About the Author:
BILL WALLACE was born in Chickasha, Oklahoma where he later spent ten years as a principal and physical education teacher at the same elementary school he attended as a child. Bill still lives in Chickasha with his wife, son, four dogs, three cats, and two horses. The Wallace family spends much of their spare time outdoors fishing, and tending cattle on the family farm. Bill lectures at schools around the country, answers mail from his readers, and of course, works on his books. Bill is now a full-time author and his novels have been a great success -- they have won more than thirty state awards and have made the master lists in seventeen.
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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