War Horse
Michael Morpurgo
●
1982
⚠️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.
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
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
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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%)
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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0
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.
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