Sewell saw Black Beauty as lessons in equine care more than as a literary story, so it is not surprising that some of the early critics appraised Black Beauty as a care guide as well as a novelistic form. Readers often thought that a veterinarian, coachman, or groom must have written the book because it was so accurate in its details. Regardless, Black Beauty, classified as "Juvenile" by libraries, is considered a children's classic and one that changed the nature of children's literature. It is true that readers usually first encounter this novel as children, and there are film versions aimed strictly at a juvenile audience. However, many readers, such as Sewell biographer Susan Chitty, realize that if the book was written to educate those who handle horses, then it was written for working class men, not children.

Furthermore, like so many other readers, Lucy Grealy...