Evan has a lot going on in his life.

Moving from London has been a big change, but his mum brought Evan and his big brother Charlie to Wales, claiming it was more “home.” Evan has got used to his new life away from the city. He has plenty of time with his Grandad, especially now Charlie is off at University, and his dad stayed in London in his 19 year stint as the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera.

One thing that hasn’t worked out well in Wales, is school. Evan likes his teacher Mr Thomas, especially during history lessons in class. History is Evan’s favourite subject as events have already happened and they can’t change after the fact, can they? But Mum seems to thrive on change. She seems to get bored with jobs, after being a baker, a clown, and an exercise instructor. Now after moving them, she has another business idea involving spin classes and karaoke.

The problem with school is Mr Thomas’ son Kai, who is determined to make Evan’s life as horrible as possible. Evan hasn’t made any friends and feels the isolation, especially after a school trip goes wrong and Kai ridicules Evan for his fear of the dark. A trip down through a mine museum and down underground is far from fun for Evan, but he also experiences something strange that no one else knows about.

He tries to talk about it with Grandad, as he worked in the local coal mines, but Grandad refuses to be coaxed into his past. Grandad has been the best part of Evan’s new life, with outings, pizza and movie nights and lots of fun, but now he is changing too. He seems to be getting confused about a lot lately, and doing strange things.

The last straw is the news that Mum’s boyfriend’s daughter Melly is moving in with them, “for a while.” Melly’s dad has been living with them while his house is renovated, and another change in Evan’s life makes him wonder where he actually fits in any more.

Mum’s mantra of, “…we’ll figure something out,” just isn’t good enough any longer.

Although there is a horse on the cover and pony is even in the title, there isn’t a strong flavour of horse or pony in The Shadow Pony. Sure, readers will learn about the shocking amount of pit ponies used in UK coal mines in the past, but this heart warming novel is really about a blended family, and a boy trying to find his place as it moulds and moves, and changes around him.

Relationships bend and almost break but not forever, and a mother’s way of putting problems aside until later, highlights problems that arise if the time is not taken to deal with them.

Dementia is a strong theme in this novel as a beloved Grandad struggles with change as much as his grandson does, but the bond between them is lovely. My heart was breaking for main character Evan when time with his beloved Grandad seems to be slipping away from him.

There is a lot going on in this novel, but that’s true in real life too. 

Author – Olivia Wakeford

Illustrator – David Litchfield

Age – 10

Publisher – Harper Collins UK

Set – Small town, Wales / Present

Viewpoint – 1st person, direct to reader

Violence – No

Real Life – Yes

Fantasy – A little

Blend – Real Life / Family / Change and Growing up

(2026, Harper Collins UK, Wales, Rugby, Pit Ponies, Mine Museum, Fear of the Dark, Class Bully, Bipolar, Dementia, Memory, Change, Animals, School, Family, Blended Family, Growing up, Bullies, School Project)