes the story. Capturing the essence of young Paul and Maureen Beebe, McDonough’s fluid narration carries listeners into the children’s minds and hearts as they deal with the loss of their pony, Misty, and the unexpected gift that helps to heal their sorrow. R.M. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940171027544
Publisher:	Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date:	05/15/2009
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

Read an Excerpt

Sea Star

Orphan of Chincoteague

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By Marguerite Henry

Rebound by Sagebrush

Copyright © 1991 Marguerite Henry
All right reserved.
ISBN: 9780833574213

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Mr. Van Meter was plainly disappointed. As he turned his head he caught a glimpse of a little herd of wild ponies frisking along the beach of neighboring Assateague Island. He gestured toward the wind-blown creatures. "I expected to find Misty with her mane and tail blowing in the wind," he said, talking more to himself than to the others. "And I hoped she'd have some of the mystery of the sea in her look."

"Oh, but she does!" exclaimed Paul and Maureen together. Quickly they lifted the wreath of flowers from her neck and began loosening her braids.

Maureen glanced up shyly as she worked, "We just wanted to see how she'd look if she won a big race over on the main."

"And how do you think she looks?" asked Mr. Jacobs.

The boy and girl were shaking out the strands of hair.

"You say, Maureen."

"No, you, Paul. Do you like Misty all prissied up with ribbons and things?"

Paul answered easily. "Even before we started, we knew we'd like her better with her mane and tail free."

"Good! So do I." Mr. Van Meter smiled with his eyes. "Now, will you take us to meet your Grandpa Beebe?"

"He's gone up the island to Watson Town. Grandma's been having trouble with her biddies, and he wanted to talk to Miss Vic about them."

"Oh."

"He sometimesgets hung up talking," explained Maureen, "but nearly always he comes back pretty quick."

"Perhaps," suggested Mr. Jacobs, "we could talk to Mrs. Beebe until he gets back."

Paul shook his head. "She's gone to Richmond with Clarence Lee."

"Yes," added Maureen proudly. "Our uncle, Clarence Lee, Jr., is going to go to college. He may learn so much he could be a preacher!"

The strangers seemed to be turning matters over in their minds. There was a little pause before they spoke. "Perhaps you would like to hear our mission," Mr. Van Meter finally said.

"Oh!" Maureen looked surprised. "Are you missionaries?"

Paul snorted. " 'Course not, Maureen. Whenever are you going to grow up? Mr. Van Meter means that maybe we'd like to know why they came to our island. And how they know all about us and Misty," he added.

Maureen blushed. "Please to come and sit down on the benches underneath the pine trees," she invited politely.

Together they walked over to the pine grove at the side of the house while Misty, free of her wreath and halter, kicked up her heels and trotted off to sniff and snort at the strange silver bird resting on her private exercise ground.

The two men watched her with a pleased expression. Then Mr. Van Meter took a snapshot out of his billfold and passed it to Paul and Maureen. "These are my two children," he said. "Last Christmas they were given a book that told the legend of a Spanish galleon wrecked long ago in a storm, and how her cargo of Moor ponies swam ashore to Assateague Island, and how descendants of those ponies are living wild and free on the island today."

Paul and Maureen looked up from the picture. "That's just how it happened," said Maureen.

"Don't talk, Maureen. Listen. Listen to what's coming. Maybe it's going to be something good."

"It is good," Mr. Van Meter went on. "My boy and girl kept telling me about the roundup of the wild ponies you people of Chincoteague have every year."

"It's this week!" Paul blurted out.

Mr. Van Meter nodded as if he knew all about it. "Finally I got as excited as my children, so excited that I talked it all over with Mr. Jacobs. We want to make a movie of it."

Paul and Maureen just stared. They could scarcely believe their ears. A movie made about the wild ponies of Assateague! Then Maureen became thoughtful. "Would Misty be in it?" she asked. "She was born on Assateague, but she's not wild any more."

"That's why we are here. We'd like to use the real Misty in the picture, the little colt that was in the book."

Continues...

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Excerpted from Sea Star by Marguerite Henry Copyright © 1991 by Marguerite Henry. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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