The Wild One (Phantom Stallion #1) [Paperback]

Terri Farley (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up | Series: Phantom Stallion

When 13-year-old Samantha returns home to her family′s cattle ranch in Nevada, she′s worried. She moved away two years ago to recover from a bad fall off her beloved mustang, Blackie, and she′s still not sure she can get back in the saddle. Her new colt doesn′t seem to like her, and the other ranchers treat her like the boss′s spoiled daughter, and Blackie has been missing since that fateful day.

But that′s just the beginning. When Sam suddenly finds the fate of a mysterious mustang who may or may not be the missing Blackie - resting in her hands, she has to learn to be a real cowgirl, ready or not. The classic theme of a girl and her horse is set against a backdrop of mustangs, tumbleweeds, and a West that′s still Wild.

Phantom Stallion #1: The Wild One

On a moonlit night, a mustang comes to Sam. Is it Blackie grown up and gone wild? Is it the legendary phantom stallion? Or could it be both?

Ages 10+

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7-Sam, 13, returns to Nevada after a two-year absence in San Francisco where she was recovering from a head injury caused when she was thrown from her horse. She wonders what happened to Blackie, who ran away after the accident. After several encounters with the wild mustangs, she realizes that the beautiful stallion that she has seen is her horse but she doesn't think anyone will believe her. Unfortunately, one of her neighbors is determined to capture the stallion, now called the Phantom, and Sam knows that she has to save Blackie from this ambitious and uncaring rancher. In the end, she rescues him but sets him free because she realizes that he would never be happy in captivity. Sam is a likable and believable character whose determination and sensitivity will be appreciated by horse lovers. There is a fair amount of suspense and adventure as she tracks Blackie and his mares. Sam's relationship with her father is well drawn, and there is an interesting mixture of characters. This story has enough action to make it an entertaining read for fans of this genre.
Carol Schene, Taunton Public Schools, MA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 4-6. Sam's father has good reason to send her away from his Nevada ranch to a San Francisco aunt. Sam was seriously injured when she fell from a young stallion named Blackie; she was struck by Blackie's hoof in a cloud of confusion and dust, and Blackie has been missing ever since. Sam needs time to properly heal, but once she's whole and back home, she's determined to find Blackie. The appearance of a mysterious wild horse adds tension to the story. Farley, a horse owner, writes believably about horses, and she proves herself to be an able storyteller. A few details may strike the target audience as odd: what self-respecting horse lover past first grade, for example, would name her favorite horse Blackie? Still, the accurate horse information and Sam's infectious, independent spirit make this a promising option for a lot of horse-loving girls. Kelly Halls
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1st Avon Ed edition (July 23, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064410854
• ISBN-13: 978-0064410854
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #482,362 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Terri Farley is the author of the wildly popular Phantom Stallion series, which has sold one million copies. For her Wild Horse Island series, Terri volunteered on a horse ranch in Hawaii for three weeks. After much coaxing, she returned to her husband in Verdi, Nevada, where she lives and writes.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars this is the best book i 've ever read, February 1, 2003

By 

Clarkia Cobb (Friant, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Wild One (Phantom Stallion #1) (Paperback)

When 13 year old Sam returns home she returns to the mustangs she loves and her family and friends. When she returns she finds her friend Jake has become a cowboy. No one has even had a glance at Sam's colt Blakie. But when Sam see's a wild mustang is it the phanton or Blackie or could it be both. While Sam is trying to stop Linc Sollom from trying to adopting Blackie. it seems the phantom has other things on his mind.

i loved this book it was so thrilling and Terri farley makes this book sound like I'm actually in it I can't wait to read the next one!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than 5 stars!!, January 14, 2006

By 

Fireheart "Leah" (Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Wild One (Phantom Stallion #1) (Paperback)

This book was made for the horse-lovers! I have recently read Heartland, Chestnut Hill, BLack Stallion, Saddle Club, and Pony Pals, and I really do think this is the best series out of those. I have only read the first book, but I already recommend the others because I know that if they are anything close to the first book, they will be AWESOME!! Terri Farley has a wonderful gift of writing, and I hope that I can write stories like her! I think lots of people would love this book, even if they aren't horse-lovers. But that is my opinion. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book!! The Wild One is one of the best books I have ever read! :-D

Leah

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An awesome read for the young horse enthusiast!, December 20, 2003

By 

"emotionless_screamer" (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Wild One (Phantom Stallion #1) (Paperback)

I have loved horses my whole life and when I can't be around my own horse, I thoroughly enjoy reading horse books. When I first started reading this book, I thought it would be just another series, just like all the others. Boy was I wrong! I found that Ms. Farley's first book in this series to be exciting, emotional and gripping from start to finish. Terri Farley is an excellent author who knows just what to write to keep the reader's attention. I found that I was able to relate to the bond shared between Sam, the main character of the book, and her horse, the legendary "Phantom". The book was full of surprises and had an extremely well-thought-out plot and storyline. I would strongly recommend this book for young teens such as myself, and even for horse-crazy adult readers. It would also make a great holiday gift for the horse lover in your family.