The Renegade

Phantom Stallion #4

by Terri Farley

For the Phantom, there is only one girl.For Sam, there is only one horse. When an ambitious rodeo contractor comes to town, Sam's worried. The woman wants to buy tamed mustangs from local ranchers, including Sam's dad, and doesn't seem to like taking no for an answer. Then Sam spots the Phantom's herd –– without him. She's sure he's been captured by the rodeo, but how will she find him? And even if she does, how can she set him free? Ages 10+

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

208 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 13, 2009

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...

https://twitter.com/Terri_Farley

https://www.instagram.com/terrifarley/

Reviews

[E.F. Buckles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the books in the series where I wanted to yell at certain people for stealing and abusing horses and just generally being stupid about them.😛 (You fell off a wild mustang you were using as a bucking bronco and then grabbed its tail to try to keep it from going away? No wonder you got bitten, ya dummy!) Otherwise, I enjoyed it. I especially enjoy seeing Brianna (sp? I listened on audio) grow closer to Sam and her family.

Content Advisory

A horse slips in the mud, crushing its rider's leg against a river bank, breaking the leg. Mention of the sound, but no description of the injury itself.

Someone is revealed to be drugging horses for a rodeo, and one horse collapses. (It survives.)

A wild horse bites someone (no description) after that someone rode it as a bucking bronco and yanked its tail.

Sam, as always, sometimes takes risks around horses, but remains unharmed.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cute story by Terri Farley. Well worth the read. One of my favorite things about these books are that the author does not sugar coat the hardships of living on a ranch. She talks about money issues, droughts,flash floods, and other things that affect living on a ranch.

I also enjoyed this story because she left a lot more to the imagination as she delved into the story. It wasn't too easy to guess the answer. I liked the mystery. I also liked the idea that the main character is growing up.

As always, this book is about a girl, Sam, that is growing up on a ranch and she has a special bond with the wild horses near her ranch. One in particular she has a bond with because she helped raise that horse and then had an accident. The horse escaped and has been living free since. The wild horse still remembers her and she still loves to visit with the horse. The adventure that she gets to be part of is a rodeo contractor that wants to obtain stock from her ranch and others around. Her dad refuses to sale, but the contractor does not want to give up. The contractor goes about getting stock another way. This adventure is fun because Sam gets to learn about rodeo's.

This book is a good read for the horse lover!!

[Tammihiiru · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't help it, I'm a sucker for extremely slow-burn, super innocent and very subtle romance. Why don't they write books like this for adults?

All in all, this series is better than average for a YA horse book series.

[Evelyn Boley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sam, a spirited young teenager is trying to protect her beloved Phantom horse. And Is worried that she has been accidentally taking him, when they would meet, which made the Phantom an easy target to people interested in catching him. But if you want to find out what happens to the relationship of Sam and the Phantom, I strongly encourage you to read this book. Ok so in this book, SPOILER ALERT!!!!!! Jake brakes his leg, and while reading through this book I could feel his struggle of not being able to do the things he loves, the author did an amazing job in the details of this book. And to be honest, I felt like I was being swept into the book the more I read. As I said before I would totally encourage you to read this. It’s a awesome book

[Emma Labuscagne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really , really good 👌🏻 I absolutely love how I can feel as if the characters are real and as if I am Sam . It took me a while to get started, but once I really started properly, I couldn't put it down. 👏🏻😀

[mimo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kind of like that the plot-line about the Phantom being captured for Karla Starr's rodeo only comes to the forefront towards the end of the book. It means that Sam, with the help of her family, friends and allies, rescues her horse very quickly once she knows for sure who he's with. Much better than if they'd spent the whole book chasing him, which would have made things feel dragged out.

Also, this way, the author is able to weave in various other threads about ranch life, because even though Sam keeps an eye out for the Phantom, there's still so much else to do and so many potential dangers, from droughts and floods to injuries and the ever-present money concerns. It's more realistic.

This book also probably marks a subtle turning point in Sam and Jake's relationship, where each of them is kind of jealous - a signal that they have feelings for each other (up to now, you could still read Jake's protectiveness as big brotherly, and the dynamic as platonic). Now, I abhor jealousy in books marketed at adults, but here it's funny and cute somehow. Magic.

[Byrd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is my favorite book of the series - aside from the first, of course - so far. I actually really love that the "big plot" of the Phantom being captured by the rodeo isn't fully revealed until a bit closer to the end of the book, and when it is revealed, the action and plot moves quickly. I love that the characters face real issues, and that Sam, despite being a young teenager, is made to have to worry about financial issues that her family has. I love too that Sam's closeness with the Phantom has real consequences, and that Sam recognizes her fault in them, that if she wants him to truly be wild, she has to let him go. Sam has a real sense of growing up over the past books, and it's really great to have a book series let its protagonist grow and mature.
And, it's an important message to give younger readers, that taming and socializing an animal that deserves and is made to be wild has real consequences.
I love when a story wraps up full circle, that the hawk comes back around through the story, it was a lovely way to end the book.

[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, although I only read books 1-6,8-10 due to the fact that the local libraries didn't have them and the book stores didn't have them in stock whenever I went to them. So I am re-reading the books that I have read and reading for the first time the books I missed out on.

When an ambitious rodeo contractor comes to town, Sam's worried. The woman wants to buy tamed mustangs from local ranchers, including Sam's dad, and doesn't seem to like taking no for an answer.

Then Sam spots the Phantom's herd--without him. She's sure he's been captured by the rodeo, but how will she find him? And even if she does, how can she set him free?

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoying this series and have been gunning through them.

In this book, 13-year-old Sam Forster has to deal with rodeo stockers who may be up to no good trying to capture the Phantom to stock the rodeo's wild horse event. With Jake indisposed and flash floods threatening the range, is Sam able enough to deal with manmade and natural forces?

The book is so fun because one gets to know about a different aspect of owning horses, ranches, and coexisting with wild animals--in this case, the mustangs--in each book.

Anyone, even city girls like myself, can be entertained and be educated about the many aspects of living in and with nature.

Highly recommend the series, and the new re-releases include Sam's journal entries to her deceased mother, and a mini-glossary for those who are not as well-versed in ranch lingo.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

How is it that a book intended for middle schoolers has better suspense, consistency and growth of character, and entertainment than most fiction meant for adults? Sam remains consistent, while still growing as a person, and the story moves along at a good pace. Certain elements are interconnected and the pieces are tightly woven to a clean finish.
Plus horses. Even as an adult, I'm still a sucker for horses.

[Ani Haughton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first one of these that my little brain cell can actually remember and I can mentally picture every single thing happening and it's the best experience ever. I'm also clearly getting old as I can see we're Dad is getting stressed and I sympathise 😆

[Emily Guyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good book also. She did anything to save her horse. that was what she was going to and and she did it with know intention. That horse trusted her and she was going to keep it that why.

[Nicole Mosley · Rating 4 out of 5]

An average teen series.

[Elivia Kanatiquelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

People want the wildness, but once it's within reach, they try to tame it. And I think that's incredibly sad.
Great book, Terri

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Poor Phantom :(

[Vonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

😊

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, this marked as one of my favorite books for 2024 and here are my reasons why:
1. It's about horses
2. Jake (one of my all-time favorite fictional characters) is in it
3. The action and plot are not only amazing, but amazingly written!

(This is coming from a girl who is literally obsessed with horses.) All horse books aren't necessarily good. But if you're into horse books/adventure books, this is definitely for you!
It's a pretty easy reading level, but engaging anyway. The action begins right near the beginning, and is easy to get into. It's not super long, which also adds to the easy reading. I honestly would've enjoyed this book when I was younger, but I believe that I enjoyed this book so much more because Samantha was around my age.
Okay, I mentioned Jake is one of my favorite characters, right? In this book he breaks his leg. I'm being completely honest when I say that that was one of the coolest scenes in this book. Not the cleanest, most demure scene, I'm sure, but cool, and epic!
basically, it's raining, it's pouring, and storming, and Sam and Jake, who were not expecting that, are riding in the woods. Jake's horse slips and his leg is smashed between a rock and his horse. It was a compound fracture. Even after that, the first thing he says when he can finally speak is... "Is Teddy *his horse* okay?"
I've never known a truer cowboy! Applause to him. maybe that statement is what makes it one my favorite parts!
Once again, if you are into horse/adventure fiction, I'm sure you'll like this! Great for all ages, but tweens/teenagers will probably relate and enjoy it the most.

[Natalie Gibbs · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was too big of a drag for me, the main plot didn’t became important till the very last minute. The ending wasn’t great, mainly because we don’t know exactly how the Phantom was captured or if the culprit was punished or not. Maybe it will be revealed in the next book, which is wired considering things get resolved in just one book in the past. Like an episode for example.
And honestly the subplots becomes the new main plot, despite what this book is supposed to be about.
The subplot wasn’t very entertaining and very forgettable. Sam wasn’t able to pick up the hints that most of the characters were giving to her about the Phantom getting taken. Usually these things wouldn’t frustrate me, but in this case it did. When you combine it with the subplot.
This book is definitely going on the list of my least favorite book in this series.
But maybe things would change for me when i eventually read it a second time. But i don’t see that happening anytime soon.

[Mckenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The renegade is the fourth book in the Phantom Stallion series.
For the phantom there is only one girl, for Sam there is only on horse. When a rodeo contractor comes to town, Sam worries. The women wants to buy tamed mustangs from local ranchers, evens Sam's dad. The contractor doesn't seem to take no for an answer. One day Sam spots the phantoms herd- without the Phantom! Sam is sure he has been captured by the rodeo, but how will she find him? If she finds him, how will she set him free?
My personal favorite part is when Sam goes on the journey to find the Phantom. I recommend read this series if you like reading about horses and mysteries.

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although it was nice to see the focus of the series go back to Sam and The Phantom rather than to Sam and (insert new horse's name here) this plot got too silly for words. Very unrealistic, escapist stuff -- which does have its place in this highly stressed-out world BUT STILL ...

[Christine Meunier · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fourth book in the Phantom Stallion series by Terri Farley is titled The Renegade. Sam is surprised to find that a rodeo contractor who is out to make a name for herself is seeking stock locally. Sam’s feelings quickly turn to fear when the contractor – Karla Starr – shows interest in mustangs in particular.

Read more at http://equus-blog.com/renegade-terri-...

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe this is the last in the series I read. I wish I'd continued, but I suppose I moved on to more adult books. Anyway, this series was great for its intended audience and when I was 11/12 I enjoyed it!

[Angelhorse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its really good, suspensful and altogether awesome.

[Cale_Steps]

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

[Brit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It's amazing. I own the first 6 books of this series...I plan to collect them all!

[Mango Yum :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The renegade was good, but the author drew it out. I didn't like it as well as the third one.

[Shelby Bauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have read the whole series and realy enjoyed them. I thought they were great!

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Phantom is captured by a rodeo conductor and Sam fights to get him back.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

i like this book alot, Sam is starting to grow up, and she's having more challenges in her life