Book excerpt: Every boy has it in his soul to make the big trip. Alone, into the wild. Wilder feels the call after reading about an obsidian deposit on a forgotten bluff in the Spanish Peaks Wilderness. If he can find the glassy, black, volcanic rock, he'll be able to replace his family's most cherished heirloom. Wilder wants to prove that he can make the journey alone, but his parents make him bring his best friend Big, and a new kid called Corndog. With no adults to turn to, can the three boys face the rigors of the outdoors―and each other? Praise for S. J. Dahlstrom and The Adventures of Wilder Good series #4 The Green Colt Winner of the Western Heritage Award for Juvenile Book Winner of the Will Rogers Medallion Award for Young Readers Finalist, Western Writers of America Spur Award for Juvenile Fiction "The Green Colt is told beautifully, with grace and quiet power, and shows S. J. Dahlstrom to be a big new talent. I highly recommend this wonderful book." --Nancy Plain, award-winning author and vice-president of Western Writers of America "Horse-loving readers will identify with Wilder, and take away positive messages about horses, respect, family, friendship, and never giving up." --Western Horseman "Wilder loves the outdoors, and the author's appreciation for nature rings true in his writing. The language was rich, and the imagery was vivid. I felt as if I was walking the ranch with Wilder, feeling his pain or his excitement." --The Old Schoolhouse magazine #5 Black Rock Brothers "The story will hook adventure-loving boys while delighting parents with its character-building plot." - WORLD magazine "With his fifth book in the series Dahlstrom takes a leap! Black Rock Brothers reminds us that in an ever disconnected world, friendship, family, and honor are the true ties that bind."―Paul Allen Hunton, Texas Tech University Public Media