Firefly

Phantom Stallion #18

by Terri Farley

The further adventures in the wildly popular series about Samantha and her mustang the Phantom. In Firefly, the Phantom's wild colt has been injured, and Sam must help him find a new home.

Genres: Horses, Animals, Middle Grade, Childrens, Fiction, Contemporary, Young Adult

214 pages, Paperback

First published October 25, 2005

About the author

Terri 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...

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Reviews

[E.F. Buckles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story follows up on a young horse named Pirate who was badly burned during a wild fire in a previous book. It was interesting to learn that horses can essentially get PTSD, just like humans, and Pirate was getting what appeared to be panic attacks whenever he smelled smoke. This story also brings in a boy whom Sam met in a previous book, who was injured in a car accident and really struggled with frustration during his healing process. I loved that he and Pirate were ultimately able to help each other. The boy was able to think of something that might relax and help desensitize Pirate, and Pirate gave him something to focus on besides his injury. It was overall an enjoyable and encouraging story, and I'm looking forward to the next book. 6 left!

Content Advisory:
Not much of concern, here. One boy has a bad attitude for a while, but moves on from it.

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite being a bit predictable and the use of a baptism symbol, this was a much better book in the Phantom Stallion series. The Phantom appears more here than he did in the last book. The gulf between him and Samantha is clearly widening. There are no HARP girls to slow the narrative. Sam is more or less on her own, with Mrs. Allen and her Grandson, Gabe.

Sadly, the title gives away the ending. It would've been much better for the book to have been given some other title.

The obvious parallel between Gabe and the Phantom's injured colt gets strained at times, but somehow Sam handles the situation with grace and patience. However, when describing the HARP program to Gabe, he says what I thought about it -- "Wow. That's lame."

There always has to be a Slocum appearance in these books, and one is shoehorned in awkwardly, almost as an afterthought. There really was enough conflict going on without Terri Farley getting the Slocums involved.

The series was meant to be read in order. There are references to just about every other book in the series here without explanation. You absolutely have to read book 5 Blind Faith and book 14 The Wildest Heart at the very least.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

The Phantom's wild colt Pirate has been injured in a fire, and Sam must help him find a new home. Mrs. Allen's grandson Gabe was in a car accident suffering a spine injury, temporarily paralyzed with a one leg broken in a cast; the other severely bruised and damaged. His grandmother brings him home with her for a week to spend time with the horses, away from his friends and other things that will make him feel sorry for himself. Gabe is a little hot headed, cranky and has a temper. Gabe develops a close bond with Pirate, whom he renames Firefly, he eventually adopts Firefly and takes him home.

[mimo · Rating 4 out of 5]

So lovely to see the bond between Gabe and Firefly (previously called Pirate by Sam) due to the similarities in what they've been through! I love when humans and horses (or animals more generally) have an understanding like that. I'd say I like this more than the books in this series that have involved the HARP kids (this is one of them, but Sam is helping at Mrs Allen's wild horse sanctuary instead) because of the deeper bond.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's an awesome book. I love how Gabe and Firefly bond together and how they help each other heal from their injuries (both physically and emotionally). I love this series and hope the author keeps writing new books for it!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This is a sweet redemption story for boy and horse. I liked Same having to figure out how to help a human for once. I mean, she kind of does with HARP but this is different somehow.

[Emilyf]

Sam must help an injured mustang recover from fire burns, and in the process, help a boy named Gabe recover from his car accident. Overall, this book was one of my favorite. It was extremely fun and an intriguing book.

[Kyllian Genzmer]

another good one

[Cale_Steps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good to pass time. Can be interesting/exciting-but def. for horse freaks!

[Beka Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!! I like having the hurt kid in the story!!

[Christine Hughes]

lots of good issues mixed in with the story, e.g. heroine has to spend her time working with a colt with a cranky 16-year-old.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really good because Sam has to help and heal someone. I recommend this book to horse lovers everywhere!

[Chiara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favourites. I love Pirate/Firefly and his relationship with Gabe.

[Arianna Centrella · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was awesome and was kind of sad.

[Arianna Centrella · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was sad but in the end everyone was safe.

[Lafanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️

[Rebecca Tworek]

I loved the example of animal healing. 2 souls that had traumatic experiences brought together and love each other. Perfect!!!