Book Descriptions
for No Small Thing by Natale Ghent
From The United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY)
The family has little money since their father left, but Nathaniel and his sisters are determined to keep the beautiful white pony that was given away to anyone who can offer him a “good home” (1). In this warm family story set in Ontario in 1977, Nat, who uses his paper-route money to hire a stall in a broken-down barn, tells about the joys and difficulties of owning Smokey as he and his sisters struggle with poverty. When a fire threatens Smokey’s life, Nat knows he must sell him, but after one last desperate ride, there is hope after all. hc
Originally published by HarperCollins Canada, in 2003.
From the Publisher
When twelve-year-old Nathaniel and his two sisters, Cid and Queenie, discover an ad for a free pony in the paper, they can hardly believe their luck. The pony is theirs, as long as they can afford to take care of it. But what will their mother say?
Nat knows things are hard for his mom; his dad walked out on them four years ago. But having a pony would help Nat and Cid stop bickering and it would mean so much to Queenie. When Nat’s mother lets them keep it, life is still not easy, but at the end of each day, Nat knows his pony is waiting from him. Until a fire destroys the barn...
Winner of the Hackmatack Book Award, No Small Thing was also a Silver Birch Honour Book and shortlisted for the Canadian Library Assocation’s Book of the Year for Children Award.