Old Black

By Doug Briggs and Monique Louise Jouannet

Book by Jouannet, Monique Louise, Roberts, Gary Lynn This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1881287122
• ISBN13: 9781881287124
• Release Date: November 1997
• Publisher: Beverly Publishing Co. Inc.
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 1.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

An excellent book for youth and young adults

I was given this book by a friend and was surprised at the well-balanced combination of story, locale and apt descriptions of riding events.Buck Jones: a rodeo cowboy who becomes seriously ill and must get rid of his beloved horse. I liked Buck a lot, and so did his friends in the story. He raised Old Black from a colt and only became a rodeo star after Old Black came on the scene as his roping horse. The day he got rid of his beloved pal was a heart-rending scene.Small things impressed me. The arrival at the Bradley's farm with Jim's new horse -- he so wanted to show him off to the old black couple down the lane, but he had to wait. Things to do on the farm. Getting on the horse took some imagination for 10-year-old Jim Bradley, but he solved THAT! Then got an extension for his stirrup. Small things, but so important to the story.Jim's first real horse show was an adventure for me. The hospitality suite he and his mother came upon, and got acquainted with the Robertsons and their daughters. Jim's performance in that western riding class was beautiful, as written.I adored little Alexandra Meridith, her father. Her grandparents, Oscar and Ruby, were fine old people, and dearly loved by that little boy.The series of chapters dealing with the rescue of the sheriff out in the woods was as stirring and exciting as could be. And it reeked of realism. That long episode was brought to a perfect conclusion, even if some concerns still were left dangling. But they were wrapped up later.The funeral of a black lady was a fine piece of descriptive writing, touching.The ending of the story was purely satisfying. The indignant lady in the stands was a good, good touch. How she finally came around to applaud Old Black after accusing him of hurting her daughters chances in the class. The unlikely but understandable award to Old Black. Then, something I can't tell because it would ruin the ending for readers, but it was just exactly what should have happened. Even if it caught be completely by surprise.A great story.

Great clean story with tough issues & uplifting moments.

Old Black is a great book and a great story. I bought the book first and foremost because it was a horse book but then I was caught by the book itself. It has excellent drawings and artwork on the book jacket, the inside cover pages, at the beginning of the chapters and within the book. Even the paper it is printed on is unusual, a very high quality paper. When I read the story I could not put it down. The story is well written with a good range of issues from bigotry to Altzheimers. It is a good read not only for adults but younger readers too. I have talked so much about this book, that now my husband and some friends are going to read it. Most of them are not into horses and certainly are not into reading about them. It doesn't matter though you don't have to be into horses to enjoy this book. Young people and families face these same situations today. Since I purchased the book, I have kept it out on an end table so if I have any spare moments I can pick it up and read it. Anywhere the book falls open to is a fine place to start reading but I do have some favorite sections. I like the episode about the standoff with Jim, Old Black, and Sheriff Martinez against the drug dealers at Klanke's Mill. I also liked the part when Old Black receives a much deserved award, and the gentle way Jim deals with his Aunt Hazel, who has Altzheimers and there are many more.Read and enjoy.

exciting, inspiring, clean, heartrending

OLD BLACK took me back to my childhood in the country to a time I thought was gone from America forever. The book held me like glue until I had finished it, and I replayed it in my mind over and over after I had read it. It just proved to me that a top-notch book can be written that will hold the interest of young and old and contain no foul language or erotic sex scenes.Mr. Briggs has a keen insight into life. He describes the plight of patients with Alzheimer's disease with humor and compassion but without ridicule. I felt Jim's grief, his joy, his anticipation, and especially his love for his horse. I laughed at the antics of the fat lady at the horse show and was relieved to have her attitude change when she realized what was going on.It was a wonderful book. I have given copies to my children and grandchildren and to our church library. I just couldn't imagine a better book for young people to read, but even this old grandma couldn't put it down until she had finished it. My husband, who is an invalid, was raised on a ranch in Val Verde Co., TX. I read the book to him, and he thoroughly enjoyed it. Let's have another like this one.

Destined to Be A Classic

"Old Black is a story of a boy and a horse.  It's also an illustration of quiet courage and integrity, played against a background of modern rural Texas.A boy is looking for a horse, and a horse is looking  for a boy.  The boy is a deserving 10-year old, who lives and works with his family on a Texas ranch.  The horse owner is a successful roper who finds himself ill and unable to keep Old Black, his Quarter Horse roping partner.The story unfolds as the boy and his horse become familiar with each other and blend as a pair into the world of neighbors, animals, friends and foes.  Underlying themes of tolerance, respect, honesty and hard work surface in the course of various contacts.Much more than a morality play, the story includes high adventure when the pair is confronted with a situation where mental, moral and physical strength is tested.I feel this book is open to sequels, perhaps introducing another child to the family- maybe a needy one who would benefit more than most from the genuine goodness of the established characters - and, with him or her, other horses.  Too, I believe readers would like the follow the life of the main character as he matures.The author obviously loves the land, animals, horses and people; the rest of us love to read about them."

A refreshing literary treat!

In a society that thrives on sex, violence,profanity and instant gratification, it is refreshing to read a book like "Old Black". It is wholesome reading written in a lively, "hold your attention" style. Doug Briggs brings these Texans to life and into your heart, so much so that they feel like family. It is a book I'd recommend highly. It is wonderful to know that there is good writing that is imformative, entertaining and yet wholesome. "Old Black" teaches the readers lessons in kindness, loyalty and hard work! All these values that certainly need reinforcement nowadays. The book also gives us a lesson in race relations and how it should be. Get the book, read it and DON'T put it away. It's the kind of book you can leave on your coffee table for company to see.