Black Cloud

Horse Diaries #8

by Patricia Hermes, Astrid Sheckels

Born in Northern Nevada in 1950, Black Cloud is a black-and-white mustang colt. He loves roaming free with the rest of his herd, playing with the other foals, and learning the ways of wild horses. But when humans intrude on this wandering life, Black Cloud's world is changed forever. Like Black Beauty, this moving novel is told in first person from the horse's own point of view and includes an appendix full of photos and facts about mustangs and the history of the laws protecting them.

Genres: Horses, Animals, Middle Grade, Childrens, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Diary

154 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Kerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've only read a couple of the books in this series but I find them very charming. Told from the horses perspective, they seem to focus on a specific breed during an interesting time period. This one is a mustang in Northern Nevada, 1951. The artwork on the front and back covers are by Ruth Sanderson and they are beautiful. I've collected this kind of book for years, and her covers are some of the best I have seen. They are stunning and they also depict the breeds in question so accurately.

The black-and-white illustrations inside are by Astrid Sheckels are lovely too. Although her style is different, the horses are drawn with the same markings as on the cover. My favourite picture was of mother and foal playing a stream, and the final image in the book, which captured the moment perfectly.

I also enjoyed the information about Wild Horse Annie spent her life working to protect the mustangs. I would like to read more about her.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very saddening story about the cruelty and unfairness the wild Mustangs saw in the 1950s (and even what they see today). It was ended on a cliffhanger, which this "series" rarely does.



Black Cloud is a wild Mustang, perfectly content, until humans force his herd to run themselves into a pen, and to exhaustion. He loses many horse family members and friends, as well as his beloved Mama. A human girl by the name of Annie rescues him and takes him home to run in a large open space, unhunted. But a herd passes by Black Cloud when he's in the corral with Annie. Annie opens the gate, what will Black Cloud chose? Humans (he's warming up to them) or a strange, unfamiliar herd? We never found out.../= Still, good read!

[Emory Ivie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful series that I well-enjoyed during my younger years, and when I was about seven years old it was my ultimate favorite. We all loved the story of Black Beauty, and this series has the same idea - a horse telling its own story during the historical time it lives. There are so many books to read in this series, and though they don't need to be read in order, as each novel presents new characters with new conflicts, but they take place in the order of the historical time. It's really cool for a young kid to be able to read the thoughts of a horse through a fictional book and learn more about the breed it highlights and the history centered around the breed's origin.

These books are absolutely wonderful and very informative. After the entertaining story, there is a little section in the back that teaches about the breed and its uses during a specific time period. They are clean, entertaining, and such a great read for any 7 to 10-year-old child. If you love horses and history, be sure to check out Horse Diaries!

[Gerri Leen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this one was intense and harsh. Excellent examination of the horror of mass extermination of mustangs. I loved the open ending. These books are so good that I just ordered the rest of them from Amazon. They are so full of feels.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ending is weird.

[Michelle Boyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book on my reading journey about representations of horses in children's literature... this one, like so many others, is surrounded in violence. It starts off perfectly fine: a mare gives birth to a little colt that she names Black Cloud. The colt begins exploring the open wilderness, and we learn that mustangs do face dangers out in the wilderness: coyotes/wolves (now, the author mentions coyotes but when the colt is attacked suddenly they're wolves), rattlesnakes, cougars, etc. We get to see how the horses interact. And then of course, here come the humans.

In this book, the humans are actually hunting the mustangs our in rural Nevada, 1951. At this time, ranchers are actually killing (or sending to slaughter) mustangs because they have the nerve to, oh I don't know, eat out in the wilderness. Black Cloud and his family is rounded up and many of the mustangs die brutal deaths: one mare is run so hard she collapses and dies, Black Cloud's mom runs through barbed wire, rips herself open, then dies and he spends the night huddled beside her to try and keep her warm. It is just brutal. And this is a book definitely aimed at children. Obviously, the author promotes that this behavior isn't okay and this isn't normal. However, so dark.

Annie, a little girl, sees Black Cloud and tells her family they must rescue him. And they do. He's upset about this because, obviously, he only sees humans as bad things. Eventually he warms up to her. The book ends on a nice cliffhanger too, because Black Cloud is eventually given the choice to stay with Annie or run free with a different mustang herd.

Again, these diaries are told from the perspective of the horse and are quite good. They're perfect for younger readers (short chapters, just enough illustration, etc.). But they do still have some dark content (which is also further discussed in a nice author's note at the end).

[Ren · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ending to this one made me really upset, I read it a long time ago also. But it seemed like it was left on the wrong note, like there should have been a sequel, but of course there wasn't. And it just didn't end on the right note. It should have ended better. Like just the way it ended made me upset. And I liked paged through the book after that, looking for answers as to why there wasn't a better way to end it.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the more tragic and "graphic" stories in the series. But I loved the open end. If he had stayed, people who wanted his freedom would have been angry. If he had left, people who wanted him to have a friendship with the girl, would have been angry. It was a loss-loss situation. Leaving it open, everyone can just decide for themselves which they think would be the better ending. :)

Personally, I think he left but would not have forgotten his time among humans.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some parts of this book were very sad. I think it might be a little hard for some readers to get through. But, this book basically follows the truth of what really happened to wild mustangs for far too long. So, in a way, it is a good book to learn, but it will be sad for a young reader. It was a good book, though. Being a horse lover and owner, this book hit so many feels.

[Lacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 7-year-old was not happy about the 'open' ending. My 4 daughters all came to the same conclusion, based on Black Cloud's comments and thoughts. I had to read the story to find out if I would agree, and I did.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

See the first book in the series for a full review.

[Celeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had to read this book for a class!

Absolutely loved it! Honestly made me kinda mad at mankind but a good happy ending book

[Emily Dudek · Rating 5 out of 5]

This horse is a wild stallion that is very curios!
He loves to run and play with his friends.

[Sue Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved, it
was a great story
I wish I could of helped the Mustangs like Annie did

[Bryckelle Webber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was boring at first that I almost left this behind, but i'm actually happy that I didn't.
Black cloud starts out as the new horse that was just born and is the small one that everybody picks on. But later on he doesn't care about what anyone thinks. He goes through phases is how I can describe it. Happy, Sad, Doesn't care what anyone thinks, Sad, Angry, and then he makes a choice so I don't know the last one.
I thought that the book just dragged on. But after a while i started to not want to put it down. I started to get sucked into it. And I loved it after that the story is put together so well. But the parents should have been closer. and the farmer should have been nicer. I started hating him in my life. Not just in the book.
Black cloud started out being born in the beginning. His mom was really kind and talks so soft and gentle. Black cloud is a black horse like storm clouds is how his mom says. Looks like his father the stallion.
A little after that Black Cloud meets his father. And it made me kindove disapointed on how the mom and the dad were not that close. In my opinion they should have been closer than just showing Black Cloud his dad and then leaving him behind. But they didn't. The book explains how there are humans who want to kill some horses and take some to there farm. Black Cloud starts to worry.
Of course his mother is there to calm him. She tells him not to worry. To stay calm and everything would be all right. But soon on the humans come by and the mom gets poisend and Black Cloud gets captured. After all the time in the book, he becomes a stallion (So its been past 4 years). He becomes angry and the little girl of the guy who captured him comes out and is all nice to him. Then Black Cloud makes a choice.

[Lily Scarlet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Mustang stories! Black Cloud embodies what it means to be a Mustang. Courageous, fearless, proud, alert, and spirited.
Mustangs ❤️❤️❤️

[Kami · Rating 4 out of 5]

- This was a sad and somber story, but it is a story that needs to be told.

- I like the way this book addressed a tough topic.

- There is a special place in hell for people who abuse and kill animals!

- I'm glad there was some kindness and hope at the end of the story.

[Megana · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is the only book in this series that I didn't like. It was very sad, cruel, and graphic for the younger readers.

Black Cloud was born on an aopen range with his mother and herd. He lived on in the wild until his herd is rounded up. While in captivity, Black loses many members of his herd and family; including his mother. But, after being rescued by a little girl named Annie, Black Cloud gets a second chance af freedom.

I wouldn't recommend this book to readers. Only if you want a very sad, depressing book awill you wull read this.

[Sally Bruesewitz]

This book is number 8 in a horse series that is written from the horses' perspective. Black Cloud is about a wild mustang that is rescued from the Nevada desert by a little girl named Annie. My daughter read this book and loved it. Book would appeal to student's who like horses. Great book for developing empathy. Lots of mustang facts and laws that effect their freedom are included in the back of the text. AR gave it a 4.1 rating.

[Sophie Glickman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a big fan of the wild mustangs and I think this book captures the struggle of them perfectly! yes some of it can be upsetting and violent but it is true history even some of the characters were real people like the little girl who helped save black cloud was Wild Horse Annie:)

[Mae S · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love horses why not a horse story

[Hillvan · Rating 3 out of 5]

600L

[Natalie]

A very good book about a mustang and his choices throughout his life. It's amazing book, and I recommend it to all children and adults.

[Cami · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was sad!

[Leila · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good in the beginning, but it got really sad and I started to hate it. The ending was also very bad.

[Brodie Hawkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was boring

[McKeltie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would receive a five star rating but this might be a spoiler but it has the worst cliffhanger and with no book two it made me so angry still enjoyed while it lasted felt like there could be more detail

[DEBORRAH J SCOTT]

TRUE FACTS ABOUT MUSTANGS

I thought this was a great book, I love horses, and gave you a lot of interesting information. You didn't know what was going to happen next. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves horses.