Book Review: Man ‘O War by Walter Farley

A fictionalized biography of the American race horse who won twenty of twenty-one races, told by a stable boy who grew up with the great horse.

If you love horses, horseracing and Man o’ War, I highly recomend this book! Even if you don’t have an interest in horses, you would still love this book! It’s about Man o’ War from the night he was foaled, to the tragic day he died… It gives you full details of his races, winning an astonishing 20 of his 21 starts..The race he lost, I think was unfair! (Read to find out!!) It tells alittle about some winners he sired..I learned a lot about this amazing Champion from reading this book…There is soOo much more I can say about this book..but I want you to read to find out!! ENJOY IT!! I KNOW YOU WILL!!*


Book Review: The Island Stallion by Walter Farley

When Steve Duncan is asked to go on an archeological search on a remote Caribbean island, he never imagines the stallion he will find there. But the giant horse is unapproachable, showing nothing but fear and fury towards people. When the stallion gets caught in quicksand, can Steve get close enough to save the wild horse?

Oppsy I thought I posted this one…seems I missed it.

Flame the Island Stallion; he doesn’t get as much attention as his “brother” The Black. But the Island Stallion is a remarkable book, for some it will be something fresh by Walter Farley, since you will be meeting new characters. The book its self is interesting in that half the book takes place on Azul Island, so for the most part the only people we see are Steve Duncan and his friend Pitch. One would think that would make for a boring story, but it doesn’t there is just as much adventure in this book as some of the Black Stallion books. Just like the black stallion it is about a boys love for a wild stallion, a love which in a way tames the stallion. The book is told in a time period of 2 weeks so that is also very different from some of the Black Stallion books. I think most who have enjoyed reading Walter Farley’s The Black Stallion (Books), being there with Alec and the Black. Will enjoy The Island Stallion where they will be there with Steven and Flame. Who wouldn’t want to have a similar adventure like Steve has, finding a lost world that only you and someone else knows about and seeing these incredible beautiful horses, and to top off seeing some ancient artifacts.

Book Review: The Black Stallion Challenged by Walter Farley

The Black Stallion is the fastest horse in America and he and his jockey, Alec Ramsay, are training for a big race. Suddenly there comes a new challenger: Flame! An unproven racer, the Island Stallion can run like the wind and his jockey, Steve Duncan, knows that Flame will give the Black the race of his life. But what neither Steve nor Alec know, is that these two stallions have met before, and they hate each other.

The Black Stallion Challenged is number seventeen in the set of books written by Walter Farley. Walter Farley is best known for The Black Stallion, but he also wrote a set of stories about Flame, a horse hidden on an island in the Caribbean’s. The Black Stallion Challenged is the second cross over story. Steve, the boy who rides Flame, wants to win $65,000 racing Flame so he can buy the island Flame lives on.

Alex, who owns the Black, gives Steve advice. Steve is new to the racing world and Alex tries to teach Steve all the little facets of racing that Alex has learned over years of racing the Black. Steve takes some of the advice. This being fiction we have a race between the Black and Flame, the two fastest horses in the world!

Walter Farley does a great job of telling the story. Most of his stories are basically about a big horse race. But each time he tells the story in a different way. We learn about how different jockeys ride, and how different horses approach the track. Some horses are excited and want to race, others are a bit fearful. Walter Farley spent years in the racing world and it shows.

In this story a filly stumbles and fractures one of her forelegs during a race because the jockey was pushing too hard. There is a whole chapter on the operation as the vet works on the leg. There is another chapter about the jockeys getting ready for the big race. Much of this chapter is told from the point of view of the man who runs the scales.

I have enjoyed every Walter Farley story I’ve read. This was no exception. It is well written and well paced. My young neice constantly wanted me to read another chapter. If you have liked any of the other Black Stallion or Flame stories, give The Black Stallion Challenged a try.



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