War Horse

Michael Morpurgo

1982

3.91
⚠️Content Warnings
DeathViolenceWar
Raised on a farm with his loving owner, Albert, Joey the horse finds his happy world coming to a sudden end when World War I breaks out, he is sold by Albert’s father, and he is put to work on the battlefield–all the while hoping for an end to the misery and a loving reunion with the one person he loved the most.
👥 Readers Engaged 📈 Live Insights 🔮 Trends for This Book
Completion Rate
67%
Avg Time To Finish
10.5 days
Reading Now
1
Completion Trend
DNF Completed Currently Reading
Tonight’s fit

Best for readers who enjoy:  Emotional · Adventure · Steady

Emotional England POV: First-Person Published by Scholastic Press
Characters
Animals Children Soldiers
Sub-genre
Adventure Animal Stories War
Experience
Emotional Sad Tragic
Pace
Gentle Adrenaline
Balanced
Tone
Light Dark
Balanced
Book length
Short Epic
Short
More nuance
Violence
Soft Graphic
Balanced
Romance
Background Front and centre
Background
Worldbuilding
Light touch Deep & dense
Light touch
Readability
Breezy Dense
Balanced
Humour
Serious Very funny
Serious
Target audience
Younger Adult
Balanced
Michael Morpurgo

Michael Morpurgo

Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Action & Adventure

Michael Morpurgo is a prolific and beloved British author, known for his enchanting children's stories like War Horse and Kensuke's Kingdom, which often feature themes of nature, survival, and outsiders, with vivid settings like the Cornish coast or wartime landscapes. A former teacher and Children's Laureate (2003-2005), he co-founded the charity Farms for City Children and uses storytelling to highlight literature's importance, with many books adapted for stage and screen.

Books By This Author

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Reader Reviews

3.91
11 ratings
10 reviews
5 stars
4 (36%)
4 stars
4 (36%)
3 stars
1 (9%)
2 stars
2 (18%)
1 stars
0 (0%)
6 January 2026
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Loved it: War Horse

0
6 January 2026
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Loved it: War Horse

I went into War Horse with pretty normal expectations and it surprised me. The atmosphere is the standout — it’s easy to sink into. Overall, I’d recommend it to the right reader.
0
6 January 2026
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Loved it: War Horse

0
6 January 2026
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Really enjoyed: War Horse

War Horse has a strong core idea — the execution mostly works. Characters feel distinct, and the dialogue reads naturally. A couple of sections could have been trimmed without losing anything. If you’re on the fence, try a sample — you’ll know quickly.
0
6 January 2026
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Really enjoyed: War Horse

I went into War Horse with pretty normal expectations and it surprised me. The pacing stays moving and the chapters end on good beats. Not perfect, but it did enough to keep me turning pages.
0
6 January 2026
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Didn’t work for me: War Horse

0
6 January 2026
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Mixed feelings: War Horse

0
6 January 2026
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Didn’t work for me: War Horse

War Horse has a strong core idea — the execution mostly works. The middle drags and repeats the same tension a bit too long. Overall, I’d recommend it to the right reader.
0
6 January 2026
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Really enjoyed: War Horse

I went into War Horse with pretty normal expectations and it surprised me. The pacing stays moving and the chapters end on good beats. Overall, I’d recommend it to the right reader.
0
6 January 2026
User Avatar

Loved it: War Horse

0