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The Quicksand Pony

Paperback / softback

Main Details

Title The Quicksand Pony
Authors and Contributors      By (author) Alison Lester
Physical Properties
Format:Paperback / softback
Pages:176
Dimensions(mm): Height 198,Width 128
ISBN/Barcode 9781760526306
ClassificationsDewey:823.914 823.914
Audience
Children / Juvenile

Publishing Details

Publisher Allen & Unwin
Imprint Allen & Unwin Children's Books
Publication Date 2 March 2021
Publication Country Australia

Description

'Biddy, I'm sorry, we're going to have to leave her.' 'What?' Biddy struggled out of the quicksand. 'You can't leave her! The tide's coming in. She'll drown!' But the pony is trapped and Biddy is forced to go on without her. Next day the only signs of Bella are hoofprints in the sand with small footprints and the paw marks of a dog. Who could be so small and be alone on this remote beach? Biddy's search takes her into wild, secret country where she discovers the truth about a mysterious disappearance that happened many years ago. Alison Lester's picture books are loved by families all around the world. In this timeless Australian children's classic, she proves herself as a born storyteller. 'Lester's much-loved first novel is now reissued with an unmistakably Lester cover to celebrate her one million sales with Allen & Unwin...A poignant blend of sadness and joy peopled with relatable characters, young, old, and animal, the novel is both a gripping mystery and a sensory evocation of the wild rim of Australia: a memorable experience for readers from eight to 80.' Five stars, KATHARINE ENGLAND, SA Weekend

Author Biography

Alison Lester grew up on a farm by the sea, and first rode a horse as a baby in her father's arms. Her picture books mix imaginary worlds with everyday life, encouraging children to believe in themselves and celebrate the differences that make them special. Alison is involved in many community art projects and spends part of every year travelling to remote Indigenous communities, using her books to help children and adults write and draw about their own lives. In 2012, Alison became Australia's first Children's Book Laureate, a position she shared with Boori Monty Pryor. In 2016, she was awarded the Dromkeen Medal for her outstanding achievement in the creation of Australian children's and young adult literature, and in 2018 she became the first children's book creator to win the Melbourne Prize for Literature, for her outstanding contribution to Australian literature and cultural and intellectual life. In 2019, Alison was awarded an Australia Post Legends Award and featured on a stamp, as well as being the recipient of a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2019 Australia Day Honours List.

Reviews

'First published in 1997, Lester's much-loved first novel is now reissued with an unmistakably Lester cover to celebrate her one million sales with Allen & Unwin. Set on the South Gippsland coast where Lester was raised among horses and cattle in the vibrant Australian bush, the novel weaves two multigenerational stories, one of a young woman escaping grief and small town pressures with her baby, the other, nine years later, of a girl like the young Lester, newly old enough to help with the annual cattle muster. A poignant blend of sadness and joy peopled with relatable characters, young, old, and animal, the novel is both a gripping mystery and a sensory evocation of the wild rim of Australia: a memorable experience for readers from eight to 80.' Five stars, Katharine England, SA Weekend, 6-7 March 2021 'A beautiful and bewitching story.' JOHN MARSDEN 'Unmistakably Australian...this simply written but cleverly constructed novel is about a childhood which is enviable but also real, grounded both in place and in the pattern of the generations.' Robin Morrow, The Weekend Australian 'What Lester is able to give children is the sense that they can participate in a story which is somehow personal. Involvement comes quickly and is total. This is a book adults would also enjoy, if for nothing else than restoring a sense of what is best about childhood.' Canberra Times 'This is a poignant and moving book. The gentle humour and pathos which Alison Lester unfolds so wonderfully through her words will hold the reader captivated and captured from the beginning to end.' Geelong Advertiser 'A ripper of a book...Alison Lester's love of the Australian bush and its people is very apparently throughout this novel. The characters are fresh and believable...Highly recommended.' Sydney's Child 'A story of family and community, of strong positive values, of communication across the generations and of issues of personal responsibility, love and friendship, death and survival...In turn exciting and deeply moving.' Reading Time 'So rich and multi-layered...A gripping adventure story, a tale of survival, an engaging mystery, a touching animal story, and a family saga...This book will be easy to recommend to readers of varied interests.' School Library Journal, USA 'The two stories move easily together, both enriched with vivid description, which evokes a strong sense of place. The action is smoothly paced, with tension well maintained...Highly recommended.' Magpies 'Young readers will find this a fascinating adventure, and are more than likely to campaign for a bush holiday to try out their own survival skills.' Children's Bookseller + Publisher 'Lester's experience of what was clearly a happy Australian childhood shines through The Quicksand Pony.' Nadia Wheatley, Australian Book Review 'The Quicksand Pony creates a world of horses and freedom. Sensitive use of Lester's own photographs supports (rather than limits) the story's imaginative range.' The Sydney Morning Herald 'With her first junior novel, a gripping adventure full of vivid characters, atmosphere and suspense, Lester confirms her skill as a writer and demonstrates her understanding of what fires children's imagination.' READINGS 'Lester maintains the drama and suspense in this satisfying read.' The Courier-Mail 'Set in Australia's rugged outback, The Quicksand Pony is a delightful book filled with mystery, suspense and it has a great ending. A great read for teenagers. I give it 8/10.' Nicole Hayward, 15, The Sun-Herald '...as relevant and as gripping as it was on first release.' Aussie Reviews 'Alison Lester never disappoints.' Books+Publishing