Meadowsweet

Disgrifiad Cymraeg / Welsh Description

Mae Catrin yn daer am gael ceffyl iddi hi ei hun. Pan wêl hi gaseg palomino a gaiff ei gwerthu oni chaiff gartref, mae hi'n benderfynol o gynnig cartref iddi. Ond mae gan Catrin lawer i'w ddysgu wrth gymryd cyfrifoldeb dros gaseg gyfeb...

Disgrifiad Saesneg / English Description

Catrin desperately wants a pony of her own. When she discovers a beautiful palomino mare in desperate need of a home and destined for the market, she is determined to give her a home. But taking ownership of a mare in foal is a huge responsibility, and Catrin has a lot to learn...

Dosbarthu

Byddwn yn dosbarthu eitemau sydd mewn stoc o fewn 3 diwrnod gwaith, fel arfer drwy Royal Mail Tracked 48. Ar gyfer archebion o flaen llaw, byddwn yn dosbarthu’r eitem o fewn 3 diwrnod gwaith ar ôl ei derbyn gan ein cyflenwr.

Dispatch

In-stock items will be dispatched within 3 business days, usually by Royal Mail Tracked 48. For pre-orders, we’ll dispatch within 3 business days of receiving the item from our supplier.

Adolygiad y Cyhoeddwr / Publisher Review

'Meadowsweet' is a pretty name for a story about a girl and her pony, but readers should not be deceived. The herb which grows in damp meadows has proved to be a powerful healer through the ages and its namesake is no exception. The novel is not merely the sweet tale of one girl, her quest for a pony and flowers in a meadow. It is a tale of growing up, determination, family life and a surprisingly frank evocation of the darker undertones of country life which would ensure a wide range of young readers would engage with it. Set on Welsh hills, the kind where there is always another ridge above the summit, and ponies, both wild and contained, graze at will, the landscape is well defined and sensitively evoked. Catrin, our heroine, is in many ways understated but her quiet, determined approach to problems is both refreshing and endearing. She lives with mum Sian, dad Terry and little brother Tom,a budding musician. The household is loving, supportive and generally without angst, save for the realistic undercurrent of financial worries and challenges throughout. Problems tend to be sorted out through reasonable discussion and argument instead of explosive tension – a rare treat for many young readers. Catrin’s circumstances contrast with those of her best friend, Bethan, already the proud owner of a feisty pony, Deryn; she has holidays in Florida compared to Catrin’s in Abersoch. Indeed it is Bethan who first fuels Catrin’s longing for a pony of her own. Catrin falls in love instantly with Meadowsweet, a palomino mare, currently enclosed in a field by the rather gruff Mr Davies. The added joy and complication of Meadowsweet’s being in foal provides plenty of challenges to Catrin’s dream of acquiring her very own pony. The reader is pulled gently along through Catrin’s endeavours and on the way we meet some appealing and unappealing characters, from Ffi who owns donkeys in Abersoch to the charmless Mr Davies who wants to sell Meadowsweet. Both prove to be an important part of Catrin’s maturing and her sense of responsibility in life. Other characters could have benefitted from some richer development which would have enhanced Catrin’s story. Although uncluttered in its simplicity, the language in the story is often beautiful and evocative. “Alone in a strange darkening world – the last of the species on earth!” There is plenty to stimulate young readers here and some rich descriptive moments. The novel is a gentle reflection on love, family, friendship and realising dreams. Yet it stops short of being too neat. There will always be hurdles to overcome and indeed more adventures.