The Young Black Stallion

by Walter Farley, Steven Farley

Overview

In this prequel to The Black Stallion, we learn the story of the Black before he was shipwrecked with Alec Ramsay. Born in the mountain stronghold of Sheikh Abu Ishak, the colt shows great promise. During a band of robbers’ attempt to steal him, the colt escapes and learns to survive on his own in the high mountains. Will he ever find his way home?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780679813484
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	08/28/1991
Series:	Black Stallion Series , #21
Edition description:	REISSUE
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.65(h) x 0.36(d)
Lexile:	930L (what's this?)
Age Range:	10 - 13 Years

About the Author

Walter Farley's first book, The Black Stallion, was an instant hit when it appeared in 1941. Mr. Farley went on to write thirty-three other enormously popular books about the Black Stallion and other horses which were published in more than twenty countries. He died in 1989, shortly before the publication of his last novel, The Young Black Stallion, written with his son Steven. 

Steve Farley is the son of Walter Farley, the man who created the Black Stallion and wrote 20 stories about the best-loved literary horse of all time. A freelance writer based in Manhattan, Steve travels frequently, especially to places where he can enjoy riding, diving, and surfing.

Editorial Reviews

The wonderfully improbable chronicles of the Black Stallion continue with this narrative of the Black's colthood in the mountains of Arabia. Specially bred to strengthen the bloodlines of Sheik Abu Ishak's herds, the Black is the victim of a failed horse raid. Driven out of his secluded pasture, the colt takes up with a herd of ibex. Soon he is scaling sheer rock faces and dueling fierce rams to the death. Befriended by Rashid, a young Bedouin, the stallion journeys to the desert, attempting to elude the rival groups of horse traders that seek him. As all devotees of the series know, the Black is finally recaptured and put aboard the tramp steamer Drake , just in time for his star-crossed meeting with Alec Ramsay, his future master. Although this prequel never quite matches the sparkle of the earlier works, it certainly should answer several questions about the Black's beginnings. Even the book's rather cloying mystical streak is unlikely to disturb the loyal followers of the legendary stallion. Ages 10-14. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Gr 5-9-- Almost 50 years after the publication of The Black Stallion (Random, 1944), Farley and his son explain the events leading up to ``Shetan's'' boarding the ill-fated steamer. The adventure begins with a raiding party's attempts to steal the yearling from his breeder, Abu ben Ishak. Shetan, angered by the cruel Ibn al Khaldun, escapes from the pasture. Sharing his new life as a fugutive is Rashid, Khaldun's Bedouin scout who bungled the raid. In a series of cinematic episodes, Rashid and Shetan survive the dangers of Arabia's mountains. Some coincidences mar the plot's believability, but readers will enjoy the story's twists and exciting scenes. The last chapters rehash the truck racing scenes from The Raiders of the Lost Ark, but readers will be driven to complete the story. The Farleys repeat the trademark style, complete with excess adjectives and breathless scenes. Rashid is portrayed as a devout Moslem who frequently thanks Allah for his survival. Shetan's hatred of man arises from his struggles to escape the raiders--and his supposed heritage as the son of ``The Stallion of the Midnight Sky.'' Devoted readers might accept the former premise, but they will discard the second. The Black Stallion Mystery (Random, 1965) confirmed that a real-life stallion, Ziyadah, sired Shetan. Compared to other Farley titles, this rates average. Anxious fans will savor the story, nonetheless. --Charlene Strickland, formerly at Albuquerque Public Library , NM

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