Author: Mary O'Hara
Genre: Novel, Young Adult literature, Fiction
Chapters: 36
Pages: 300
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Plot: Ken McLaughlin is a daydreamer and a time waster who lives on the beautiful Goose Bar Ranch in Wyoming, with his older brother, Howard; his loving mother, Nell; and his stern, practical father, Rob.
Needless to say Ken and Rob don't get along well and when Ken asked for a colt to raise, just as Howard did, Rob's first answer is an out ranged "No!". But Nell convinces Rob that having Ken raise a colt will teach him responsibility. And so the simple yet moving story of Ken and his relentless devotion to his training of his wild filly, Flicka, begins.
My thoughts: This story, in general, is very satisfying. I love the characters, humans and animals; the develop of them is so excellent that after just a few chapters you feel for them. O'Hara describes the remote ranch that McLaughlin's live on beautifully and now I want to go to Wyoming and see the magnificence rolling hills myself :).
If you were to ask me what my favorite character was in the novel, I would have to say Ken McLaughlin. I think he and I are very alike. I love to daydream, I have an affection for horses, and since I been to a cattle ranch twice (my dad's best friend owns one in California and we go for the annual round-up) I know that free feeling you get when your out in the open on horseback.
But if you where to ask me what my favorite horse was in the book I would reply "Rocket, the fierce black hellion of a horse."
Why? She is the essence of a pure wild horse. Not just non-domesticated, I mean out-of-control-crazy kind of wild or 'loco' as O'Hara puts it. She tears through barbed-wire fences many a time and almost takes out Rob McLaughlin's eye when he trying to remove the loop of a lariat from around her neck she snapped beforehand. Now you may be thinking "Umm...this horse sound crazy. How come Emily loves her so much?" Well Rocket is also extremely beautiful, her unusually long legs made her the fastest mare on the ranch and her body is muscular but slender at the same time. And that's about the only reason Rob keeps her on the ranch. (oh and did I mention she is the mother of Flicka.*gasp* :0 ;)
Ok ok, I realized could write a whole book on how much I love Rocket, so read My friend Flicka and you'll know what I mean :)
Apparently this book is apart of a trilogy (and I never really knew that until I finish the book). In spite of that you can just read My friend Flicka and be done at that, but if you want to continue the story the books that follow are: Thunderhead, and Green Grass of Wyoming. So you can guess what new books are on my summer reading list ;)
Concerns: To my disappointment Rob McLaughlin swears at time unnecessarily; using the B-word, D-word, and misusing the name of the Lord. Also there are some sections in which O'Hara describes Nell and Rob holding each other in bed, which may not be appropriate for the younger crowd. And after being out in a rain storm Rob, guarding Flicka outside, changes into dry clothes by the fireside (with Nell around), but only quickly refers to him being naked and getting dressed right away. So I would say this book is for 13+.
Over all My friend Flicka was an enjoyable read. Now on to Thunderhead :)
Emily <3
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