Walter Farley (1915–1989)

I changed my mind...

Sometimes when I've read a childhood favorite, it remains a favorite, but more often it loses something in revisiting. Frequently I regret rereading a story, once so beloved, but now become tarnished. I never considered The Black Stallion and the Girl as a favorite, so I approached my reread with less than high hopes for a change in feelings.

And yet, they were there.

With the addition of a new trainer to Hopeful Farm we are once again treated to not only schooling show more methods and daily care of thoroughbred horses, but also shown the racing world struggling with changes to its long held domination by men. The author explores the inroads women were making into the sport at the time this book was written, some fifty years ago, done with a fairly deft hand, much more realistic than agenda-driven. And through it all Walter Farley shines in his details of the jockey rooms, the paddocks, the announcer's booth, even the starting gates so central to it all.

While I would not place this with the best of the series, it's close. Don't judge this book by its cover, or title. show less

It is a classic and deservedly so in so many ways. Once, when life was a bit slower, people traveled the world on ships. And the ships stopped at many ports, and at one of those ports young Alec Ramsey sees a magnificent black stallion that can barely be contained by his handlers. Somehow, he manages to come onboard the ship where a specially-built stall is constructed for him, and Alec manages to befriend him with a cube of sugar, a bit of apple, and the adventure begins.

What captured me as show more a young, horse-mad girl, at a time when horse pastures were being "zoned" out of existence in and around Atlanta, was the solitude that Alec had with his horse on the desert island. I was so very glad that the movie captured the look and the feel of living there, only the two of them, learning to trust one another, and eventually Alec climbs on The Black's back for that marvelous ride around the island, feeling joy in existence and possibilities.

What I noticed now was the publication date: 1941. This book was written before the US entered World War II, horses were still kept near people's homes, and the return Alec makes to his home is not quite as jarring as it once was. The training that Alec goes through with Henry is intense (how on earth did Alec stay awake in class??) but again, there is that sense that *this* is the most wonderful of horses ever and adds a bit of apprenticeship to the magic of The Black Stallion. show less

On his way back from India visiting his uncle, Alec is present when a wild, black, Arabian stallion is brought on the ship. Admiring the magnificent horse, Alec does his best to become friends, trying to go by the Black's stall and give him gifts of apples and sugar. Then the Drake goes down in a storm, and Alec and the Black both end up on a desert island, needing each other to survive.

I devoured horse books as a kid, and this was one of my favorite series. In fact, I seem to have merged show more some of them together in my head - I was all ready for the horse races that come later, and forgot that this one starts as a survival story. Classic children's books can be hit or miss, but this one holds up pretty well. While it may have some details that would need to be explained to kids (blotting a paper after taking a test, for example), there's still a lot of adventure and excitement to keep the pages turning. And when Alec gets home and starts training the horse, there are lots of details for the kids like I was that want to know all about horses and riding. show less

When I read Farley's work I am always amazed at how capable he is of capturing the essence of action and suspense in his adventure stories. You would think that he carried a tape recorder around with him and dictated chaotic events as they were happening so that they could be used later, because the action is so perfectly done, it's as if you're watching it or listening to it yourself. All of this is done without the lengthy descriptions that some authors rely on to express danger or show more distress. The masterful way that Farley can give just the right amount of information to engage your brain while letting your imagination automatically fill in the rest is simply beyond measure.

Young readers will love his action-packed story of the Black's return and will find their hearts racing as he and his son battle the blaze so often depicted on the cover of the book. But adults be warned, you won't be able to put this one down either. If you loved the series as a child, you'll be picking it up again and enjoy every minute as if it was the first time. show less