The Silver Donkey

Sonya Hartnett

Puffin Books

October 2007 $19.95

192p pb

ISBN: 978-0143301578

Penguin Books: Viking

October 2004 $24.95

192p hc

ISBN: 0-670-04240-4

The Silver Donkey, by Sonya Hartnett, is a story about two sisters, Marcelle and Coco, who find a soldier asleep in the woods. They talk to the soldier and discover that he has deserted from the war and is trying to get back to England so that he can see his brother before he dies. They also find that he has become blinded by the war. The girls take pity on him and promise to keep his presence in the forest a secret. The next day, the girls bring him food and see him fiddling with a small trinket. When they ask what it is, he shows them that it’s a solid silver donkey. The soldier then tells them stories about donkeys throughout history that have been brave, kind and trustworthy. But when the girls can’t think of a plan to get the soldier home, they have to share their secret with their brother, Pascal, and their friend, Fabrice, who eventually help them to make a plan to get the soldier home.

The Silver Donkey is set around the time of WWI and is very well written. The author has used references from the Bible, folk legend from overseas, and stories from the trenches during the war. This book should be an enjoyable read for 9 to 15 year olds, as it is well written and has lovely sketches of scenes throughout the book. Readers of this book should find it a pleasurable and interesting read.

Frances, aged 14, Canberra, Australia

A donkey is a humble creature, trustworthy, loyal and honest, never giving up.  A donkey is often overlooked, yet brings a great deal of happiness to the world in many ways.

Two girls stumble across a young man in the woods one day; he is a young man turned blind by the horrors he has seen, a young man who has run away from the war and needs their help to return home.  As they think of how they can help him they meet him regularly in a secluded part of the woods, and he tells them many stories.  Stories of his good luck charm – a silver donkey.

Although this donkey is but a trinket, what it represents is so much more than that.  The soldier tells stories of how a donkey helped people with little thought of itself, and although it may suffer in the process, did what would benefit others.  Stories such as how a donkey carried Mary who was pregnant with baby Jesus to Bethlehem, and how a donkey condemned itself to suffering so that other animals would not have to live in drought. These stories continue throughout the novel at random points, and all have morals and meanings that stem back to the traits of a donkey.

Between these stories, there is still the main plot of helping the soldier.  By working together, many things can be accomplished.  But what will they do, and will he return home safely?

I really liked this novel, as it is one of the few novels by Sonya Hartnett I have read that has a distinctive happy ending. As per her other books, it is beautifully written and a joy to read.  She is a fantastic author, and I enjoyed this book immensely. There are images used in this novel, placed occasionally and along with captions, highlighting significant moments in the novel to great effect.  The Silver Donkey is a book that can be enjoyed and appreciated by all ages, and I recommend it for everyone to read. 

Sarah, Year 10, Canberra, Australia