Pony in a Package (Animal Ark)

Another great entry in this series! Like I've mentioned every time for past reviews of this series, I LOVED these books (well, animal books in general) as a kid. As an adult, I think that the story lines and writing held up after all these years.

This particular book I think dealt well with the stresses of parental divorce and a big move on a child. It showed these in a way that I think kids could understand and appreciate.

{Possible spoilers}

This is a really great Animal Ark book, and another one that had me tearing up at the end. Mandy tries so hard to get Tania to like Gabriel, the miniature pony that is supposed to be hers, but Tania doesn't want anything to do with him no matter what Mandy does... But of course that doesn't stop Mandy from pushing. I love these books, but there are definitely times when I'm reading them and remember that they are written for children.... Like in this book, Mandy is so frustrated and confused about why Tania doesn't want anything to do with Gabriel, even after she finds out that Tania's parents were recently divorced. To adults, or maybe to anyone who's been-there-done-that, it's pretty easy to figure out that Tania is show more keeping her distance because she doesn't want to get hurt... her dad left, she had to leave her friends, her other pony got taken away, she doesn't want to like Gabriel and then lose him. It's definitely not obvious to Mandy. But this is a wonderful, heartwarming book, especially the ending. show less

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