The Black Stallion's Courage

Not the strongest entry in the series. Everyone is angry in this book. There's more shouting than usual. Henry shouts his way from the first page to the last. There are some races, which are wonderful. Is it a spoiler if I say that The Black wins most of 'em?

I wish I could travel in time to one of the races Farley was basing these on- I want to see the scrum of reporters elbowing each other to get to the jockey, I want to see the trainers shutting the top stall door in their faces. And I want everyone to be wearing a fedora.

If you want to know what life is like at the racetrack, pick up one of Walter Farley's books! It is incredibly hard to find an author who captures the essence of the horse, the race, or the track the way Farley does. To top all of that off, he is an amazing adventure writer for anyone in the mood for a quick chapter book read. Some parts of the story are a little contrived, but that was the adventure style of the time. I will always say that young readers who love horses should be given this book (indeed, the entire series) as a gift. They are guaranteed to enjoy it over and over again.

Hopeful Farm is in need of a new barn, and the only way to raise the needed funds is by racing Black Minx, and The Black! Can Alec and Henry keep The Black's daughter in top racing condition after the Kentucky Derby, and also transition The Black from his life at stud to a successful new career as an older handicap racer?

Another good, solid entry in The Black Stallion series.

Due to a barn fire, Alec needs a lot of money quickly. With Black Minx running the three-year-old classic races, maybe she'll bring in the funds, but Alec decides to bring the Black to the races as well. Interestingly, there's none of the old trouble with the Black trying to fight every other horse he sees; he's suddenly well-behaved. There are other problems, but eventually the Black's comeback pits him against the best three-year-old and the best older horse of the year.

Alec is desperate. A raging fire has destroyed the barn at Hopeful Farm, and it's going to cost $100,000 to rebuild it.

Suspense

I read all of the Black Stallion books when I was a child and I loved them. I still have the book.