The Wild One

December 1, 2002
Gr 4-7-Sam, 13, returns to Nevada after a two-year absence in San Francisco where she was recovering from a head injury caused when she was thrown from her horse. She wonders what happened to Blackie, who ran away after the accident. After several encounters with the wild mustangs, she realizes that the beautiful stallion that she has seen is her horse but she doesn't think anyone will believe her. Unfortunately, one of her neighbors is determined to capture the stallion, now called the Phantom, and Sam knows that she has to save Blackie from this ambitious and uncaring rancher. In the end, she rescues him but sets him free because she realizes that he would never be happy in captivity. Sam is a likable and believable character whose determination and sensitivity will be appreciated by horse lovers. There is a fair amount of suspense and adventure as she tracks Blackie and his mares. Sam's relationship with her father is well drawn, and there is an interesting mixture of characters. This story has enough action to make it an entertaining read for fans of this genre.-Carol Schene, Taunton Public Schools, MA

Copyright 2002 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2002
Gr. 4-6. Sam's father has good reason to send her away from his Nevada ranch to a San Francisco aunt. Sam was seriously injured when she fell from a young stallion named Blackie; she was struck by Blackie's hoof in a cloud of confusion and dust, and Blackie has been missing ever since. Sam needs time to properly heal, but once she's whole and back home, she's determined to find Blackie. The appearance of a mysterious wild horse adds tension to the story. Farley, a horse owner, writes believably about horses, and she proves herself to be an able storyteller. A few details may strike the target audience as odd: what self-respecting horse lover past first grade, for example, would name her favorite horse Blackie? Still, the accurate horse information and Sam's infectious, independent spirit make this a promising option for a lot of horse-loving girls.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2002, American Library Association.)