Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Schultz
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Classic horse novel has be-kind-to-animals message.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Based on 21 kid reviews
Kids say this book has a mix of appeal, with some readers finding it sad and slow-paced while others appreciate its emotional depth and important themes regarding animal welfare. Many enjoy the poignant storytelling and the insights it provides into the treatment of horses, making it a recommended read for older children, particularly those who are animal lovers.
- emotional depth
- animal welfare
- slow-paced
- recommended for older kids
- sad but captivating
- timeless classic
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
An animal rights classic that's also an engaging read, BLACK BEAUTY follows the life of an ebony horse from birth to old age, and from pasture to the cobblestone streets of 19th century England. This morality tale and animal "autobiography" gives a majestic horse a voice that's relatable yet unsentimental. Black Beauty's life begins on the grounds of an aristocratic English family. The young horse learns early lessons from his mother before circumstances force his sale to a new master; it's the first of several such sales/moves for the horse. As his life intersects with different human owners, caretakers, and neighbors, Black Beauty experiences different kinds of care and abuse, and he observes the differing attitudes of humans toward horses. Peppered throughout the novel are the moral lessons that the author, Anna Sewell, wants to impart to her readers: that truly good humans are kind to all of God's creatures, that parents should teach their children to be kind to animals, and perhaps most important, that even though they can't speak, horses can feel. Sewell was a devout Quaker, and that is apparent in her pacifist point of view, and in the book's emphasis on the value of hard work without complaint.
Is It Any Good?
The first full-length book told from a horse's viewpoint, this beloved classic shines a light on the cruelties that animals suffer at the hands of humans. It's also full of simple moral lessons and sensuous writing that can take the reader from the beauty of a spring country evening to the hard working world of Victorian London. Black Beauty is not a modern book, and some of today's readers may find the morality of the novel dated or preachy. However, it offers a fascinating, detailed portrait of Victorian English life, and a meaningful reminder of the simple fact that animals have feelings. Children who love horses will love riding along through Black Beauty's life, and treasure the opportunity to imagine a world seen through a horse's eyes.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about treatment of animals in Black Beauty. What are some examples of the right and wrong way to treat animals in the book?
Black Beauty was written more than 100 years ago. How has the role of horses in human society changed between then and now?
What did you learn about horses from this book?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Literary Fiction
- Topics : Friendship , Animals
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Penguin Group
- Publication date : November 24, 1887
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 9 - 12
- Number of pages : 275
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Audiobook (abridged), Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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