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.
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Unhappy about his parents splitting up and moving with his mother to Grandpa's farm, eleven-year-old Luke finds comfort in riding and caring for a horse named Beauty.
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