Book Review: Dear Readers and Riders by Lettie Teague

I have a little bonus post for you today! Outside of model horses, one of my great loves is reading. To that end, I plan on having the occasional horse or hobby related book review. These won't be on any sort of schedule, just as the whim takes me. Without further ado, let's get into the first ever Macie's Model Horse Musings book review. 

Dear Readers and Riders by Lettie Teague

I believed I've mentioned it before, but I work in processing in a library. This means I'm the first one to handle the books that come in, as I unpack the boxes and check the contents against the purchase orders. This one came across my desk last year, and I immediately jotted down the title to read in the future. Well, in the time since I majorly fractured my arm and then went straight into show season, which throws a wrench in most of my free time. As show season began to wind down, I was looking through my notes for books to read and came across this one. It was purchased for the main location I work out of, so I nipped over to the stacks and brought it home for reading. 

Dear Readers and Riders examines the life and writing process of Marguerite Henry, as well as her impact on readers. Marguerite Henry is best known as the author of Misty of Chincoteague and its various sequels, in addition to numerous other horse books for children, such as King of the Wind and Brighty of the Grand Canyon. 

The book starts with a look into Henry's personal life before her writing career, starting as a child and moving into her adult years. From that point, the chapters are broken down into her most popular books and her writing process for each. There's less focus on her personal life, though it does come up in passing. What I found most interesting was not only the amount of research she put in (often traveling to the locations where her books were set, and interviewing real people), but her collaborations with her illustrators, particularly Wesley Dennis. I was also pleased to see how much Henry valued libraries, and how much she relied on local librarians for her research! 

The last portion of the book covers Henry's impact on popular culture, including the film adaptations of her work and the Breyer models made after them. Both Stephanie Macejko of Breyer and Peter Stone were interviewed, and there were several photos included of the various Breyer models, their advertisements, and packaging. BreyerFest itself even got a shoutout! 

This author has definitely not been offered a jello shot in the hallway of the CHIN

What I valued most about the book was its consistency in highlighting the impact Henry had on young horse enthusiasts. Teague includes scans of letters between Henry and various fans, and highlights the personal relationships Henry developed with the children who read her books. It was heartwarming to read about the pen pals she had, and how she allowed the neighborhood kids to ride Misty and throw her birthday parties.  

One thing I wish was that the chapters went a little more in-depth. As I mentioned, once Teague gets into the writing process of each book, mentions of Henry's life decline. The chapters are also quite short, in favor of covering as many of Henry's popular books as possible. 

Overall, I found the book enjoyable. I learned more about Marguerite Henry and her writing process, and it was fun to read about the process of how her models became Breyer models. I'd recommend this book to those looking to find out more about Henry, but maybe not those who are familiar with her already. I know personally I'd like learn a little bit more about her life, and I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for other books about her.