Beauty (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) [School & Library Binding]

Robin McKinley (Author), Michael Deas (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1993 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Kind Beauty grows to love the Beast, at whose castle she is compelled to stay, and through her love releases him from the spell which had turned him from a handsome prince into an ugly beast.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6His mother's failed marriage and a forced move to his grandfather's Oklahoma farm infuriate 11-year-old Luke. Beauty, an elderly mare, be comes his confidante as he adjusts to a rural lifestyle. Beauty also functions as a lovable equine counterpart to cranky Grampa. Grampa teaches Luke resil ience and determination, while the horse teaches him horsemanship skills. In this first-person narrative, Luke comes across as a believable character, who's impulsive, obstinate, and nar row-minded. Wrapped up in his own problems, he's slow to accept the teachings of Grampa and Beauty. How ever, when Beauty suffers a tragic acci dent, Luke proves himself man enough to put her out of her misery. Wallace's ``life goes on'' theme makes this a time less story, its mood somewhat reminis cent of the boy/animal relationships in Mary O'Hara's My Friend Flicka (Harper, 1973) and Wilson Rawls' Where the Red Fern Grows (Double day, 1986). Despite Beauty's death, a happy ending matches Luke with the mare's young granddaughter. Wal lace's smooth writing effectively bal ances action scenes with Luke's thoughts to involve readers. The short, cinematic chapters might attract reluc tant readers.Charlene Strickland, formerly at Albuquerque Public Li brary, N.M.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From the Publisher

She was an old horse, but she could still run like a champ. Grampa warned him to be careful with Beauty, but Luke didn't listen.

He'd told her all about his hopes, dreams, and fears -- secrets Beauty would never reveal. She was his pal, who went skinny dipping with him in forbidden ponds and galloping after cattle in dangerous cowboy games he knew he shouldn't play. Until the night of the wild storm, when Beauty raced through the barn doors he'd forgotten to close into a terrible trap, and Luke ran into the blinding rain desperate to save the best friend he'd ever have... --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• School & Library Binding: 256 pages
• Publisher: Turtleback (May 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0808566490
• ISBN-13: 978-0808566496
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,619,627 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You're never too old for Beauty!, February 13, 2001

By 

Amber Anderson "brwnidgrl925" (Colcord, OK United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beauty: Beauty (Paperback)

My third grade teacher read this book to our class and I instantly fell in love with it. I'm 20 years old now and Beauty is still one of my favorite books. It teaches children a valuable lesson in the importance of family and friendship and is a great book for parents to read to their children. I'll guarantee that the parents will enjoy it just as much (if not more!) as their children. I highly recommend this book to ALL ages.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you like good book you'll love Beauty, November 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Beauty: Beauty (Paperback)

It was about an old horse that became Lukes best friend.he'd told her about his hopes,dreams,and he knew that secrets with beauty will never be revealed come visit the wonderful journeys of this book Beauty.

I loved this book because it showed me that friendship has no limits. It showed me the meaning of carring for your loved ones.

1.0 out of 5 stars A book for optimists, November 25, 2011

By 

shakesomeaction (TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beauty (Paperback)

As a child this was a book that just made me angry. I read this when I was eight years old. I remember reading it because I loved horses as a child, I was one of those little girls, enchanted by them. My best friend, also a horse lover, told me the ending (when I asked) and I was upset by it. Not upset in a sad way. I was angered by it. It pissed me off, for a lack of better words. Even as a child this contrived ending offended me. The fact that this author would recycle an ending like this, and expect children to buy it so easily. I didn't bother finishing the book after that. In fact, I threw the book away, because it made me so incensed. There is a difference between writing a classic, where you learn things from it--Old Yeller, and simply manipulating a reader's emotions--Beauty. Even as an eight year old I knew the difference.