Imaginative language and strong story line should make this appealing to young girls, though perhaps not enough focus on the interaction with the pony to satisfy those who are horse-crazy. Willanna "Willie" and her 6 yr old brother are orphaned and travel to live with their uncle in the Dakota Territory in 1883. A special white foal born on the day of their arrival is given to her to raise and she names it Snowbird. The series of losses over the next 2 years, Willie's sense of "being accountable" for what happens, made me wonder how the author was going to pull the ending together. Willie is a strong-willed person however, does come to terms with her grief, her "heart like a turtle", and return to her dream of being a writer "like Louisa May Alcott". ( )