Reviewed by Thomas Hymel
“The Red Pony” by John Steinbeck takes place in the early 1900s on a farm near Salinas and Monterrey, Calif.
Steinbeck shows the problems a boy must face and overcome as he becomes an adolescent. The main character in novel is a 10-year-old boy, Jody, who aspires to have his own pet.
His dad decides that he is old enough to raise and take care of an animal, so he buys him a small red pony.
Jody is overjoyed and takes care of his pony like it is his own child. The pony, thanks to Jody’s great care, grows a beautiful coat.
One day, however, Jody accidentally leaves the pony out in the rain and it becomes ill. Jody is heartbroken and worries that his pony will perish. But the story is really much deeper than a dying red pony.
The experience helps Jody to “come of age” and become a man.
I thought that “The Red Pony” was an average book. It seemed to lack a true plot. I thought that the climax was also weak. I would not recommend this book to most people.
Thomas Hymel is a junior in the academically gifted program at Hahnville High School. He enjoys hunting, fishing and playing golf.
Editor’s note: Book reviews are published weekly during the summer in agreement with Hahnville High School gifted English teacher Deborah Unger in conjunction with the Brown Foundation Service Learning Program.
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