My Friend Flicka

Ken is the 10-year-old protagonist of My Friend Flicka. He goes to boarding school during the year and then spends each summer at Goose Bar Ranch, a ranch in Wyoming owned by his family. At the start of this summer, he is afraid for his parents to find out that he did poorly in school, causing him to have to repeat the fifth grade. When confronted about his poor performance by his father, he admits that he spent most of his time getting distracted and day-dreaming about the ranch. His primary motivation throughout the novel is his desire to raise a young horse as his own, emphasizing to his mother that it would make him feel like he had a true “friend” for the first time.

Ken’s primary characteristics at the start of the novel are his immaturity and his irresponsibility. While his father expects him to help around the farm and take on more responsibility, Ken’s lack of focus prevents him from doing so despite his desire. For example, when Ken learns that his father is bringing the three-year-old horses down from the pasture to begin their training, his father does not trust him to help.