What do you think?
Rate this book
Blind Beauty
Tessa has major attitude and an impossible dream—not a great combination for success. But she believes that fate has delivered the ungainly horse Buffoon to her, and Tessa is determined never to be separated from him. What's more, she intends to one day become a jockey and ride Buffoon in the Grand National. But how can a girl with a violent temper and a “can't do” philosophy gain the physical strength, courage, and money needed to become a jockey—especially when her stepfather would like nothing better than to see her fail? Determination and grit may not be enough—but Tessa's not going to let go without giving it her all.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
21 people are currently reading
2213 people want to read
About the author
K.M. Peyton
109 books149 followersKathleen Wendy Herald Peyton MBE, who wrote primarily as K. M. Peyton, was a British author of fiction for children and young adults
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
August 8, 2013
I adore KM Peyton as a writer, if I am having a bold day I would say she is my favourite writer. Now she is predominantly known for her equine novels, this in my mind is the finest example and one of my favourite books of all time (ranking along there with such classics as Anne of Green Gables).
Now this may/will contain spoilers but you have been pre-warned here. Blind Beauty is the heart enchantingly delightful tale of an emotionally abused teenage girl meets decrepit looking racehorse. However this is NOT your Heartland dribble of girl finds horse, fixes completley and they ride off happily into the sunset without any hitches.
It is a book where the character struggles a lot, to find herself, emotionally un-thaw and learn to be able to love others. In some aspects it is a tiny bit predictable her big dreams are achieved, she rides off with the knight in shining armor but not before she fights for the one thing she ever loved: Buffoon. The great, ugly racehorse.
Buffoon is the first thing she has loved since dragged cruelly away from her horse and Father as a child, this connection is no surprise when the past is found out. Within the first half of the book it seems like it should last no longer than another half but there are some unforeseen twists which are so beautifully done.
This novel screams of Peytons knowledge of both horses as a whole and of racing. It shows the sport as it is, a passionate game but sadly stricken with challenges for all who want to participate, from the richest to the poorest.
Characters are unraveled and developed throughout with such attachment developed to them. One of her specialties as an author as well is creating lovable horse characters, this has no exceptions, both Buffoon and his pony companion scream realism at you.
Although I adore this book I can the plot is flawed in areas with predictability, however it is expanded beyond what could have been a mediocre book by the beautiful writing of Peyton, her characters could make any book better and it has raised this book to a high place in my favourite books. A place I expect it to maintain.
Now this may/will contain spoilers but you have been pre-warned here. Blind Beauty is the heart enchantingly delightful tale of an emotionally abused teenage girl meets decrepit looking racehorse. However this is NOT your Heartland dribble of girl finds horse, fixes completley and they ride off happily into the sunset without any hitches.
It is a book where the character struggles a lot, to find herself, emotionally un-thaw and learn to be able to love others. In some aspects it is a tiny bit predictable her big dreams are achieved, she rides off with the knight in shining armor but not before she fights for the one thing she ever loved: Buffoon. The great, ugly racehorse.
Buffoon is the first thing she has loved since dragged cruelly away from her horse and Father as a child, this connection is no surprise when the past is found out. Within the first half of the book it seems like it should last no longer than another half but there are some unforeseen twists which are so beautifully done.
This novel screams of Peytons knowledge of both horses as a whole and of racing. It shows the sport as it is, a passionate game but sadly stricken with challenges for all who want to participate, from the richest to the poorest.
Characters are unraveled and developed throughout with such attachment developed to them. One of her specialties as an author as well is creating lovable horse characters, this has no exceptions, both Buffoon and his pony companion scream realism at you.
Although I adore this book I can the plot is flawed in areas with predictability, however it is expanded beyond what could have been a mediocre book by the beautiful writing of Peyton, her characters could make any book better and it has raised this book to a high place in my favourite books. A place I expect it to maintain.
August 6, 2013
Some loves don't have to be physical. They just have to be understandable..
♥ XOXO ♥
January 4, 2020
This is a beautiful coming of age story of transformation as Tessa, a wilful and unhappy child with an awful home life, is taught what love is through her new stable family and the offspring of her childhood horse. Packed with emotion, this book is a must read for any horse lovers, although it is so much more than just a “horse book”. I particularly appreciated the three dimensional quality to the characters. The insight the author gave to their lives and weaknesses as well as strengths and more complex than just the “good” or “bad” that can be portrayed in books such as these. I highly recommend this book and found it difficult to put down until the end.
October 24, 2018
This is a book written in 1990s with a troubled YA heroine (12 at first, then teens) and a racehorse whose incipient blindness isn't initially noticed, then later provides a series of dilemmas. This is somewhat romanticised at the end but contains plenty of life lessons and some heartbreaking scenes.
I can't really believe a racehorse being named Buffoon. A Thoroughbred being loaded into a box when he is old, cold and skinny, would be rugged up on the spot before travelling, maybe leg bandaged as well. He'd be given a flu shot and worm dose before being allowed into a yard with racing horses. No mention of clipping the horses during winter or the facefuls of hair being brushed out when young horses are unclipped and coating. A jockey is not allowed to ride their own horse, something which it would have been easy for writer and editor to check.
Tess, our heroine is also an antiheroine as she gets in her own way and is taken from her family more than once. Only when she starts to work with horses and, of course, falls for one horse in particular, does she turn her life around. This book reminded me a lot of Vian Smith's The Horses of Petrock. We could see it as the female version. Like Johnnie Driscoll our Tess becomes a jockey, with some notoriety attached. The racing scenes and horse point of view passages are well done.
The villain of the piece is too nasty and one-sided for my liking - not saying nobody is like that, but we should know more about his self-made past and the press would certainly winkle it out, though I approved of the course taken by his son.
Read and enjoy, maybe not if you are too young. Parental guidance suggested.
This is an unbiased review.
I can't really believe a racehorse being named Buffoon. A Thoroughbred being loaded into a box when he is old, cold and skinny, would be rugged up on the spot before travelling, maybe leg bandaged as well. He'd be given a flu shot and worm dose before being allowed into a yard with racing horses. No mention of clipping the horses during winter or the facefuls of hair being brushed out when young horses are unclipped and coating. A jockey is not allowed to ride their own horse, something which it would have been easy for writer and editor to check.
Tess, our heroine is also an antiheroine as she gets in her own way and is taken from her family more than once. Only when she starts to work with horses and, of course, falls for one horse in particular, does she turn her life around. This book reminded me a lot of Vian Smith's The Horses of Petrock. We could see it as the female version. Like Johnnie Driscoll our Tess becomes a jockey, with some notoriety attached. The racing scenes and horse point of view passages are well done.
The villain of the piece is too nasty and one-sided for my liking - not saying nobody is like that, but we should know more about his self-made past and the press would certainly winkle it out, though I approved of the course taken by his son.
Read and enjoy, maybe not if you are too young. Parental guidance suggested.
This is an unbiased review.
April 23, 2016
KM Peyton is undoubtedly one of the most competent contemporary writers of horse fiction (of any age) out there with a distinct style of prose and a refreshingly realistic view of the horse world. As far as 'pony books' are concerned a parent with literary standards looking for a well written novel for a middle grade or teenage horse rider is well served buying this book. So, why 'only' the 3 stars? Two reasons and they are purely to do with this reader's personal conviction and subsequent likes. I abhor hurdle racing. I consider it almost on par with blood sports. And the problem I had with this was that although Peyton certainly doesn't airbrush over the realities of the racing 'game' (as she calls it), she isn't exactly critical either and the book is quintessentially another in a long line to serve the glorification of that sport.
The other aspect that down marked the book for me was that after a run of reading truly fabulous horse books such as the various works of Monica Dickens, then 'Eleanor McGraw' and finally 'The Scorpio Races', all of which have a real understanding for horses and their nature at their heart (while the horses in Blind Beauty are very objectified in a true to the racing world style) and boast not just distinct but individually beautiful writing, 'Blind Beauty' just didn't cut the mustard for me. If I had read this before the others it might have been a different rating story.
After all is said and done I will certainly explore Peyton's other books in due course but this one wasn't really for me.
The other aspect that down marked the book for me was that after a run of reading truly fabulous horse books such as the various works of Monica Dickens, then 'Eleanor McGraw' and finally 'The Scorpio Races', all of which have a real understanding for horses and their nature at their heart (while the horses in Blind Beauty are very objectified in a true to the racing world style) and boast not just distinct but individually beautiful writing, 'Blind Beauty' just didn't cut the mustard for me. If I had read this before the others it might have been a different rating story.
After all is said and done I will certainly explore Peyton's other books in due course but this one wasn't really for me.
April 26, 2009
Blind Beauty is a heart warming story about a girl who finds the horse she owned as a child when she was a teenager. She gets asighned groom to the horse and finds out that this was the blind horse that she knew as a child. Overjoyed, She begs and pleads for the horse. She starts to get to ride her agein. She was very happy. After a few months of working with him, She got told that the horse was mostly hers. Now, She knew that this horse could compete in the Grand Nationals. With a step-Dad that is a drunk and abustve, Will she be able to do it? You will have to read the book to find out, But I can tell you this story will warm your heart! If you have any questions about this book, Message me.
February 27, 2012
I swear I cried more at this book than I have at any other book. It may just be very personal, this book reflects all of the things I have felt about horses in my life in such an honest, heart-wrenching way I couldn't articulate. And the ending is what I needed.
Read
March 21, 2020Angst and horses – the perfect combo. Read repeatedly as a kid.
Read
September 21, 2012Tessa fits in nowhere with a horrible stepfather and a bad record of getting kicked out of boarding schools. Her stepfather arranges for her to work at a stable and she falls in love with horses. The characters in this book are so interesting; they come right off the page into your imagination. There are many things going on; the growing up of Tess from anti-social to social, the horrible stepfather and her mother's relationship and the other people who work at the riding yard. The riding yard characters I loved; Jimmy who taught her to ride horses and Sarah the stern but caring head worker. Read this and you will enjoy it!
February 18, 2011
Surprisingly, I have read this book while overlooking Black Beauty, possibly because the horse in the story is a gorgeous sun-tanned chestnut (I love brown horses for some slightly unknown reason). I absolutely LOVE horses, so it was really no shock that I fell in love with this book. On its face, the topic its self was enough to win me over, but I loved how complex the book became when entwined with romance. A gripping tale of mystery, ever-lasting-love, and the incredible friendship of a horse and rider. I PROMISE this book WILL NOT LEAVE YOU DISAPPOINTED.
October 9, 2011
This is one of my favorite books. I must have read it at least twenty times(Which is big seeing as with 99% of other books I cant read something when I already know the story line). I love Tessa, how strong willed she is. And Buffoon is such a cutie(at least in my head). I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone. I love it that much.
March 6, 2016
One of my favourite books from childhood that I still continue to enjoy immensely on every reread. Such a beautiful story.
November 14, 2020
I first read this book many, many years ago and every now and then it comes back to me as a book that made me feel something. Before this book I only read animal books with the same characters and same plot. Re-reading this as an adult was a good call; it still reads as a quality book. Tessa is an interesting character and the story is moving.
February 7, 2021
Forever an all-star book for me!
Tessa is only 4 years old when she and her mother leave her father, and Tessa's beloved horse Shiner. Now 12, Tessa is angry and troubled and not content staying at home with her mother and her horrible stepfather Maurice. Sent to a neighboring racing stables to help out, Tessa meets ugly Buffoon, a no-hoper racehorse whose mother, Tessa finds out, was Shiner. A horse-girl love story is born, and Tessa believes Buffoon can be a star and takes everyone along on their adventure to the Grand National.
I just adore this book so much, and every time I read it, I'm carried along with the story and Tessa's ups and downs at home, her refound passion for horses and her bond with Buffoon. I love the inside look at what it takes to train racehorses - and the amazing highs and devastating lows that come with it - as well as just the general horsiness of this book. If you loves horses, you will love this book.
There are parts of this book that get a bit darker and we do follow Tessa up to adulthood, with the novel ending when she is 20 years of age, living independently and racing horses for a living. I think in a more modern book, there are parts of Tessa's life that would have to be given more attention - her abusive stepfather, Tessa's anger issues and inability to suppress her wild emotions, but for the time this was written, I still think the topics were handled okay and the horses and Buffoon took over as was fitting in a novel aimed at young readers.
My most recent reread (February 2021) gave me a renewed love for this book and, in particular, the final scene of the novel which is the last race scene. The way KM Peyton wrote every second of the race, it feels like you are both riding Buffoon along with Tessa, and screaming on the Grand Stand with Peter, Myra, Jimmy, and then almost fainting along with the other lads with Wisbey. The excitement and the energy that is held within the pages as Tessa and Tom race neck to neck is brilliant.
This is one of those books that I wish was 1000 pages longer, and just never ended, as I love the story, the people and most of all the horses, so much.
Tessa is only 4 years old when she and her mother leave her father, and Tessa's beloved horse Shiner. Now 12, Tessa is angry and troubled and not content staying at home with her mother and her horrible stepfather Maurice. Sent to a neighboring racing stables to help out, Tessa meets ugly Buffoon, a no-hoper racehorse whose mother, Tessa finds out, was Shiner. A horse-girl love story is born, and Tessa believes Buffoon can be a star and takes everyone along on their adventure to the Grand National.
I just adore this book so much, and every time I read it, I'm carried along with the story and Tessa's ups and downs at home, her refound passion for horses and her bond with Buffoon. I love the inside look at what it takes to train racehorses - and the amazing highs and devastating lows that come with it - as well as just the general horsiness of this book. If you loves horses, you will love this book.
There are parts of this book that get a bit darker and we do follow Tessa up to adulthood, with the novel ending when she is 20 years of age, living independently and racing horses for a living. I think in a more modern book, there are parts of Tessa's life that would have to be given more attention - her abusive stepfather, Tessa's anger issues and inability to suppress her wild emotions, but for the time this was written, I still think the topics were handled okay and the horses and Buffoon took over as was fitting in a novel aimed at young readers.
My most recent reread (February 2021) gave me a renewed love for this book and, in particular, the final scene of the novel which is the last race scene. The way KM Peyton wrote every second of the race, it feels like you are both riding Buffoon along with Tessa, and screaming on the Grand Stand with Peter, Myra, Jimmy, and then almost fainting along with the other lads with Wisbey. The excitement and the energy that is held within the pages as Tessa and Tom race neck to neck is brilliant.
This is one of those books that I wish was 1000 pages longer, and just never ended, as I love the story, the people and most of all the horses, so much.
February 27, 2025
For all its flaws I have to give this a high rating. Don’t expect a credible realistic plot line here, despite being grounded in the author’s obvious deep knowledge of racing and horses.
Some of the twist and turns of the plot
stretch credibility but the whole hangs together with the glorious deft writing weaving a story with emotional truth and depth.
Every interaction with the horses rings true for anyone who has ever lost their heart to a horse. Never sentimental it rings with the respect and love for the beauty and courage of fine horses. The characters and qualities of the horses and the people are well drawn, prickly, difficult, stubborn, generous, mean - they all play their part in this most satisfying story,
I see from the reviews how loved this book is and how often reread.
I can see why.
The description of the Grand National from the back of a horse is spine tingling for anyone who loves this grand old race.
I have read the Flambards series with pleasure. What a delight to have all her other writings to explore.
Some of the twist and turns of the plot
stretch credibility but the whole hangs together with the glorious deft writing weaving a story with emotional truth and depth.
Every interaction with the horses rings true for anyone who has ever lost their heart to a horse. Never sentimental it rings with the respect and love for the beauty and courage of fine horses. The characters and qualities of the horses and the people are well drawn, prickly, difficult, stubborn, generous, mean - they all play their part in this most satisfying story,
I see from the reviews how loved this book is and how often reread.
I can see why.
The description of the Grand National from the back of a horse is spine tingling for anyone who loves this grand old race.
I have read the Flambards series with pleasure. What a delight to have all her other writings to explore.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2015
Of Bad Attitudes And Dreams
Tessa has always had attitude problems, and her step father isn't helping any. After being kicked out of boarding school, it looks like she has nowhere to go. Then she finds the stable. A horse racing stable, to be more exact. It's here that Tessa gets wrapped up in the wonderful world of horses, and when Buffoon comes along, the odd pair begin a partnership that could have them in the winners circle. The only problem is that Buffoon is nearly blind, and when Tessa's stepfather becomes her competition, he starts playing dirty.
Blind Beauty is a wonderful story, and I really enjoyed it, especially the compatibility of Tessa and Buffoon. If you like a story about anything from bad girls gone good to awkward looking horses racing against the odds, then this is the book for you. It's brings you through Tessa's struggles with her family, her horses, and the competition in the racing world all while showing you the power of believing in yourself.
Tessa has always had attitude problems, and her step father isn't helping any. After being kicked out of boarding school, it looks like she has nowhere to go. Then she finds the stable. A horse racing stable, to be more exact. It's here that Tessa gets wrapped up in the wonderful world of horses, and when Buffoon comes along, the odd pair begin a partnership that could have them in the winners circle. The only problem is that Buffoon is nearly blind, and when Tessa's stepfather becomes her competition, he starts playing dirty.
Blind Beauty is a wonderful story, and I really enjoyed it, especially the compatibility of Tessa and Buffoon. If you like a story about anything from bad girls gone good to awkward looking horses racing against the odds, then this is the book for you. It's brings you through Tessa's struggles with her family, her horses, and the competition in the racing world all while showing you the power of believing in yourself.
August 4, 2016
Incredibly disappointing take on National Velvet for the 21st century. Now, I realize that as a woman in my late 40s, I'm not exactly in K.M. Peyton's target market, but COME ON. What parallel universe is this supposed to be set in? The events described would never happen in the real world, that's for sure. The ridiculousness in the life of a steeplechaser and the high-spirited girl who loves him is almost breathtaking. It's like a train wreck in prose with horses.
June 16, 2019
This book is stunning. It’s the second time I’ve read it but it felt like the first, and affected me as much, if not more.
It’s truly beautiful, moving and wild. A true gem of a book.
Full review can be found at My Endless Shelf
It’s truly beautiful, moving and wild. A true gem of a book.
Full review can be found at My Endless Shelf
July 2, 2009
Tessa is obsessed with horses and uses that absorption to escape from difficulties with her family but she may be in over her head when she decides to train a nearly-blind horse to race in the Grand National.
December 7, 2023
I read this book to shreds as a kid (unclear why they were selling this at the scholastic book festival). Upon reread, still fantastic. Despite appearances, suitable for a read by anyone not just horse girls.
May 15, 2020
Oh wow, this book never gets old. Never fails to make me tear up. I first read it when I was 10, and I'll probably keep reading it till i'm 90. Splendid!
October 15, 2021
inspirational
August 16, 2021
I LOVED it!
January 18, 2022
My favourite book of all time (I may be a slightly biased horse obsessed girl). I’ve read it over and over again and it just continuous to surprise me, bring me to tears and laughter.
December 28, 2022
The best childhood book I recall reading. Love re-reading
July 27, 2025
Blind Beauty by K. M. Peyton was one of my favourite books when I was at school and I read it so many times. I decided to re read as an adult and it still hit the same 💜
May 20, 2025
Shiner gave birth to a gangly-looking foal. Her owner Declan cried. His daughter loved Shiner, but Declan was a drunk, Myra left him and took his daughter with her.
Tessa was wild and determined. Buffoon was an ungainly horse, so tall she had to stand on a stool to groom him. At twelve she learned to ride so she could exercise him. The owner was an old man and his grumpy daughter.
Myra had married Maurice. They lived in a big house that felt barren of love. Maurice bought horses but wasn’t kind to them. He wanted them to win and his trainer did what he told them, or else. Myra did too and Tessa hated his treatment of her mother.
When Peter, the head trainer at the stables, entered Buffoon in the Grand National, no one expected the horse to do well. Near the race, his little companion pony went missing. Buffy stopped eating and kicked around his stall. Now he was even less likely to win.
Tessa went to see her mother in the evening, after work at the stables, the big house was above them. She heard Lucky whicker and followed the sound to out-building's of the big house. She knew her stepfather had taken him to deliberately upset Buffy.
The old man and his sister who owned Buffy didn’t understand the upset not having the little pony near the big racehorse. He was in the Grand National and with Tom a good rider he still came third.
Tessa was so angry with her stepfather, she went inside the house and with a bread knife attacked him. This changed Tessa’s life. Maurice had her locked away as unstable. Buffoon was sold. What could she do now? Her future looked bleak. Tom came to visit her which gave her hope that things would change.
Would she ever be given her freedom? Would she see Buffoon again? Would her friendship with Tom grow? Would her stable friends who’ve always supported her be ready to do it again?
K.M. Peyton wrote about ponies and horses. She was masterful in creating the lives of the people who love them, and the way the stables were run. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Tessa was wild and determined. Buffoon was an ungainly horse, so tall she had to stand on a stool to groom him. At twelve she learned to ride so she could exercise him. The owner was an old man and his grumpy daughter.
Myra had married Maurice. They lived in a big house that felt barren of love. Maurice bought horses but wasn’t kind to them. He wanted them to win and his trainer did what he told them, or else. Myra did too and Tessa hated his treatment of her mother.
When Peter, the head trainer at the stables, entered Buffoon in the Grand National, no one expected the horse to do well. Near the race, his little companion pony went missing. Buffy stopped eating and kicked around his stall. Now he was even less likely to win.
Tessa went to see her mother in the evening, after work at the stables, the big house was above them. She heard Lucky whicker and followed the sound to out-building's of the big house. She knew her stepfather had taken him to deliberately upset Buffy.
The old man and his sister who owned Buffy didn’t understand the upset not having the little pony near the big racehorse. He was in the Grand National and with Tom a good rider he still came third.
Tessa was so angry with her stepfather, she went inside the house and with a bread knife attacked him. This changed Tessa’s life. Maurice had her locked away as unstable. Buffoon was sold. What could she do now? Her future looked bleak. Tom came to visit her which gave her hope that things would change.
Would she ever be given her freedom? Would she see Buffoon again? Would her friendship with Tom grow? Would her stable friends who’ve always supported her be ready to do it again?
K.M. Peyton wrote about ponies and horses. She was masterful in creating the lives of the people who love them, and the way the stables were run. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
May 3, 2018
I can't remember how many horse stories I read when I was a tweenie and young teenager, and considering I read everything published by the Pullen-Thompson sisters (loved Phantom Horse series), and Patritia Leitch made me love Arabians (which lead to the happiest day of my life when I finally bought a chestnut Arab of my own aged 19). I'm surprised that until I was given this book and I read the author info that apparently she's written many horsey novels, and I never came across them.
Anyway, it was a nice trip down memory lane of a genre which I used to love.
I wasn't really in love with Blind Beauty. I couldn't decide whether it was for lower age YA, YA or older. Not that I mind reading any of those, but I had thought it might be a good book to make my eldest son read over the bank holiday as he goes through books very quickly. However, there were some content issues. Swearing/ blaspheming for one. The main character stabs her step father with a knife and spends time in a detention facility. Her mother is an emotional wreck over her horrible marriage. So, no, this is not what I would give a younger YA to read.
So on to the horsey bits. The settings of race stables and race courses were very well done. But I have never (ever) read in any of my extensive horsey book past read passages which gave the horse's POV as the narrative. Thankfully this was restricted, but it was down right odd and it did not add at all to the story.
Plot- basic underdog becomes the champion after years of hard work and toil, and the undeviating love of a human. I don't mind reading plots that have been used before, because writers can adapt them into so many different things, but this was unfortunately, a bit on the boring side.
Will I be rushing out to find other works of this author? No. but it's made me want to find my old collection of Patricia Leitch's Jinny books.
Anyway, it was a nice trip down memory lane of a genre which I used to love.
I wasn't really in love with Blind Beauty. I couldn't decide whether it was for lower age YA, YA or older. Not that I mind reading any of those, but I had thought it might be a good book to make my eldest son read over the bank holiday as he goes through books very quickly. However, there were some content issues. Swearing/ blaspheming for one. The main character stabs her step father with a knife and spends time in a detention facility. Her mother is an emotional wreck over her horrible marriage. So, no, this is not what I would give a younger YA to read.
So on to the horsey bits. The settings of race stables and race courses were very well done. But I have never (ever) read in any of my extensive horsey book past read passages which gave the horse's POV as the narrative. Thankfully this was restricted, but it was down right odd and it did not add at all to the story.
Plot- basic underdog becomes the champion after years of hard work and toil, and the undeviating love of a human. I don't mind reading plots that have been used before, because writers can adapt them into so many different things, but this was unfortunately, a bit on the boring side.
Will I be rushing out to find other works of this author? No. but it's made me want to find my old collection of Patricia Leitch's Jinny books.
May 23, 2021
This has been the first fictional book I finished after a very long time and it definitely is planting back the old feeling of reading books for the joy of it.
I wasn't too keen with Tessa's personality in the first few chapters which led me to read in a very slow manner but I'm glad I came through to finish it eventually. Blind Beauty is a coming of age story of a young girl, who, despite having an unstable family background, tries to aim for the near impossible. Although I wasn't too fond of Tessa at first, I'm happy to read her development over time when it came to racing in a world where she had multiple disadvantages.
As an avid horse novel reader, I can safely say that this book is surprisingly very personal and touching in its brief moments and one can sympathize with Tessa despite her age. K.M Peyton did a very good job visualizing the horse racing world for readers who might not be too familiar with it. If I ever find one of Peyton's other equine works, it's definitely worth a shot.
I wasn't too keen with Tessa's personality in the first few chapters which led me to read in a very slow manner but I'm glad I came through to finish it eventually. Blind Beauty is a coming of age story of a young girl, who, despite having an unstable family background, tries to aim for the near impossible. Although I wasn't too fond of Tessa at first, I'm happy to read her development over time when it came to racing in a world where she had multiple disadvantages.
As an avid horse novel reader, I can safely say that this book is surprisingly very personal and touching in its brief moments and one can sympathize with Tessa despite her age. K.M Peyton did a very good job visualizing the horse racing world for readers who might not be too familiar with it. If I ever find one of Peyton's other equine works, it's definitely worth a shot.
August 17, 2019
This was a childhood favourite and it is still very much the same as I approach the grand old age of 32!
It is a book with soul, heart and believable characters that are allowed to make mistakes or behave badly. I find that some 'childrens' books have whiter than white characters that can do no wrong, but that is not the case here and I love the main characters with all my heart :) A book I can read again and again.
It is a book with soul, heart and believable characters that are allowed to make mistakes or behave badly. I find that some 'childrens' books have whiter than white characters that can do no wrong, but that is not the case here and I love the main characters with all my heart :) A book I can read again and again.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews