The Shadow Pony

Author: Wakeford, Olivia

Reading age: from c 9 years

Published on 26 February 2026 by HarperCollins Publishers (HarperCollins) in the United Kingdom.

Paperback | 256 pages
197 x 129 x 21 | 230g

A gorgeous story of family love through generations – perfect for fans of Hannah Gold and Katya Balen

A GORGEOUS STORY OF FAMILY LOVE THROUGH GENERATIONS

Evan hates change, which is a big problem because the last few years have brought a lot of it. His family is split down the middle, and lately Grandad hasn’t been himself. But Evan can always depend on best friend Okie Dokie, his lovable dog.

When a school trip takes Evan to an old mine where Grandad used to work, things go disastrously wrong. Grandad refuses to talk to Evan about the mine, and especially about the poor pit ponies that worked down there in the dark.

But Evan is desperate to know more about Grandad’s past and if he can only find out what Grandad’s hiding, the weird gulf between them will surely disappear. Can Evan uncover Grandad’s secrets before they are lost forever?