Old Sam: Dakota Trotter

by Don Alonzo Taylor, Lorence F. Bjorklund (Illustrator)

Homesteading in the Dakota Territory of the 1880's would not have been the same for 10-year-old Johnny Scott and his younger brother, Lee, if they'd had to do it without Old Sam. Once a thoroughbred trotter on his way to championship, a crippling accident allows the Scott family to inherit him, a horse no one else wants. Mr. Scott soon discovers Old Sam's uncanny and invaluable ability to do any task a larger, stronger farm horse can do. His awkward appearance and hidden talents make for hilarious and rousing situations. Includes Old Sam, Thoroughbred Trotter and Old Sam and the Horse Thieves.

Genres: Childrens, Historical Fiction, Horses, Fiction

198 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Debrianna Obara]

Sweet story of the prairie and a boy and his amazing horse

A lovely read that brings you back in time to the era of homesteaders and second chances, including a crippled thoroughbred horse named Sam that showed everyone that he wasn't done yet.

[nicole lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

F U N N Y

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

[Michiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a pre-read for my son's homeschooling. I thought it wonderful, and he will love it.

It is the story of two boys, settling with their family in the Dakota Territory, who have an old, lame horse that was once a championship trotter. The story is about the horse and also about the boys' growing up in Dakota Territory.

Plenty of adventure, plenty of animal story, and it's true! Can't beat that.

[Kristi · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was just ok. Nice info on life in North Dakota 100 years ago, but the writing in sort of poor. Especially hard after reading a classic (we had just read Around the World in Eighty Days)

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved loved loved this book

[Michaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

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