Bibliographic Information:
Morpurgo, M. (1982). War horse. New York: Scholastic Press.
Readability Level: 6.0
Audience Level: Grades 6-8
Suggested Delivery: read aloud or group read
Summary: "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 Topthorn 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
Morpurgo, M. (1982). War horse. New York: Scholastic Press.
Readability Level: 6.0
Audience Level: Grades 6-8
Suggested Delivery: read aloud or group read
Summary: "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 Topthorn 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
Curriculum Connections:
Taken from Scholastic
Taken from Scholastic
- What war is taking place? Where does Albert live? Use a Google Maps of Europe and point out Great Britain, France and Germany.
- When both the Welshman and the German were trying to help Joey, whom did you want to take the horse? Why? What did the event say about how the soldiers on both sides really felt about the war?
- How did you feel when Joey finally found Albert? Discuss the path that Albert might have taken to put himself in a position to find Joey again. Compare and contrast Joey’s journey with the one that Albert might have made.