What do you think?
Rate this book
Phantom Stallion #21
Dawn Runner
Samantha's friend Ryan wants to recapture his lost horse, Hotspot, who has been running free with the Phantom Stallion's herd. But Hotspot's foal, Shy Boots, needs her back at home -- the young horse is having trouble without his mother to protect him. Sam wants to help her friend, and she wants to help the horses. But will Ryan's plans do more harm than good?
224 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2006
4 people are currently reading
449 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/
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 2, 2024
This story calls back to a previous book where a domesticated mare named "Hotspot" got loose just after having her foal, and she's been running wild with the Phantom's band ever since. Her foal is now not doing well without its mother, and her owner, Ryan, decides it's time to get Hotspot back.
As always, I enjoyed the character dynamics in this book. Just like in real life, there's never only one thing happening. In the midst of Sam trying to help Ryan figure out how to get his horse back without traumatizing the poor thing, her best friend from her years living in the city shows up for a visit, meaning that Sam's two best friends now have to meet. Farley has always been so good at creating distinct personalities for her characters and showing how those personalities might interact or clash. I was a little concerned a love triangle would form between Ryan and the two best friends, but I'm happy to report that this didn't happen. There wasn't any forced drama overall, and the only awkwardness that occurred was what felt natural for teens with different personalities meeting for the first time. I was also glad to see that the kids were able to learn from each other and the adults around them.
Hard to believe there are only 3 books left in the series, but I'm looking forward to them!
Content Advisory:
Again, we see some of Jen's crush on Ryan, and Sam refers to him as Jen's boyfriend (they aren't actually dating, just spending more time together). But again, it's all very mild. Another of Sam's friends also seems mildly attracted to Ryan, but nothing happens.
There's some talk by an adult writing a research paper about the "primal memories" of animals and humans, and she talks about ancient humans once having claws and the like. She also talks about ancient humans making animal sacrifices and the reasons why they did it. This isn't described, but it does bother Sam a bit to think of horses being harmed like that. Some of the folktales about mythical creatures spook her a little bit too, but she eventually moves on.
As always, I enjoyed the character dynamics in this book. Just like in real life, there's never only one thing happening. In the midst of Sam trying to help Ryan figure out how to get his horse back without traumatizing the poor thing, her best friend from her years living in the city shows up for a visit, meaning that Sam's two best friends now have to meet. Farley has always been so good at creating distinct personalities for her characters and showing how those personalities might interact or clash. I was a little concerned a love triangle would form between Ryan and the two best friends, but I'm happy to report that this didn't happen. There wasn't any forced drama overall, and the only awkwardness that occurred was what felt natural for teens with different personalities meeting for the first time. I was also glad to see that the kids were able to learn from each other and the adults around them.
Hard to believe there are only 3 books left in the series, but I'm looking forward to them!
Content Advisory:
Again, we see some of Jen's crush on Ryan, and Sam refers to him as Jen's boyfriend (they aren't actually dating, just spending more time together). But again, it's all very mild. Another of Sam's friends also seems mildly attracted to Ryan, but nothing happens.
There's some talk by an adult writing a research paper about the "primal memories" of animals and humans, and she talks about ancient humans once having claws and the like. She also talks about ancient humans making animal sacrifices and the reasons why they did it. This isn't described, but it does bother Sam a bit to think of horses being harmed like that. Some of the folktales about mythical creatures spook her a little bit too, but she eventually moves on.
December 11, 2024
This is more of a 2.5 than a three star book, so I rounded up. It's definitely better than the last book, or several others in the series, but it's still only middling. There's a huge build-up to a big wild horse chase ... and then suddenly it's all over.
There also is absolutely no mention of the trauma that the Phantom suffered in the last book, when he had to be roped to save his life. Sam was SO SURE that the Phantom would never forgive her. But he comes bumbling up to her, "Oh, hi, Sam. 'Tsup?"
It was nice to see Rachel's Morgan mare actually doing something, and the saga of Hotspot seems to be over. But still, there were lots of missed opportunities here. A researcher into horse legends comes by, and Sam is worried that she'll bring trouble to the Phantom. But no, she suddenly decides she's on a wild goose chase and splits.
Yeesh.
The series was meant to be read in order. This particular book refers to just about every other previous book without much backstory, so don't read this book before the others.
There also is absolutely no mention of the trauma that the Phantom suffered in the last book, when he had to be roped to save his life. Sam was SO SURE that the Phantom would never forgive her. But he comes bumbling up to her, "Oh, hi, Sam. 'Tsup?"
It was nice to see Rachel's Morgan mare actually doing something, and the saga of Hotspot seems to be over. But still, there were lots of missed opportunities here. A researcher into horse legends comes by, and Sam is worried that she'll bring trouble to the Phantom. But no, she suddenly decides she's on a wild goose chase and splits.
Yeesh.
The series was meant to be read in order. This particular book refers to just about every other previous book without much backstory, so don't read this book before the others.
October 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
3 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.
This one took a while to get through and I'm not exactly sure why.
Samantha's friend Ryan wants to recapture his lost horse, Hotspot, who has been running free with the Phantom Stallion's herd. But Hotspot's foal, Shy Boots, needs her back at home the young horse is having trouble without his mother to protect him. Sam wants to help her friend, and she wants to help the horses. But will Ryan's plans do more harm than good?
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
3 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.
This one took a while to get through and I'm not exactly sure why.
Samantha's friend Ryan wants to recapture his lost horse, Hotspot, who has been running free with the Phantom Stallion's herd. But Hotspot's foal, Shy Boots, needs her back at home the young horse is having trouble without his mother to protect him. Sam wants to help her friend, and she wants to help the horses. But will Ryan's plans do more harm than good?
August 16, 2024
Sam's friend in San Francisco, Pam, comes for a visit with her cultural anthropologist mother, who's investigating the myth of the Dawn Runner. I like how that adds to the mythical aura around the wild horses. It's also interesting to see the friendship dynamics between Sam, Pam and Jen.
I'm still ambivalent about Ryan. He can be quite a Slocum, you know? But at least he learns how to rely on Hotspot's trust in him here. This series consistently emphasises the beauty of the bond between human and horse, and it doesn't get old.
I'm still ambivalent about Ryan. He can be quite a Slocum, you know? But at least he learns how to rely on Hotspot's trust in him here. This series consistently emphasises the beauty of the bond between human and horse, and it doesn't get old.
January 7, 2018
Awesome book!
October 1, 2024
3.5 stars
Sam's friends from different worlds collide, Ryan gets a real horsemanship test, and Shy Boots gets a lot of love. That's my summary of this sweet story.
Sam's friends from different worlds collide, Ryan gets a real horsemanship test, and Shy Boots gets a lot of love. That's my summary of this sweet story.
December 21, 2012
I would probably give this book a 3.5, but it was erring more on the 4 side of that number. There were aspects of this book that I really liked, and aspects that I didn't really take to.
Getting excited about the end of the series, and I am wondering how Terri will tie it all up.
Getting excited about the end of the series, and I am wondering how Terri will tie it all up.
July 19, 2007
I love the whole series by Terri. Sam and Jake are wonderfull characters and her connection with horses is incredible.
June 16, 2008
Good to pass time. Can be interesting/exciting-but def. for horse freaks!
June 16, 2008
Good to pass time. Can be interesting/exciting-but def. for horse freaks!
February 10, 2009
Great ending
September 25, 2010
See the first book in the sereis for a full review.
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!
March 23, 2008
Very heart-warming story!
May 9, 2017
Loved it!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews