No Small Thing

Christina Pike is a member of the Evaluation Division, Department of
Education, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Twelve-year-old Nathaniel and his two sisters, Cid and Queenie, see an
ad in the newspaper for a free pony that needs a good home. Nat manages
to convince the owner to let them have the pony, without telling their
mother. Nat determines that he can pay for the upkeep of the horse with
the money he earns delivering newspapers. The siblings, who want to be
the way they were before their father walked out four years earlier,
believe that the pony is a sign that things are changing. Thus begins
their adventure.

Ghent writes realistically about a family facing hard luck, portraying
life’s struggles matter-of-factly. The mother, who is desperately
trying to keep things as normal as possible, is losing the battle. Nat
is filled with anger at both his absent father and his
barely-able-to-cope mother. Caring for the pony is “no small thing”;
it helps Nat and his sisters come to terms with the changes in their
lives and gives them a sense of purpose. No Small Thing has fine
writing, a good story, and believable characters. Highly recommended.