Half Broke Horses

Half Broke Horses

• Genre: Fiction; biographical historical fiction
• Originally Published: 2008
• Reading Level/Interest: College/Adult
• Structure/Length: Nine chapters and epilogue; approximately 272 pages; approximately 7 hours, 55 minutes on audio
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: Half Broke Horses is a novel based on the life of the author's grandmother, Lily Casey Smith. The central character, Lily, is a remarkable and resilient woman who faces numerous challenges while growing up in the American Southwest in the early 20th century. The central conflict revolves around Lily's determination to overcome adversity including poverty, gender expectations, and personal tragedies. The story is a tribute to her indomitable spirit and her journey through the changing landscapes of the American West.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Hardship; historical challenges; references to suicide and abortion; resources may refer to dated phrases

Jeannette Walls, Author

• Bio: Born 1960; American author and journalist known for her memoir The Glass Castle and her works of fiction; received widespread acclaim for her storytelling abilities and candid portrayals of her own life and family; often explores themes of family, resilience, and personal journeys
• Other Works: The Glass Castle (2005); The Silver Star (2013)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• “Life’s too short, honey, to worry what other people think of you.”
• Learning How to Fall
• Half-Broke Horses

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Develop an understanding of the historical and sociological contexts regarding the gendered norms and expectations of women living in the turn-of-the-century American West.
• Analyze paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of “Life’s too short, honey, to worry what other people think of you,” Learning How to Fall, and Half-Broke Horses.
• Draft and share a creative writing piece from the perspective of Rosemary demonstrating an understanding of characterization and plot elements, based on text details.
• Analyze the significance of various elements of the novel, such as symbolism, motifs, plot details, characterization, and tone, and construct essay responses tying these to the novel’s meaning.