The Girl Who Hated Ponies

Pony Pals #13

by Jeanne Betancourt

Visiting the Pony Pals for the weekend, Melissa Prince claims to hate ponies and seems to care about nothing except her hair and clothes, until a surprise snowstorm and pony makeover party brings about unexpected changes. Original.

Genres: Horses, Fiction, Animals, Childrens, Contemporary, Chapter Books, Middle Grade

83 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

When I was growing up I never thought of being an author. I was a terrible speller and didn't want to write any more than I had to. I wanted to be a tap dancer when I grew up. After a few years of teaching junior high and high school, I wrote my first novel. It was a surprise to discover that I liked making up stories and writing them down. I liked it so much that eventually I stopped teaching and became a fulltime writer.

Besides novels for children and young adults, I've also told stories by writing scripts for television and the movies.

I live on the top floor of a sixteen-story building near the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. From my apartment I have a view of Manhattan that includes the Empire State Building and the Plaza Hotel. In my free time I draw, paint, and read. I still love to dance.

Some people think that a writer's life is lonely. But when I'm writing a story I don't feel lonely because I am actively involved with lots of interesting people – the characters in my books. I love knowing that some day readers will get to know these characters, too. If you are one of my readers I hope you have as much enjoyment in reading my stories as I have writing them.

Reviews

[Kylie Abecca]

I was afraid of horses for many years after being chased by a horse when I had a bag of carrots and tried feeding it only one. My brother always loved horses and when we were in our late 20’s my brother and his horse needed a place to stay and I let them stay with me. It was a hard time for all of us, as I had to face my fears in order to go into my own backyard. This book brought back so many memories of my late brother and his horse. This is definitely my favourite pony pals book so far.

[Melissa Namba]

This one was fairly cliched and transparent in why Melissa may not like ponies. The Pony Pals were actually a little rude and inhospitable. I also didn't like how after Melissa fulfilled her end of a bargain, the girls wanted to get out of their end.

[Kaiden Adams]

I liked this book because it’s about horses and they got stranded in a snowstorm. Someone came from Maine and I like Maine because I read a bunch of Judy Blume books and a lot of them are about Maine. This book made me feel good because they made someone else like horses. I like horses.

[JoReads]

Childhood favourite series (haven't read in a long time) giving all four stars unless it was a favourite as a child.

[Rosa Cline]

It's a nice storybook of friendship for three girls (all 5th graders) and the bond they form with each other and each of their ponies. In this story there is a new girl that comes to town that stays with one of the Pony Pals while her parents are gone doing other things. Although this girl CAN ride she hates anything and everything having to do with ponies. The Pony Pals don't like her or her attidute but try and be friends with her anyhow. Not until they are out riding and get lost in a winter storm do the three friends decide that there is something to why the new friend feels the way she does. They talk softer to her and eventually she tells them of a time when she was little and a horse nearly killed her then they understand and help her face her fears. In the end they all become friends and the girl over comes her fear. This was a good life lesson book for children reading this one because everyone has a reason behind the way they act.

It is a chapter book of the "Pony Pals" series. My now grown daughter LOVED these books as a child (she begin to read them when she was about 8) and read most of all of the ones in the series. I found her copy of many of them and decided to try and read them to see what they were like. You can read these as stand alone books; but the reader would understand and relate to the girls better if you read them in order. If you have to miss one 'here and there' it's not big deal; you won't be lost but just get the full effect better in order.

As a mother reading these books I really appreciate the way Ms Betancourt has written about the girls putting their heads together and trying to work out problems together and coming up with solutions themselves. As the young adults they are becoming it gives the girls in the story the opportunity to think things through. Which helps readers know they could do the same thing to try and find solutions as the young adults they will be in a few years. Thus far in each of the books I've read of this series the girls have tried to come up with solutions to problems and that is such a good thing to teach children

[Marielle Ruth]

1. A book written by a female

2. Because it's been recommended by a friend of mine.

3. When a surprise snowstorm came and revealed who Melissa Prince really is and revealed her true personality and a pony makeover party will make many changes to her and suddenly she becomes one of the Pony Pals.

4. A t first she cared only about her hair, her clothes, her make up kit, her nails, her looks and stuff like that and she hated ponies!

5. Anyone who likes to read about ponies, stories that tells about friendships and building up friendships although they have different personalities and different interests than you.

[Samantha]

I enjoyed this book, but I'm also a little torn on how I feel about it. I liked the direction it went with Melissa and why she hated horses, as it's nice to realize hatred sometimes comes from that (vague to avoid spoilers), but the resolution felt a little rushed, and the event leading up to it felt a little too convenient, as it literally came out of nowhere, and had no foreshadowing.

So, while I had some problems with the climax, there were also things I enjoyed about it, and the story at large. Even as an adult, that lesson about hatred is a good one to be reminded of.

[Katt Hansen]

I liked this book probably more than I've liked any in this series thus far.

You take your obvious storyline of the usual trio of girls having to entertain a girl who doesn't like horses. Obvious conflict, obvious clash. But then add in some really scary weather and a dangerous situation and you've made the story fresh and new. I liked how the girls resolved ALL of their problems and even became friends at the end. Great story!

[Penni Russon]

Me: Girls who hates ponies inexplicably goes on long trail ride with girls who love ponies. Stuff happens etc.
Girl no longer hates ponies! Girl wants to give ponies makeover! Ponies ponies ponies!

Una: GIVE ME ALL THE PONY BOOKS.

[Alisha Brook]

Pony Pals was one of my favourite "horsey" series growing up. Jeanne Betancourt has a writing skill that makes the books easy to read and interesting. I read many of the series and I was enthralled with each new story.

[Janice]

Accelerated Reading Level 3.5, AR Points 1.0


Have read the first 13 of the Pony Pals books, I would never hesitate to allow my children to read them. They are very good books. The stories hold your interest, they show good problem solving skills and other character values.

[Christine Meunier]

The thirteenth book in the Pony Pal series aimed at young horse lovers is titled The Girl who Hated Ponies. Ten year old Lulu is looking forward to a weekend with her two best friends, Pony Pals Anna and Pam.

Read more at http://equus-blog.com/girl-hated-poni...

[sarah]

I don't think I actually read this one, I just wish I did based on that title.

[Casey]

It was a good book! I would read it again..

[Laura]

read them all

[Meagan]

learning about personality

[Meredith]

Very good story

[Liz]

the one and only pony pals book i read, hated it so much lol

[Alexandra Lindner]

Love the series!!

[Carterkempgmail.Com]

Uggh, total dreck.

[Morgan]

really good "own"