Walter Farley has varied his plot in ["The Horse Tamer"]…. The Black Stallion's trainer tells a story about the experiences of his older brother as a horse-tamer before the days of horseless carriages. Negligible story; stereotyped characters; poor format. Practical psychology involved in taming and training difficult horses and a plea for kindness comprise a major portion of the book.

Allie Beth Martin, "Junior High: 'The House Tamer'," in Junior Libraries, an appendix to Library Journal (reprinted from the January, 1959 issue of Junior Libraries, published by R. R. Bowker Co./A Xerox Corporation; copyright © 1959), Vol. 5, No. 5, January, 1959, p. 40.

Walter Farley's first dog story [The Great Dane Thor] is formula fiction that fizzles out at the end. It's the eternal triangle: boy who loves woods and wild animals, dog who kills deer, father who excuses dog…. The symbolic resolution comes on Christmas morning when boy gives father sleeping bag...