On the island of Chincoteague, 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...

Listened to this with the kids. ( )

With an opening as terrifying as [The Black Stallion[,
[Mistry] delivers the complete story of a rescued baby pony and the people she comes to love.

Evocative drawings!

The return to the Island ending is beautiful.

(Unwelcome is no compassion for the animals - clams, oysters - caught only to make money.

Pony Penning Day is also viewed as a tradition with no regard for the pain and fright of the ponies.) ( )

Another of those classics of youth that somehow passed me by in mine. I just loved this story of two children, their love for the wild ponies of the mid-Atlantic barrier islands, and their determination to own one. It was written well (maybe a bit heavy-handed on the dialect as spoken by the grandparents, but not enough to put me off), with just enough tension, and a pretty perfect ending. A very "grown-up" tale for young readers. As I discovered, it is based on a true story, which was recently reported and updated in this Smithsonian article. ( )

Growing up I had a large collection of Marguerite Henry's horse books: Misty of Chincoteague; Sea Star; Stormy, Misty's Foal; Black Gold; Justin Morgan Had a Horse; Twilight and others. They, among my Animal Arc and The Saddle Club books, were meant to be stored and never given away because I knew I would love to reread them or in the off chance later in life I have relations with a kid that liked what I liked as a kid, I could share and bond with such a kid. Where are my books? Who knows. I could buy a box set, but first I must reread the copies available at the library and find out how much I enjoy them as an adult.

As a kid I never realized the book was written and took place in the 40s. It had seemed like any other small town save for some geographical differences between coastal Virginia and my hometown in western Colorado. As an adult I had flashbacks to what I assume was a movie for this book, which I had watched with my childhood best friend once upon a time.

This book comes with more than nostalgia. It's a trauma-free, good horse story mostly told through incredibly self-sufficient—by today's culture—and amicable brother and sister, Misty at one point, and an omnipotent voice at the beginning for the origin story of the Chincoteague ponies. I love Henry's versatile narration and dependable, kind characters. Again, no trauma or backstabbing like a surprising number of animal stories, including children's fiction. This includes the horses and oysters.

It always bothered me that the novel is titled Misty of Chincoteague. Misty is a minor character compared to her infamous and page-hoarding mother, The Phantom. Why wasn't the book called The Phantom? Sounds marketable enough. Why not Misty of Assateague? Initially that seems more accurate since she was born on Assateague Island, not Chincoteague—the answer here is at the end of the book and would be a spoiler here.

However, as an adult and having reread the story, I see the symbolism. Misty is the legacy. Subsequent books include her. Misty is the plot. The premise of the story is that the siblings saved enough money to buy The Phantom, but oh no! She has a new filly! They can't be separated. The siblings need enough money for both. Misty is the one all people and The Phantom protect. Misty links them together. And the drawings of her by Wesley Dennis are adorable.

Something special of note is how the people featured in this story ride. Saddle? Bridle with bit? Nonsense. They ride bareback and sometimes the pony won't tolerate a bit so they ride with a wickie rope—a root that the kids dug up that could be knotted to fit a pony's head like a halter or just around the nose and even be used for reins. Both sister and brother would race The Phantom attired with only the wickie. That's some incredible riding skill.

I never did get around to reading all of her books, but I daresay, "Challenge accepted!" ( )