Product Description

Alec Ramsay has a hard time persuading his partners to retain the girl he hires as a trainer and an even harder time convincing them to let her race the Black Stallion when Alec is suspended as a jockey.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #383497 in Books
• Published on: 2005-05-24
• Released on: 2005-05-24
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780679820215
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Customer Reviews

The story behind this book...
Don't know how many readers are aware of the fact that Pam in this book (and a short snippet in the following book) is based on Walter Farley's own daughter, Pam Farley, who loved horses...she passed away in a car accident at the age of 20 in 1968 in Europe. Mr. Farley stated several times that this book "The Black Stallion & The Girl" was meant as a memorial of her free spirit and love of horses.

That being said, I do not think it is the best of the series. For one thing, I think that Mr. Farley had lost his 'spark' some time before that - and the early death of his beloved daughter didn't help much. The book has not aged well either - Pam comes across as a '60's hippie girl. Henry becomes an intolerant old geezer, and Alec begins to question his parents' values (why he would do that when they have given him a free rein all this time...well...).

I do admit that it was nice to read about Alec falling in love but all those scenes seemed so contrived to me...

It's still better than the followup that was released 12 years later "The Black Stallion Legend" which is just DEPRESSING.

Alec falls in love and remembers how it is just to ride for the fun of it
This is about Alec falling in love with a girl who applies for a job at Hopeful farm. Though those close to Alec don't think a girl should be involved in horse racing, he wants her to stay and she does. Pam (the girl) shows Alec what its like to be young though they are close in age Alec feels years older. Pam rides for the fun of riding. Alec has forgotten that since its become a business riding. Pam even works magic with Black Sand,The Black's grandson, Satan's son. In the end though Pam loves Alec and wants to one day marry him being young she still wants to see stuff and grow up. They promise to stay in touch, and even though Alec misses her he never forgets what she taught him.

Oddly in this book Pam rides The Black in a race. I'm pretty sure in most of the other books it's always been said that Alec is the only one the Black allows to ride him with expectation to the Black's original owner Abu Ben Ishak. There was even talk from Henry on putting another Jockey up on the Black if Pam couldn't handle him.

This was a good book, Pam and Alec's relationship was sweet. The character of Pam was great too she just had a spark to her and she kind of reminded me of Alec in the first few books, how she would talk softly and just say anything to calm a horse down.

Great book
I loved this book and I think it's the best book of Walter Farley's that I've read. I guess because I'm young, I liked the fact that it was a sort of romance story, but still had the main theme being focused on horses. I also liked the fact that the book didn't focus mainly on racing as some of his other books do. I thought that Pam was a very well developed character and that she is very unique (which is probably one reason Alec is attracted to her). I can't wait to read the next book and find out what happens to Alec, the Black, Pam, Henry, and everything going on at Hopeful Farm.