War Horse

Morpurgo, Michael. War Horse. 2007. 165p. 243 mins. ISBN 9780439796637. Available as an audiobook on Overdrive.

Told from the point of view of Joey, a horse, this story explores the impact that the First World War had on animals. Joey is a young bay-red horse. He has white socks markings on each leg, and a large white cross on his nose. At six months, Joey is bought at auction and separated from his mother. At first Joey has trouble adjusting to life as a farm animal, especially since the farmer is mean and gets drunk on Tuesday. But the farmer’s young son, Albert, is tender and dedicated and soon both of them become fast friends.

But as 1914 rolls around, the specter of war is threatening to engulf all of Europe. When the conflict erupts, the farmer sells Joey to the army so he can keep the farm. Albert, too young to join, is separated from Joey. He vows to find his horse again. Bought by a young captain, Joey is trained as a war horse for the cavalry, and ships with his regiment to France’s Western Front. There, Joey endures the horrors of war, and as the conflict grounds to a war of trenches, there is no use for cavalry horses. Joey must now do everything he can to survive if he hopes to be reunited with Albert.