My Friend Flicka Paperback – April 8, 2008

I am a horse lover and equine literature lover and this is my favorite book on horses - ever. I took a long time to read it so I could savor it and enjoy it between readings. I needed to digest what I read before going back for more. I did have to look up words on my phone while reading it because it was written in the 1940s and they had bigger vocabularies back then. It also had some western geography terms and horsemanship terms I had to look up. For me this is enjoyable because I am expanding my knowledge and wisdom. I lovvvvvvvved the book. When I finished reading it, I could not read another book for 3 weeks because I was still savoring the world created by the author, Mary O'Hara. She was a master of creativity. I keep My Friend Flicka on my small bedside bookshelf and each time I see it, it brings me pleasure. It is for ages 8-12, so I guess I am about age 11 somehow ,though born in the 1960s. Thank you, Mary O'Hara.

I read this book as a child but it's not specifically a book for children. It's partly about family and parent/child relationships. Ken, the main character, is a ten-year-old boy who has a creative soul but is at risk for growing up to be an ineffectual dreamer. Ken's faith that his devotion and good care will tame a supposedly intractably wild horse -- in the face of a loving but dictatorial father -- is a model of both love and faith.The beginning of the story describes Ken's bedroom, with what can be called 'nursery kitsch' on the walls -- decor that was installed when he was a baby and the parents hadn't gotten around to taking down. The item that's the "strangest of all" is a plaque with the biblical speech from the Book of Ruth:"Intreat me not to leave thee, or return from following after thee, for where thou goest I will go and where thou lodgest I will lodge..." Toward the end of the book, when both Flicka and Ken are recovering from near-fatal illnesses, Ken can hardly bear to look at the plaque -- the verse on it is now too close to his own experience.In another chapter the father gives a speech that I've never forgotten: that when we domesticate animals, one way or another we deprive them of their ability to fend for themselves and that imposes a moral obligation to care for and protect them.

This is a book I remember from my childhood. I was delighted to find it still available, and reread it with great pleasure. It is a loving thoughtful look at the relationship between a boy and a wild filly who comes to love him as much as he loves her, despite inevitable difficulties. I recommend it to anyone who loves animal stories. Recommended also is the sequel, Thunderhead, if it can be found.

This is a beautifully written novel about a boy who is desperate to own his own horse. He is a dreamer, so he daydreamed through his final exam and is flunking fifth grade — which puts his possible ownership in jeopardy. The novel is bursting with information about horses, prairie life in Wyoming just before WWII, and questions about gender roles. I needed two well-bound copies so I could give an assignment to a horse-loving student who could really relate to the character. The copies are in terrific condition and even have the waterproof plastic library covers with the original book jackets. The pages are heavy-duty paper that will last, and they are sewed in place. The price was unbeatable.

The novel remind me of my childhood as it paints a very beautiful picture of the ranch where Ken the main character lives. Each character has unique personalities in which I admire his father, love his mother, and be interested in the others' traits. The story is so lively that I am sad and happy with Ken and worry for him. Even each horse in the novel has their own characteristic as if they are human and I love that, I love the way the author build her characters.There are a lot of new vocabularies especially for a person whose English is foreign language. This may be a barrier and make you tired at the beginning. Do not give up. Be patient. Once you are more familiar with the new words, you just can not drop the novel for a minute.

Our niece was scheduled to go away to her first overnight summer camp which featured horseback riding and basic horse care. She was super enthusiastic and excited. My wife and I wanted to give her this classic to read before she went away and wanted to find a hardback copy to make the gift special. Could not find one. Finally ordered the "library binding" book from Amazon. When we received it we were thrilled. Quality binding almost indistinguishable from hardcover. We were proud to send it to her with an inscription. It was a hit. Thank you.

I loved this book as a child, and I got this for my granddaughter who is very into horses

Super nice quality of this used ( Hardcover ) book.My wife is a collector of old books. I got it for her just because she enjoys reading so much. Thank you, will definitely purchase again