Do You like book The Black Stallion Legend (2005)?
As a book in a series about a horse, this is lousy. As a father's meditation on what the world looks like after he's lost his daughter, this is powerful. The story, as story, isn't much- it's implausible and goofy and nonsensical in the extreme. But the central theme, how to go on living after the death of someone deeply beloved, redeems this in my eyes, at least. This last of the Black Stallion books has no races, no Henry to speak of, but most of all, it has Pam's ghost in every word. I can't recommend it, but neither can I recommend against it.
—Melody
Well, this was not at all what I expected. It's dark, dystopian, and Alec goes out of his mind, literally. Alec grows up over the course of the series, which I appreciate but things take a dark turn in this book. If you're been reading the series in order, you had some warning, but not a lot; if you're reading out of order, you're taken completely by surprise. The book combines mysticism, dystopia, mental health issues, sudden death and oh yes, horses. Specifically the Black; we get a glimpse of mustangs but horse-wise, the focus is on the Black. Story-wise, the focus is grief and death and the end of the world with a large helping of mysticism. Alec spends time with some American Indians up in high hills out west; Farley's portrayal is a mix of accuracy and stereotypes.If you're looking for a book about a boy and his horse, the story has hints of that; if you want a book about horse racing, skip this book.
—Bea
This book was great and vary underrated. (view spoiler)[The stress of competitive racing is catching up to Alec, so is all that he's been though over the past several years. When Pam dies it hits him hard and he can't think straight. He ends up on the road, with no idea where he's going or how he ended up there, but had still made sure to bring the Black with him.He ends up on a mountain, following a herd of wild horses and pretending to be a horse (I loved that part). He soon meets a tribe of people who need him to help them. Alec becomes a hero and starts to regain his self-confidence, and he finds the word HOPE on the ruins of his truck. Like in "The Black Stallion's Ghost" it is unclear at the end weather it really happened or if Alec just imagined it. Either way, Alec has learned to keep on living and to have hope, that's why it's called Hopeful Farms. (hide spoiler)]
—Jesse Haubert
