Ride Like the Wind: A Tale of the Pony Express

Kindergarten-Grade 4--Although the Pony Express operated for only 18 months, the courage and daring of the young men who made these trips, battling severe weather, treacherous terrain, and hostile Indians, have become legendary. Fuchs has drawn on numerous historical accounts to create a fictionalized story of such a run. Readers follow young Johnny Free and his faithful pony, JennySoo, as they ride "like the wind," are watched by wolves, find their relief station burned to the ground, and are eventually attacked by hostile Paiutes. In a minor stretch of credulity, JennySoo returns to rescue her wounded master. The nicely paced, tightly written text captures the excitement and drama of the situation. The full-page, textured paintings carry the action forward, while their misty quality suggests a time gone by. An opening storyteller's note provides necessary background and an informative afterword provides more details about the Pony Express. This is a good introduction to the subject for youngsters not quite ready for Steven Kroll's longer and strictly factual Pony Express! (Scholastic, 2000). --Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ
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