As I've stated in my previous reviews for this series, book 14 is the first of the Phantom Stallion books that I never got a chance to read when I was a horse crazy kid. It was exciting even as an adult to finally get the chance to read "Moonrise" for the very first time, and I'm happy to say that I enjoyed it very much!
Sam had a lot of learning to do in this one after some out-of-control (and illegal) hunting dogs attacked her father's horse and made him fall off. He was fine other than sore muscles, but it shook him into realizing there was a lot about ranching that he hadn't taught Sam yet. It was great getting to see Sam rise to the occasion and embrace more responsibility, even when it's hard. I especially enjoyed her and Jake's dynamic as they start off the story with their typical sibling-like bickering (one moment, in particular, ended up being accidentally hilarious) but then are able to put that aside and work together for Jake to teach Sam to rope a calf for the first time. Sam and her best friend also did a great job camping out on the range alone together to catch and brand the young calves, having fun together, but also getting the job done and making their fathers proud.
I can't wait to see how much more Sam grows as the series goes on!
Content Advisory:
Slocum is, as always, not on his best behavior. He bought hunting dogs that are illegal in the state where he lives and keeps letting them get loose and act aggressively. He's also rude to Sam and even belittles his own son in front of her.
Heads up for young readers who may be sensitive to the topic of parental death and parents being endangered:
Sam's dad is on his horse when the hunting dogs first attack. They act like a pack, surrounding his horse and jumping at it. One even bites and bloodies the horse's nose (mild description of the injury and blood), making it rear and throw its rider. It's a scary moment for Sam to witness, especially when it takes a second for her dad to get up. He's okay, but later has a serious conversation with Sam about the reality that sometimes ranchers get killed while doing their jobs and that he needs to prepare Sam to take over the ranch if that should happen to him. Sam feels the weight of this reality because she already lost her mother in an accident a few years before the book series started.