Entries Categorized as 'Review'

The Black Stallion’s Ghost

Our rating: *

Alec and the Black are taking a vacation in Florida and meet, in the Everglades, Captain Philippe de Pluminel, who has trained a white mare to do Lipizanner tricks by music-cues, without a rider, and has traveled across the world with different circuses. Unknown to Alec, Captain Philippe has his eye on the Black for mating with his mare. Henry, (Alec’s friend and horse-trainer) who is in New York, doesn’t want Alec to have the Black mate. Alec is forced to stay at the captain’s residence because of fierce lightning and thunder, and that night the captain secretly tries to mate the Black with his mare.

This is a rather weird book. I didn’t mention it in the review, but the captain is superstitious and there’s a creature called Kovi that I’m not positive is “real” or not in this book. This book isn’t exactly all ages, because it probably wouldn’t be suitable for younger people. There is, however, one race in The Black Stallion’s Ghost, but it’s a small, short one that’s not very challenging — unlike in The Black Stallion’s Courage. This might be the worst Black Stallion book. I don’t really recommend it.

One Hungry Monster

Our rating: ****

An increasing number of hungry monsters create general chaos at a boy’s house as they look for something to eat.

Everything here is in rhyme. For the first ten pages or so, the monsters ask to be fed. For the next ten, the boy brings out food. To finish the book, the monsters play with their food until the boy gets fed up with them (no pun intended).

Lion Hound

Our rating: ***½

When a huge mountain lion begins bringing danger to the ranchers and tourists, it’s up to Jake Kane and his young friend Johnny to catch him. With the aid of his pack of hounds, Jake sets out to bag this lion, but it’s not as easy as he thought it would be. The lion is crafty, and not prone to panic. Jake needs all the help he can get from his hounds, but even that might not be enough to succeed.

I must say, one of the plot twists is very unexpected, not to mention gloomy. In case you’re wondering, yes, even though the book is mainly about Jake and Johnny, a dog does figure prominently in it. Buck, a young hound, (one of Jake’s “Kane hounds”) plays a very important role.

The Young Black Stallion

Our rating: **

The story of the Black before meeting Alec. Abu Já Kub ben Ishak breeds the fastest and strongest Arabian stallions. One black colt stands out from the others as being the largest and wildest. Soon, though, the Black is stolen by a Bedouin scout, who is working for Mansoor the Cat. What will become of the Black?

The last Black Stallion book by Walter Farley. It’s a moderately quick read, and I didn’t enjoy it as much as the others. It is interesting to gain a little background history about Abu Ishak, but, overall, it’s not a must-read of the Black Stallion series.

The Riflemen of the Ohio

Our rating: *****

This book begins when a fleet of boats comes from New Orleans carrying supplies to settlers in Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, the Indians are rallying together to drive all settlers from their land. The Indians attack the fleet while it is in the narrow areas on the Ohio River. The fleet has to force their way through to help a settlement in time, after being told by Henry Ware that it was in danger.

I liked this book for two reasons. Because I like books with adventure in them, and this book is the sequel to Kentucky Frontiersmen.