A review by jenbsbooks
Sea Star: Orphan of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry

4.0

Four star is probably a bit of a sentimental rating. I'm almost certain I read this a time or two in my younger years (what I wouldn't give for a lifetime Goodreads record!). I re-read the first book in the series April 2021, and it was a series I recommended for my boys. Just a cute/clean story of kids and horses. I have a hard copy in my home library and just grabbed one at the thrift store to put in my little free library - so I figured I'd give it a read. I went with the audio edition, and was able to grab a kindle copy from the library. There was a note from the author that she hadn't planned on writing a sequel, but had gone back to the island and saw the premise of this book (a baby colt with a star on it's forehead, whose mother didn't survive the crossing). I think the part about Misty, a movie about her being made, and the producers wanting her for publicity, was partly true too (a movie was made, and the author DID take Misty back home with her). 

This was written 20 years before I was even born ... it feels only the slightest bit dated. I still enjoyed the read and the story today, as I'm sure I did when I was young. I think the circumstances of the children parting with Misty were realistic (I had read the blurb and thought that they wouldn't just sell her) and it made me want to revisit book 1, as I don't remember it all (and perhaps check out the movie that was made). 

I don't even know how I pronounced Chincoteague in my head ... it's more of a Shhink-a-Teague. Noted the word riffling (better than rifling here). Song was sung by the narrator at one part.  Loved the word "recomember" (used five times, Grandpa and Paul) ... a mix of "remember" and "recall" ... I think it's super cute! I enjoyed the illustrations in the Kindle/Print copy.