War Horse [NOOK Book]

( 1613 )

Overview

A powerful tale of war, redemption, and a hero's journey--now available in paperback!

In 1914, Joey, a beautiful bay-red foal with a distinctive cross on his nose, is sold to the army and thrust into the midst of the war on the Western Front. With his officer, he charges toward the enemy, witnessing the horror of the battles in France. But even in the desolation of the trenches, Joey's courage touches the soldiers around him and he is able to ...
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War Horse

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More About This Book

Overview

A powerful tale of war, redemption, and a hero's journey--now available in paperback!

In 1914, Joey, a beautiful bay-red foal with a distinctive cross on his nose, is sold to the army and thrust into the midst of the war on the Western Front. With his officer, he charges toward the enemy, witnessing the horror of the battles in France. But even in the desolation of the trenches, Joey's courage touches the soldiers around him and he is able to find warmth and hope. But his heart aches for Albert, the farmer's son he left behind. Will he ever see his true master again?
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Editorial Reviews

Regina Marler
Although a first-person animal narrator asks a lot of the reader, Joey's voice—unsentimental and brave under fire—amplifies the emotional impact of the story…The historical details in this short book powerfully ground it in its moment, but a timeless question drives the story: Will the two friends, Joey and Albert, ever see each other again?
—The New York Times
Children's Literature - Sharon Salluzzo
Joey, a beautiful red bay horse, has settled into his life on the farm and his friendship with thirteen-year-old Albert. When Albert's father who is in need of money for the upkeep of the farm sells Joey to a British cavalry unit, Joey finds himself being shipped to Europe where World War I has just begun. The reader sees the war through Joey's eyes. His losses and his triumphs are captivatingly detailed. Captain Nicholls, his first rider, dies in battle but not before he paints a portrait of Joey. It is that portrait hanging in a village hall that inspired this tale. Later, Joey and his rider are captured by the Germans and Joey becomes part of the team of horses that pull the ambulance wagons from the battle line. After that he enjoys some loving, tender care from a young girl and her grandfather. That soon ends when he is conscripted to pull a canon for the German army. The horror of the conditions in which the soldiers live is mirrored in the events of Joey's life. A meeting between an old German and a young British soldier over who will take Joey provides a thoughtful commentary on the futility of war. This is an eloquently told and absorbing friendship story. Horse lovers will be on the edge of their seats from the beginning to the end. This runner-up for the Whitbread Award goes far beyond the horse story genre. Morpurgo presents both a fine history lesson and an emotional tale.
Children's Literature - Lois Rubin Gross
This rerelease of an excellent 1982 horse story coincides with the widely promoted Steven Spielberg movie of the same name. There is also an added author's note from 2007. Morpurgo tells a superb animal story about Joey, a red roan conscripted into the British army to act as an army mount and then as a work horse. Told in the voice of the horse, the story is comparable to Black Beauty, but the trials that Joey endures in both the British and German army, the mostly kind and attentive humans the horse meets along the way until he is reunited with his British farm boy, Alfred, also bears a resemblance to Terhune's Lassie Come Home. Joey has no trouble understanding the conversations of his handlers, whether they are English, French or German. He also learns about the horrors of war, the same in any language. Over a million horses were killed in World War I before war became fully mechanized, so Joey is involved in close in fighting, with big guns just feet away from the enemy. He may not understand the conflict for which he has been recruited, but his observations explain to young readers how war is not healthy for living things. His first mounted officer is shot leading a charge. His best friend, a magnificent black named Tranthorn, is worked to death. Joey is saved by the convenient but indeed beautiful reunion with his original owner, Albert, a farm boy turned veterinary aide. For me, the most moving scene is two warring soldiers, in the middle of No Man's Land, flipping a coin to settle ownership and Joey's fate in a totally non-violent means of agreement. With wide movie promotion, this book will be requested immediately. Joey's journey through war to peace is an excellent story with great heart. Reviewer: Lois Rubin Gross
School Library Journal
Gr 5–8—Since he was a young colt, Joey has been loved and cared for by Alber, a young English farm boy. At the beginning of Wold War I, Albert's father sells Joey to a captain in the cavalry. The boy is devastated and promises Joey that someday he will find him. Joey experiences army life and the disastrous consequences of a cavalry charge into machine guns. He is captured as a prisoner of war and becomes a hospital cart transport horse for the German army. The he's used by the German soldiers to pull gun carts through the muddy trenches. Joey bolts after his friend Topflight dies. He ends up in no-man's land between the trenches. By a coin toss, he becomes again the property of the English. Joey is taken to a veterinary hospital where he is reunited with Albert. As the soldiers from both sides of the conflict share their thoughts and feelings with Joey, listeners get unique and perceptive views of World War I. John Keating's' different accents are pitch perfect as he draws listeners into the story (Scholastic, 1982) by Michael Morpurgo. An excellent choice for fans of historical fiction.—Samantha Larsen Hastings, Riverton Library, UT
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780545311854
  • Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
  • Publication date: 10/1/2010
  • Sold by: Barnes & Noble
  • Format: eBook
  • Pages: 176
  • Sales rank: 5,830
  • Age range: 9 - 12 Years
  • File size: 258 KB

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 1613 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(1069)

4 Star

(321)

3 Star

(128)

2 Star

(42)

1 Star

(53)

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 1619 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted August 15, 2007

    A Wonderful Read for All Horselovers

    War Horse is one of my favorite books. The author does an amazing job of telling an exciting story through a young horse's eyes. The tale explains everything exactly as you would expect this young stallion to, and has one of the best endings i have ever read, so simple, yet it gives you a heartwarming feeling that Satisfies the books end. I recommend this book to all animal lovers.

    100 out of 114 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted April 17, 2011

    a great book

    this book is awsome full of excitment but sadness its the story of a horses life during the war many people who read this will get done and take a deep breath and say man what a good book and read it again.

    75 out of 90 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted September 26, 2011

    Good short read

    Story brought tears to my eyes. Any animal lover should enjoy

    59 out of 86 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 13, 2011

    Beautiful Story!

    I wish I had known about this book when I was still teaching 5th/6th grade. It would have been a wonderful addition to my English/Language Arts Horse Unit. My students would have loved it. I can't wait to see the movie!

    49 out of 66 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted September 27, 2011

    Best Friends are Never forgoten

    This is one of the best books that I have read. If you like war stories and actions this one is definetly for you. Yet it is appropriate for the young readers also. This unique way the story was told through a horse was amazing. I have never read anything like it. The story is complete and you are able to connect with the characters right off the bat. This book will leave you with a new insight of a horse and the feelings they have if you don't already know. Worthy of your time and money.

    36 out of 40 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted January 30, 2012

    more from this reviewer

    Good story, but too many grammatical errors.

    This is a great story, however the ebook version is wrought full of grammatical errors and misspelled words. At one point it skips a whole paragraph. Purchase at your own risk.

    23 out of 30 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 13, 2011

    Wonderful read!

    I love horses and history, and this was an inspirational story told from the horse's own brave perspective. A truly wonderful read.

    23 out of 33 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 28, 2011

    This is a MUST Read!!

    This is a fantastic story told through the eyes of the horse. It truly is an amazing book. I am so glad to have read it before the movie came out. The author really captures the horses spirit. It shows that horses, like people, have tough times and happy times and with determination, you can accomplish your dreams.

    19 out of 48 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 30, 2011

    Enjoyed this book.

    As someone who has been horse crazy all her life, I just had to read this book. It was a good read. I really felt what the horse felt. I read it in one sitting.

    19 out of 21 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 1, 2012

    Great book

    The best horse book I have read in forever! Really heart warming story! Great for horse lovers, but sad parts!

    17 out of 20 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 26, 2011

    Amazing

    Great book, it is a must read!!! I enjoyed it a lot, it has a happy ending and only one small sad part!!! AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    12 out of 12 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 7, 2012

    Best book ever

    Best book ( and movie ) ever! I recomend it to the world! : )

    10 out of 12 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 3, 2012

    Wonder book, good overcomes all.

    This is a book that is bigger than life itself. Kept me on my toes could not put it down. Loved it.


    9 out of 13 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 27, 2011

    Fantastic

    I am 13 and I highly recommend this book to history and horse lovers! It has great imagery and foreshadowing!

    8 out of 14 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 25, 2011

    Like this one? Then read...

    Traveler, by Richard Adams. It is the story of General Robert E. Lee's horse during the Civil War. The story is also written from the horse's point of view during a war. Beautifully written and very moving! Frankly, It's a grown-up's version of War Horse.

    6 out of 15 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted September 6, 2011

    GOOD READ

    THIS WAS A WONDERFUL STORY! I actually could not put the book down and ended up finishing it in one day. I would recommend. Good Reading for pre-teens...

    6 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 5, 2012

    Awsome a million times

    Im glad my teacher bought these for us to read together in class.my teacher rules in 5th grade

    5 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted January 2, 2012

    more from this reviewer

    Interesting Perspective

    This is a easy book to glide through in about a day or two. I would suggest taking it on a short road trip and cruising through it along the way if you can be lucky enough to have a driver. The story itself will keep you turning the page, and I thought the perspective of everything coming from the horse was neat. It's definitely a book I would suggest to younger readers if only for an understanding of the terrible environment surrounding WWI. It doesn't conjure up images of endless blood and gore but rather paints a somber mindset - one where neither side understands why the fight goes on without end. All in all, it's well-worth the limited time required to enjoy its delivery.

    5 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 27, 2011

    War horse

    This book and movie was the best ever. I pretty much cried the whole time but im glade i read it! I strongly incourage any one to read this book because you won't be the same you do. You will relize what kind on bond a person and animal can have. This book shows you to ever stop looking for the one you love.

    Honestly this book is worth way more than 5 stars!

    5 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 27, 2011

    Wow

    This book tugged at my heart strings.. Very good and easy read. I recommend this for everyone!! I wanted to read before I go see the movie.

    5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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