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About the Book     Beauty

When Luke’s parents get divorced, he and his mother move from Denver, Colorado to Chickasha,
Oklahoma to live with his grandfather. Luke and his grandfather get off to a shaky start but their
shared love for the old horse, Beauty, provides the beginning of a bridge to their future relationship.

Beauty becomes the confidante and friend Luke has always wanted. Luke knows she won’t reveal any
of his secrets. Grampa comes to know Luke better through Beauty, and by remembering how it was
to be a boy himself. Luke and his grandfather eventually become good friends. Mike Garrison, Grampa’s neighbor, teaches Luke how to ride.

A series of unfortunate incidents occur. First, Grampa gets injured while using his old hay baler. Then a violent storm occurs and fells a tree branch. The branch shatters part of the corral fence. Beauty, frightened by the storm, escapes from the corral and runs down the driveway. She gets entangled in the cattle guard and breaks both front legs. Luke, who is alone at home, cannot remove Beauty from the cattle guard or help her in any way. Luke calls Grampa at the hospital and the two of them come to a decision about Beauty that will cause them pain for the rest of their lives.

Themes in the book Beauty

Compassion and Empathy: One of the book's central themes is compassion, exemplified through Luke’s determination to help Beauty despite the significant challenges. This theme encourages students to think about the importance of empathy and the impact of caring for others.

Overcoming Adversity: Both Luke and Beauty face substantial hardships, and their journey illustrates the resilience required to overcome adversity. This theme can spark discussions on perseverance and the human spirit's capacity to triumph over difficulties.

Healing and Trust: The process of Beauty learning to trust again symbolizes broader themes of healing and recovery. This theme provides a powerful context for discussing trust-building and the importance of patience and understanding in nurturing relationships.

The Human-Animal Bond: The special bond between Luke and Beauty highlights the profound connections that can form between humans and animals. This theme is a great way to explore the benefits of animal companionship and the lessons animals can teach us.

Activity Ideas    for the book Beauty  

Theme Exploration Essays: Assign essays focusing on one of the book’s central themes. Encourage students to use examples from the text to support their analyses. Possible essay prompts include:

• How does Luke demonstrate compassion in his actions towards Beauty?
• Discuss how Beauty’s journey towards trust mirrors Luke’s personal growth.
• What lessons about overcoming adversity can be learned from Beauty?

Creative Writing Assignment: Invite students to write a short story from Beauty’s perspective. This activity encourages creative thinking and allows students to explore empathy by putting themselves in the horse’s shoes.

Group Discussion and Debate: Organize a debate around the following statement: “Animals can be as emotionally complex as humans.” Split the class into two groups and have them present arguments for and against this idea.

Art and Illustration: Have students draw scenes from the book or create a comic strip that summarizes key events. This visual activity can help students who are more artistically inclined engage with the text.

Connecting to Real-Life Animal Care: As an extension, invite a local veterinarian or animal rescue worker to speak to the class about their experiences. This can provide practical insights into the themes of animal care and welfare depicted in the book.