Review
A FORGOTTEN PIECE OF AMERICANA BROUGHT TO VIVID LIFE! Kirkus ReviewsA horse tells the story of the Overland Westerners' ride around the United States in this YA historical novel.Pinto, the equine narrator of this book, has handsome black-and-white coloring and a noble heritage as a Morab (halfArabian, half Morgan). He calls himself "a little horse with big dreams," and that makes him perfect for accompanying hisnew owner, George Beck, on his fame-and-fortune scheme. The idea is that Beck and three other men--callingthemselves the Overland Westerners--will leave Bainbridge Island in Washington in 1912 for a 20,000-mile trip, thelongest horseback ride in history. They plan to visit every state capitol in the continental U.S., taking photographs ofthemselves with each governor. Along the way, they'll sell calendars, postcards, and magazine subscriptions to help fundthe journey, and wind up in California for the 1915 World's Fair, the Panama-Pacific Exposition. Like many otherambitious stunts, this one runs into severe difficulties: bad weather, arduous trails, and a constant money shortage,especially as the Westerners get farther east. Their promotional items and magazines don't sell, and many governorsrefuse photo opportunities. The Westerners finish the odyssey, but there's no gold at the end of their rainbow, and it'shard on the animals; it can be upsetting to see them suffer. Happily, though, Pinto ends his days on Bainbridge, "a goodlife for a horse." Historical information and photographs are included. In her book, Evans (The Stone of Wisdom, 2018,etc.) deftly brings out the pluck of the Westerners and the variety and verve of America in the early 20th century. At onestop, for example, the Westerners have no success because a stunt stilt-walker has already been through "and pinchedevery penny out of the people." Pinto's lively, appealingly egotistical voice is appropriate to this young, ambitious America:"I am quite aware of how spectacular I am." But while they are brave, the Westerners' vainglorious enterprise is hard toapplaud, because it mainly resulted in poverty for the men and exhaustion, injury, or worse for the horses.A forgotten piece of Americana brought to vivid life.
PINTO! deserves a spot on the reading lists of not only young, horse-crazy readers, but adults who like horse tales ala Black Beauty.
Diane Donovan for Midwest Book Reviews
Pinto! tells of a little horse with big dreams,is accessible by advanced elementary to early middle school grades, and follows the first-person reflections of a 1912 horse who, along with humans George Beck and three others, undertook a 20,000-mile journey over the span of three years with the goal of visiting every state capital in the union.
The narrator is the only horse to make it through all three years, and recounts terrible, wonderful explorations in a lively, observational manner that will excite young leisure readers--even those who resist history stories.
M.J. Evans recreated this true history from journals written by George Beck and Raymond Rayne which are in the possession of the Bainbridge Island Historical Museum, but added fictional embellishments to fill in blanks and enhance the drama.
As the young Pinto becomes one of the rare Overland Westerners to experience strange new worlds,he becomes ever more determined to see the journey to its end.
Evans has long been a dedicated horse lover, which is why this history is so steeped in the sights,smells, sounds, and perceptions of Pinto. Not only physical challenges of snowstorms and snakes, but the oddities of humans are related from Pinto's unique perspective.
The humans he accompanies are also steeped in Western culture and perceptions of the great frontier: "It feels so good to be back in the West," George said,throwing away my reins and patting me on the neck with both hands.
"Yep," added Jay,"these are our kind of people, cattle people, out of doors people. They know what it's like to be on their own in harsh conditions."
If the goal is to capture an impossible journey's daily experiences and couch it in the drama and excitement of a horse-lover's perspective, then Pinto! more than fits the bill. It deserves a spot on the reading lists of not only young,horse-crazy readers, but adults who like horse tales ala Black Beauty and others which are nicely steeped in their times and hard to put down.
"PINTO! is written with a unique twist and is both informative and entertaining." -- Edith Wairimu for Readers' Favorite
On May 1, 1912, Messrs J. B. Ransome, George W. Beck, C.C. Beck, and Raymond Rayne, better known as the Overland Westerners, began their journey intending to travel to every state capital in the Union. They began their journey with gusto, eager to acquire fame and fortune and meet the governors of the states. Their initial excitement began to dwindle as they faced challenges they could not have imagined at the beginning. From adverse weather conditions, a case of theft, the devastating loss of their horses to encountering unscrupulous and many times uninterested citizens ignorant of their mission, the Overland Westerners had to hold on to every strand of hope they had and keep forging forward. But would they achieve the recognition and fortune they had imagined from the beginning? Their fascinating and many times disheartening adventures are told in PINTO! by Margi (M.J.) Evans.
The work takes a unique angle as it gives Pinto, George Beck's horse, a voice through which the story is told. Pinto is at first stubborn and unwilling to embark on the arduous journey but soon his master's excitement starts to rub off on him and George's dream becomes Pinto's dream. The loss of each horse is heartfelt as it is captured through the eyes of another horse. The work also shines a light on details regarding horses including their diet, how they should be treated and what is involved in their care. It also reveals ways in which horses react to human actions including mistreatment. PINTO! by Margi (M.J.) Evans revives an amazing part of history that has lain forgotten for ages. It is written with a unique twist and is both informative and entertaining.
It is a story of joy, tragedy, heartache, and dedication by a group of men and their horses and the people that they meet along the way. If you read Pinto, I know you will not be disappointed. -- Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite
George, Slim, Fats, and Jay decide to ride to every state capital, get their picture with each governor and become rich and famous. The trip starts in 1912 and they aim to finish in 1915 at the Panama Pacific Expo in San Francisco, making 50 stops and traveling 1,127 days and 20,352 miles. Pinto starts out as the pack horse carrying as much gear as they can load on his back but soon George is riding him every day. Pinto's thoughts are described in great detail, explaining the difficulties of crossing rivers, fighting their way through snowstorms, having to keep making new horse friends, meeting and greeting and having people take his picture with their children on his back, and so much more. It is impossible not to root for the little horse to reach San Francisco and be welcomed as a hero.
Pinto by Margi (M.J.) Evans is a true historical story, but it is told only by Pinto the horse, a Morab - half Morgan and half Arabian, who was there for the entire journey. It was really a very refreshing and different viewpoint of a very long and perilous ride. I enjoyed reading Pinto a lot. It was from such a different perspective than most historical fiction books I read. Margi (M.J.) Evans took a real event that few people have ever heard of and wove it into a very special story. I believe that Pinto is a book everyone can enjoy; horse lovers, history lovers, storytelling fans, and all readers in fact of all ages. It is a story of joy, tragedy, heartache, and dedication by a group of men and their horses and the people that they meet along the way. If you read Pinto, I know you will not be disappointed.
From the Author
I spent 2 1/2 years researching the story of the Overland Westerners, including reading all the journals that are still in existence. Now, over 100 years later, I'm trying to make Pinto, the only horse to complete the entire 20,300 mile journey, the star he deserves to be!
About the Author
Award-winning author, M.J. Evans grew up in Lake Oswego, Oregon and graduated from Oregon State University. She spent five years teaching junior high and high school students before retiring to raise her five children. The author is a life-long equestrian and enjoys competing in dressage and riding in the beautiful Colorado mountains where she and her husband now live.
