In Henry's latest novel, her first in many years, Dr. Sandy Price and her two children travel to Chincoteague, Virginia, to buy ponies. Having read Misty of Chincoteague Dr. Price's dream of owning a horse from Misty's lineage is fulfilled when she purchases Sunshine, who eventually foals a pinto Dr. Price names Misty's Twilight. Filled with spirit and talent, the young horse trains as a cutting horse and a jumper before it finally succeeds as a dressage horse. While the idea behind this novel is excellent, the book goes off course and lacks the finely tuned, child-centered story and family warmth that have been Henry's trademarks. The focus on the two-dimensional adult character of Dr. Price fails to capture the reader. In addition, some plot threads are left hanging. Although undiscerning horse enthusiasts will probably enjoy the story, avid Henry fans will do better to reread old favorites. (Reviewed Sept. 1, 1992)

In a dated piece that will bring fond memories to legions of Misty's friends, the author attempts to capture the earlier magic in a story about one of Misty's presumed descendents. Unfortunately, the dialogue is stilted, and the story stumbles with preachy conservation messages. Only in the section describing Twilight's training does the narrative move with tension and passion.

Billed as fiction but more like a fictionalization concerning one of Misty's descendants (dedicating the book to Dr. Sandy Price''—the name of the human protagonist here- -encourages that surmise). Many of Henry's books, including Misty of Chincoteague (1947) and her Newbery-winning King of the Wind (1948), are basically fact though couched as fiction; unfortunately this, without explanation, works as neither. The story opens with Sandy—physician, owner of a Florida farm that raises thoroughbreds, and (apparently) single parent- -dragging her unwilling kids (Pam, 10; Chris, 7) to Chincoteague, where they purchase four ponies at the annual auction. One of these, bred to a thoroughbred, becomes the mother of Twilight, a feisty, intelligent scamp of no known breed that no one knows quite what to do with. While the kids grow up offstage, Sandy tries one trainer after another, first hoping to showTwi'' as a cutter, then as a jumper, and finally in dressage—the 1996 Olympics are mentioned as a possibility. Henry knows her horses and writes well about their quirks, charms, and behavior; but though this adult-centered narrative about an affluent doctor—whose troubles with her horse are always addressed by hiring yet another trainer—may be authentic, it will be of interest mostly to those who relish every crumb about Misty's family. (Fiction. 9-12)"

Gr 5-8 --Readers will grab this book with high expectations, but the plot won't capture them like the real-life dramas that inspired the previous three Chincoteague stories. Twilight is the great-great-granddaughter of the famous pinto, Misty of Chincoteague (Macmillan, 1990). Sired by a thoroughbred, the delightful pony samples the popular equestrian sports of cutting, jumping, and dressage. Her family, Dr. Sandy Price and her children, Chris and Pam, experience the excitement of Pony Penning Day at Chincoteague, and Twilight personifies the romance of the wild ponies. She is an engaging pony whose spirit is true to her ancestry. The protagonist, Sandy, is a mature woman seeking to live a childhood dream, with Chris and Pam as secondary characters. They're enthusiastic horse lovers, but they can't compare to Paul, Maureen, and Grandpa Beebe. The story repeats Henry's folksy style while it relives the magic of its predecessors. This sequel will suggest a rereading of the earlier books. --Charlene Strickland, formerly at Albuquerque Public Library , NM