Reviews

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

mirkalla's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

Its cute, never read anything like this, i like it. Very reflective of society i  that age.

itsredstew's review

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

dianalee91024's review

adventurous emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

jenmangler's review

4.0

Black Beauty is one of the most influential books of my young reading life. I read it over and over as a little girl. It was MY book. At the time, it felt like Anna Sewell wrote it just for me. I learned so much from Black Beauty. He made me want to be a better, kinder person.

oliviamarrrobinson's review against another edition

hopeful fast-paced

4.25

mary_evans's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad

5.0

taylors_escapism's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

mdevlin923's review

4.0

Black Beauty, a well-bred gelding living in 19th century England, chronicles his life as he is passed from owner to owner. Although Black Beauty grows up in a meadow with a gentle and kind groom, some of his later owners cruelly mistreat and abuse him. Finally, towards the end of his life, he is given a happy retirement with kind owners.

The focus of Anna Sewell's book is the fair and ethical treatment of animals. I will always be impressed with the social change that Sewell was able to make with the publication of Black Beauty. In addition to advocating for animal welfare, Sewell includes commentary on other moral issues (working on Sundays, devotion to family, and alcohol). There are many references to Christianity, but it wasn't overwhelming. Mostly, I was happy to see men acting with gentleness and kindness and being lauded for it.

therukat's review

hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

A Beautiful book every young person should read to learn a little bit more empathy 

hazelrayson's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5