The Black Stallion series is one that is known to many. The story of a boy, shipwrecked with a wild horse who becomes his friend, captures the heart of many. This book, The Black Stallion Returns, is the second in the series. You don't necessarily have to read the first book before this one, but it does help to read it for background, so I recommend going in order.Alec has had quite a shake up. First someone tries to kill the Black Stallion, and then, just hours later, his real owner shows up to claim him. After all that he's been through he can't stand to lose the horse. So when an opportunity comes for him to go visit the horse in Arabia, Alec takes it. But the journey will be much more dangerous than he can imagine and even if he gets there, it's no guarantee that he will be able to get his horse back, or even make it out alive.Alec is the main character of the series. And we can clearly understand his love for his horse. But to be honest, we never really know any of his other hopes and dreams, and it would have been nice to have his personality expanded on those things. Still, he does take good care of his horse, and is brave for wanting to go to the unknown to find him again. Henry the trainer, and Mr. Volance, the men who go with Alec to the desert aren't really described that much either. We know Henry is kind of cranky and Mr. Volence is the money of the operation, but they don't feature much in the book. The Bedouin though, are described somewhat stereotypically although not unkindly and are described as a fierce but hospitable people.The plot is actually pretty good. There is a lot of adventure, and while there is violence and murder, it's not very descriptive so I think this is still an ok book for young readers. It's more a story of overcoming odds and finding something that you care about no matter what. So it is inspiring in that regard. It's a little too fast paced at time, I think this book could have easily been twice as long. And there are some things that wouldn't really happen in reality, but this book is good for escape.It's an exciting adventure about a horse. There's not much to dislike about that. And for children and even adults revisiting their childhood, this is a good book to read.The Black Stallion ReturnsCopyright 1945199 pagesReview by M. Reynard 2012 More of my reviews can be found at www.ifithaswords.blogspot.com
The Black Stallion Returns is probably the BEST book in the Black Stallion Series. I would very much recommend this book to anyone who is a lover of the equines, or loves mystery and suspense. I think there was a movie of this book, and I know that there is a movie of the 1st book in the Black Stallion Series. Here is a short summary of this AMAZING book:After Alec and the Black (The Black Stallion) win the match race against Cyclone and Sunraider, Alec and The Black become VERY famous. Some people are not happy with all of this fame to this "Rags to Riches" Horse. So one night, the Black is kidnapped!!! (More like horse-napped) Will Alec ever be able to find the Black ever again?
Do You like book The Black Stallion Returns (1991)?
The girls and I enjoyed the second book in the Black Stallion series. We continued our creative license of making Alex into Alice so that the lead character was a girl, and other than the constant cognitive load it put on mommy to make the appropriate pronoun switches, it was totally seamless in the plot. There were a couple of moments of violence that I softened, just because we're queasy in that department, but other than that, the girls particularly enjoyed the suspense aspects of what turned out to be both a tale of adventure and mystery.
—Dolly
A quick trip into childhood by returning to the Black Stallion books. This story was kind of inevitable - the real owner of the Black turns up and takes him back to Arabia. But Alec, Henry and Mr. Valence, a racehorse breeder, decide to travel out there to see him. They get lost in the desert, caught up in a tribal war and Alec ends up riding in a high stakes race - a brilliant plot for a children's story. Yes, as an adult its very easy to sneer at it, but the inner child in me loved it - a great read.
—Dark-Draco
BRED FOR BATTLE OR FOR RACINGAfter a mysterious attempt on the Black's life by an unknown one-armed assassin, Alec is shocked to meet an Arab sheik who claims to be the true owner. Regretfully surrendering the horse he has trained and loves dearly, Alec expects to spend a gloomy summer before his senior year. Conveniently for all concerned racing owner, Mr. Volence, agrees to take both trainer, Henry and the devoted youth abroad to seek better bloodlines for his stables--and incidentally search for the Black in distant Arabia.Plunged into an exotic world of desert, treachery and bloodlust Alec and his party set out for a remote mountainous region where the Sheik reigns. Alec soon learns the price of betrayal, where blood demands blood, and the great race--held every 5 years--will soon be run. Befriended by a local orphan youth named Raj, Alec's party is abandoned to their fate in the desert, then rescued by a young but suspicious chieftain. How can Alex reach the elusive Sheik and convince him to sell or gift him the magnificent Black? What will it take to end the bitter feud between rival sheiks? How can an American boy acquire the desert skills necessary to survive and win respect in a hostile environment? This sequel is every bit as exciting as the first book in the series, with hope for future stories, as it explores the wonderful and unique bond between boy and horse. (September 10, 2011. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)Was this review helpful to you?
—Gale
