Classic children's novel about finding your place in the world. Adam and his Shetland pony Haki have been inseparable. Haki is clever and brave and Adam soon trains him to do things other Shetland ponies can't -- to act, to dance and to follow the sound of Adam's bagpipes. But Adam must move off the island to find work and selling Haki is the only way he can leave. Then the pair performs at the Highland Show and a ringmaster is so impressed by the talented pony that he lets Haki, and Adam, join his traveling circus. Haki -- with Sondra the friendly elephant -- become stars of the big tent but some of the circus folk are jealous of their success. Can Adam protect his friend? This classic children's novel from much-loved author Kathleen Fidler takes the reader on an entertaining journey -- from a small Scottish crofting community to the bright lights of the circus. Fidler's authentic and charming depiction of life on Shetland remain, to this day, an unrivalled portrait of Scotland's islands. Born on a croft in the Shetland Islands Haki is a beautiful Shetland pony and is his owner s pride and joy. But there is no future for Adam on his parents croft and his only option is to sell Haki and find a job on the mainland. Adam cannot bear to do this and persuades a circus owner to buy Haki and employ him as Haki s trainer. They settle into the exciting life of a travelling circus, and Haki becomes a star overnight, in a double-act with Sondra, the elephant. But the chimp master, Willie Baxter, is jealous of Adam s success, and is determined to ruin everything. Kathleen Fidler was the author of over eighty books for children, many of which were broadcast on BBC Radio Children's Hour and Schools programmes. She had a long-standing affection for Scotland. The Fidler Award stands as a memorial to her deep interest in children and writers. She died in 1980.
