Black Beauty: book club questions by chapter

🦉 Black Beauty · meeting 1 of 3

Read: Part One, “The Meadow” (pages 1–3, about 3 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 3, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. What was Black Beauty's mother's advice?
   The story's answer: Work with a good will and never bite or kick
2. Who have we met so far, and what does each of them want?
   Listen for: Make a list together on the board; keep it for next time and add to it.
3. The part we just read is called "The Meadow". Why do you think it has that name?
   Listen for: Any answer that points to a moment in the part is a good one; ask for the page.
4. Stop here. What do you think will happen next? Write or draw one guess to check next time.
   Listen for: Keep the guesses in an envelope. Don't say whether a guess is right: the next part will.

🦉 Black Beauty · meeting 2 of 3

Read: Part Two, “Birtwick Park” (pages 4–9, about 6 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 9, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. Why had Ginger learned to bite and kick?
   The story's answer: Her first masters had treated her harshly
2. Look back at last time's guesses. Which came true, and what surprised you?
   Listen for: Read the guesses out. Nobody was wrong: a guess that missed often shows what the author wanted us to expect.
3. The part we just read is called "Birtwick Park". Why do you think it has that name?
   Listen for: Any answer that points to a moment in the part is a good one; ask for the page.
4. Stop here. What do you think will happen next? Write or draw one guess to check next time.
   Listen for: Keep the guesses in an envelope. Don't say whether a guess is right: the next part will.

🦉 Black Beauty · meeting 3 of 3

Read: Part Three, “Hard Times”; Part Four, “Home at Last” (pages 10–17, about 7 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 17, the end of the story.

1. Who is telling this story?
   The story's answer: Black Beauty himself
2. Why did Beauty refuse to cross the bridge in the storm?
   The story's answer: He sensed that the bridge was broken
3. What does Black Beauty's story teach about how people treat animals?
   The story's answer: Kindness makes an animal's whole life better
4. Look back at last time's guesses. Which came true, and what surprised you?
   Listen for: Read the guesses out. Nobody was wrong: a guess that missed often shows what the author wanted us to expect.
5. The part we just read is called "Home at Last". Why do you think it has that name?
   Listen for: Any answer that points to a moment in the part is a good one; ask for the page.
6. Now that you know the ending, was it the ending you expected?
   Listen for: Ask what in the earlier parts pointed to it, or pointed the other way.

About the whole story

1. Which character changed the most from the beginning to the end?
   Listen for: Ask what changed them.
2. Which scene would you put on the poster if this were a film?
   Listen for: A way to find the scene that mattered most to each reader.
3. Is there a line or a moment you will remember? Why that one?
   Listen for: Let readers find it in the book and read it aloud.
4. Who would you give this story to, and why them?
   Listen for: A reader who can name the right person has understood what the story is like.
5. If you could ask the person who first told this story one question, what would it be?
   Listen for: Collect the questions; some have answers on the story's page in the library.