Smoky the Cowhorse

Rating:
Summary: An excellent book about a Western horse.
Review: I really wish I could have read this book when I was young. I think I would have loved the story of a horse born in the wild (probably in Montana) who becomes a legendary cowhorse, is stolen to become a legend in the rodeo circuit, and finally returns to the hills of his birth. Will James was a former rodeo participant and the book is written in the vernacular of the West (An earlier reviewer didn't care for the book because it didn't use proper English. I enjoyed it for that fact because it made the story seem more real coming from the pen of a cowboy). The book won the 1927 Newbery Medal for best contribution to American children's literature.

Rating:
Summary: A fine read for young, horse loving people.
Review: Smoky is a fine story with many layers. Having read it as a youth, it now is a favorite of my children.

Rating:
Summary: I did *not* enjoy this book
Review: Smoky the Cowhorse is a boring book. I mean it. I'm a very patient reader and I don't give up on books easily. And I usually love books about horses. But this one, well...

It doesn't have much of a plot. I guess it's "the life of a cowhorse", but Black Beauty was way more interesting than this was. There's little conversation-at least in Black Beauty the horses talked to each other. I really didn't find it at all engaging.

The grammar is awful. Sure, I don't mind that in conversation. Or in a book written in the first person. It gives it a certain tone. But here it just seems like, well, like bad grammar! And it keeps changing tense! It'll say something like "'I'll go over there,' he says, and then he got up and went to the barn.' Or "He looks at the horse, and then he walked away."

I suppose writing standards were different back in the '20's; this book won the Newberry Medal. Still, I wouldn't recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Good book for inspiring young girls interested in horses
Review: This is an enlightened and, by all accounts of the author, true story about a lowly cow horse that devoted himself to his work and friendship with his rider that went on to be a rodeo sensation and top attraction. The book follows his life from birth in the high country of Montana to his abusive life under cruel masters. The book ends with his return to his first master and friend. They return to the country that he grew up in. I think this is a good book to read over and over, you'll always find something new and inspiring.