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Phantom Stallion #13
Heartbreak Bronco
For the Phantom, there is only one girl. For Sam, there is only one horse. When a hard–luck horse named Jinx comes to River Bend, everyone thinks he's a curse. Samantha knows he's not, but he is unruly, skittish, and the fastest horse she's ever seen. Then there's a runaway in the middle of the night, and someone gets a snakebite. Is the bronco really a jinx? Or could he be the good–luck charm Sam needs to save the day?
240 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2004
2 people are currently reading
427 people want to read
About the author
Terri Farley
128 books415 followersTerri Farley is the best-selling author of books about the contemporary and historic West. Her PHANTOM STALLION series has sold over 2 million books world-wide and it relaunches with new art & content in March 2023.
Terri's most recent non-fiction book Wild at Heart: Mustangs and the Young People Fighting to
Save Them (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) is a Junior Library Guild selection; winner of the
Sterling North Heritage award for Excellence in Children's Literature.
Terri's only contemporary fantasy is SEVEN TEARS INTO THE SEA.
Terri is an advocate for the West's wild horses and for young people helping to make their voices heard.
https://www.facebook.com/PhantomStall...
https://twitter.com/Terri_Farley
https://www.instagram.com/terrifarley/
Terri's most recent non-fiction book Wild at Heart: Mustangs and the Young People Fighting to
Save Them (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) is a Junior Library Guild selection; winner of the
Sterling North Heritage award for Excellence in Children's Literature.
Terri's only contemporary fantasy is SEVEN TEARS INTO THE SEA.
Terri is an advocate for the West's wild horses and for young people helping to make their voices heard.
https://www.facebook.com/PhantomStall...
https://twitter.com/Terri_Farley
https://www.instagram.com/terrifarley/
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 15, 2023
This is the thirteenth book in the Phantom Stallion series and last book in this series that I read as a kid before not being able to find the rest. I was surprised that I remembered any of the plot, because I didn't remember the cover at all.
This was the second book in the series where Sam's family took in troubled teens as part of a horse rehabilitation program. The first book where they did this was #3, Dark Sunshine.
Wow, I LOVED seeing how much Sam has grown over the course of ten books! In book 3 she struggled so much to empathize with the troubled teen and was even jealous because that girl "got away" with stuff that Sam could never dream of getting away with, and it took guidance from her family to understand the girl's issues better. In this 13th book, Sam (naturally) didn't always relate to the two new girls, but this time she had the maturity to try to empathize on her own, realizing that if she'd grown up in their shoes, she too would have similar problems. She also had far more patience with them even when they tried to push her buttons. It was great seeing the girls learn how to become vulnerable enough to share their lives with Sam and her family and also start to understand horses a bit better.
Now I finally get to start the last ten books that I never got to read before! Woohoo!
Content Advisory:
Naturally, the girls in the horse program behave like the troubled teens they are since that's the whole reason they're in the program in the first place. The book gives context so that young readers understand that the girls are not behaving in a way that should be imitated. One girl has a problem with being a follower who doesn't stand up for herself and therefore gets led into trouble, but the other has major attitude problems and a history of risky behavior in an attempt to prove her bravery to her father. We mostly just hear about her risk-taking: Jumping from the school roof into a pool, running away repeatedly, etc. The one major risk she takes on the ranch is trying to catch and bag a snake that she doesn't know how to identify and which could be a rattlesnake. (It turns out to be non-venomous, but she still gets her friend bitten by it.)
This was the second book in the series where Sam's family took in troubled teens as part of a horse rehabilitation program. The first book where they did this was #3, Dark Sunshine.
Wow, I LOVED seeing how much Sam has grown over the course of ten books! In book 3 she struggled so much to empathize with the troubled teen and was even jealous because that girl "got away" with stuff that Sam could never dream of getting away with, and it took guidance from her family to understand the girl's issues better. In this 13th book, Sam (naturally) didn't always relate to the two new girls, but this time she had the maturity to try to empathize on her own, realizing that if she'd grown up in their shoes, she too would have similar problems. She also had far more patience with them even when they tried to push her buttons. It was great seeing the girls learn how to become vulnerable enough to share their lives with Sam and her family and also start to understand horses a bit better.
Now I finally get to start the last ten books that I never got to read before! Woohoo!
Content Advisory:
Naturally, the girls in the horse program behave like the troubled teens they are since that's the whole reason they're in the program in the first place. The book gives context so that young readers understand that the girls are not behaving in a way that should be imitated. One girl has a problem with being a follower who doesn't stand up for herself and therefore gets led into trouble, but the other has major attitude problems and a history of risky behavior in an attempt to prove her bravery to her father. We mostly just hear about her risk-taking: Jumping from the school roof into a pool, running away repeatedly, etc. The one major risk she takes on the ranch is trying to catch and bag a snake that she doesn't know how to identify and which could be a rattlesnake. (It turns out to be non-venomous, but she still gets her friend bitten by it.)
November 30, 2014
A great series for the young horse-lover! I read the whole series as a kid and each book keeps you interested and racing for the next!
September 27, 2024
I know, I know -- I said I wasn't going to read anymore of The Phantom Stallion series, but I did, anyway. It's like the Mafia ... once you think you're out, it pulls you back in.
This was a fun read, and the best book since book 9, The Gift Horse. This is also one of the shortest books in the series. There's plenty of action, and not a lot of wasted pages on teen angst.
This has two plots which intertwine. Plot A is about Jinx, a very speedy grulla Mustang gelding who causes a traffic accident in the early part of the book. Sam just has to rescue him, of course.
The B plot is that two troubled girls are staying for a week under a fictional program called HARP. The one girl loves horses, while the other is insufferable in her selfishness. Apparently, it wasn't enough for the first HARP girl in a previous book to burn a barn down for Sam's step-mother to knock it off with the HARP program. She's just got to ask for more punishment -- and put the whole ranch through it, too.
The program is completely nonsensical, although it gives the ranch a needed additional cash stream. Fortunately, the HARP girls wind up not dominating the book. Working with Jinx and avoiding rattlesnakes takes up most of the book.
There was a nice moment when Gran makes sure the bad HARP girl doesn't get access to the carving knife. No chapters wasted sussing that bitch out. All done in a half page.
Sam has greatly matured in the last two books. It's not stated specifically in this book, and I haven't read the last 4 books yet, but it's clear in this book that Sam is making a life for herself that will not include The Phantom. The light grey Mustang, still always described in the most poetic terms Farley can scrape up, plays a very little role here. It's time these two split up.
This not a stand-alone book in the series. You really need to read most of the previous books to figure out what's going on. The backstory on each character is skimpy, at best.
Popcorn the Mustang is still incorrectly described as an albino. He's white with blue eyes. That's not an albino. Albinos do not exist in horses, because albino foals are always born with malformed digestive tracts. He's most likely an extreme sabino or a dominant white or DW. Go look it up.
This was a fun read, and the best book since book 9, The Gift Horse. This is also one of the shortest books in the series. There's plenty of action, and not a lot of wasted pages on teen angst.
This has two plots which intertwine. Plot A is about Jinx, a very speedy grulla Mustang gelding who causes a traffic accident in the early part of the book. Sam just has to rescue him, of course.
The B plot is that two troubled girls are staying for a week under a fictional program called HARP. The one girl loves horses, while the other is insufferable in her selfishness. Apparently, it wasn't enough for the first HARP girl in a previous book to burn a barn down for Sam's step-mother to knock it off with the HARP program. She's just got to ask for more punishment -- and put the whole ranch through it, too.
The program is completely nonsensical, although it gives the ranch a needed additional cash stream. Fortunately, the HARP girls wind up not dominating the book. Working with Jinx and avoiding rattlesnakes takes up most of the book.
There was a nice moment when Gran makes sure the bad HARP girl doesn't get access to the carving knife. No chapters wasted sussing that bitch out. All done in a half page.
Sam has greatly matured in the last two books. It's not stated specifically in this book, and I haven't read the last 4 books yet, but it's clear in this book that Sam is making a life for herself that will not include The Phantom. The light grey Mustang, still always described in the most poetic terms Farley can scrape up, plays a very little role here. It's time these two split up.
This not a stand-alone book in the series. You really need to read most of the previous books to figure out what's going on. The backstory on each character is skimpy, at best.
Popcorn the Mustang is still incorrectly described as an albino. He's white with blue eyes. That's not an albino. Albinos do not exist in horses, because albino foals are always born with malformed digestive tracts. He's most likely an extreme sabino or a dominant white or DW. Go look it up.
March 31, 2025
Loved it! I really expected Jake to be in it more but he really wasn't that much. :( However, I barely noticed because I was so interested in hearing about the HARP program.
I've heard a lot of different opinions of this fictional program between Phantom Stallion fans, but I think the bottom line is, good things don't always come easy.
The HARP girls are bratty and sometimes even dangerous, but by the end of these books they're always doing a little better and all the hard work and struggle for them seems worth it. That's why the books with HARP are sometimes my favorites.
Besides that, I don't think I would've been as patient with the girls as Sam. lol I really admired her in this book for holding back sometimes and just letting things go.
I will always marvel at Brynna. I admit, I didn't like her all too much when she became Sam's stepmom, but I'm warming up to her now.
And Sam's dad. Okay, I was so glad he let her ride that race, cause I was scared he'd not let her like he did in some other books, for fear she'd get hurt.
Over-all,great book! Recommended to young horse lovers. 10+
I've heard a lot of different opinions of this fictional program between Phantom Stallion fans, but I think the bottom line is, good things don't always come easy.
The HARP girls are bratty and sometimes even dangerous, but by the end of these books they're always doing a little better and all the hard work and struggle for them seems worth it. That's why the books with HARP are sometimes my favorites.
Besides that, I don't think I would've been as patient with the girls as Sam. lol I really admired her in this book for holding back sometimes and just letting things go.
I will always marvel at Brynna. I admit, I didn't like her all too much when she became Sam's stepmom, but I'm warming up to her now.
And Sam's dad. Okay, I was so glad he let her ride that race, cause I was scared he'd not let her like he did in some other books, for fear she'd get hurt.
Over-all,great book! Recommended to young horse lovers. 10+
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2020
My rating system
5- Gush/Absolutely Loved
4- Low Love/High Like
3- Like
2- Meh
1- Dislike/Hate
If it is a .5 star I round up
5 Stars
This was one of my favorite series from my childhood books 11-24 I did not have the pleasure of reading them during childhood I am reading them now.
When a hard-luck horse named Jinx comes to River Bend, everyone thinks he's a curse. Samantha knows he's not, but he is unruly, skittish, and the fastest horse she's ever seen. Then there's a runaway in the middle of the night, and someone gets a snakebite. Is the bronco really a jinx? Or could he be the good-luck charm Sam needs to save the day?
5- Gush/Absolutely Loved
4- Low Love/High Like
3- Like
2- Meh
1- Dislike/Hate
If it is a .5 star I round up
5 Stars
This was one of my favorite series from my childhood books 11-24 I did not have the pleasure of reading them during childhood I am reading them now.
When a hard-luck horse named Jinx comes to River Bend, everyone thinks he's a curse. Samantha knows he's not, but he is unruly, skittish, and the fastest horse she's ever seen. Then there's a runaway in the middle of the night, and someone gets a snakebite. Is the bronco really a jinx? Or could he be the good-luck charm Sam needs to save the day?
August 2, 2024
Kind of a mixed bag for me - I like the books where they work to rehabilitate horses, but once again there's an annoying HARP girl (this time named Crystal) who causes trouble and acts bratty. I get that troubled kids can sometimes behave in troublesome ways, but I'd be fed up working with her. Amelia's okay though; I'm chill with any character who likes horses, or animals in general.
October 1, 2024
3.5
Sam and horses is me and little kids :)
I'm so glad things worked out and Jinx got a good home. Kind of missed Jen and Jake in this one (Jake does make an appearance or two) and Sam is getting more grown up in every book. Which you might say is expected but I'm seeing leaps and bounds of growth, not baby steps anymore.
Sam and horses is me and little kids :)
I'm so glad things worked out and Jinx got a good home. Kind of missed Jen and Jake in this one (Jake does make an appearance or two) and Sam is getting more grown up in every book. Which you might say is expected but I'm seeing leaps and bounds of growth, not baby steps anymore.
June 16, 2008
Good to pass time. Can be interesting/exciting-but def. for horse freaks!
February 9, 2009
Awesome book! So cool how he gets to be a police horse
February 14, 2014
This one wasn't as exciting. A little boring. And where was Jake the whole time?
April 19, 2014
it was jinxed and awesome.
Read
January 29, 2008another good one
September 25, 2010
See the first book in the series for the full review.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews