by Michael Morpurgo
Scholastic, 1982
GENRE: Historical Fiction, Drama, War
HONORS: Runner-up for the 1982 Whitbread Book Award
REVIEW: Joey is a red bay horse with perfect white socks and a white cross adorning his forehead, purchased as a foal out of spite by an English farmer. Joey and the farmer’s son, Albert, form a special bond so naturally he is devastated the day that his father sells Joey in order to pay the mortgage. The first World War is just beginning, and Joey is now in property of the army to be a war horse. Joey experiences the trenches where he is surrounded by death and disease, but never forgets his beloved and only true master, Albert.
REVIEW: Joey is a red bay horse with perfect white socks and a white cross adorning his forehead, purchased as a foal out of spite by an English farmer. Joey and the farmer’s son, Albert, form a special bond so naturally he is devastated the day that his father sells Joey in order to pay the mortgage. The first World War is just beginning, and Joey is now in property of the army to be a war horse. Joey experiences the trenches where he is surrounded by death and disease, but never forgets his beloved and only true master, Albert.
OPINION: I was
surprised to discover that this book was originally published back in 1982 and
that I’m only just now hearing about it for the first time. It masterfully
illustrates the horrors of war from the point of view of a horse.
IDEAS: The
obvious lesson idea would be to incorporate this book with a history lesson on
World War I. It would also fit well in a history and historical fiction
display, or World War display.
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