War Horse Kindle Edition

Son loves it much. Recommend

Hart warming, reflects true love, understanding , care and devotion between man and animal. Wars can destroy man and animal but not their love. Could not stop reading till the end. Highly recommended

This is a powerful short story originally written in 1982 for young readers. It was recently recc'd to me by a close relative, who like myself and maybe 90% of all female children, grew up with a fascination for horses. Black Beauty, Chincoteague and National Velvet and all the various genres and spin offs were and are some of our fondest reading and movie/TV joint recollections. Though published 20 years ago and though I was an Elementary school classroom teacher at the time, I did not come across the story until this very recent conversation, spurred by the upcoming local premiere of the stage touring troupe production with its innovative life-size puppetry. We then researched it. Apparently, it was developed through live interviews of some of the REAL people from WWI mentioned by name, Albert, himself, a villager and Captain Bludgett of the cavalry. The picture of Joey by the soldier is really in a museum. Still I had not read the book nor seen the Spielberg movie (even tho' THAT alone should have peaked my interest in 2011). Anyway, I immediately booked tickets to the stage production here in Rochester, NY for Nov. 2013. Then I ordered the kindle book version so I would be a somewhat enlightened theater goer. I was totally enamored with the book and found it captivating. The narrative style of the book, told primarily from the perspective and 'voice' of the horse, Joey, was a wonderful vehicle to interest a child as well as an adult reader. As a children's book, some caution is necessary for a responsible educator or parent. Some 'scenes', even on the farms, are graphic and war is not a comfortable topic in any event. This book offers a unique opportunity to bring the gruesome reality and history of war and specifically, WW1 to the child audience to open understanding and time for conversation. The message is softened by the bond of loyalty, endurance and total unconditional love between the boy and horse that many kids can identify with, say that between them and their house pets. It also depicts the sadness of loss and death, something many kids are forced to learn to handle. Friendship, kindness and sacrifice are part of the fabric of all our lives. The use of the animal as narrator was a major plus for me, to tell a heart-wrenching/ warming story with a strong anti-war message, in a style suited and familiar to children (think Charlotte's Web). Most of us, at any age, have never had a great understanding of WHY We Go To War at all and this is portrayed in the book, "Ours is not to reason why, ours is but to do or die". To Joey, the farm and what 'his boy', Albert asked of him is answered by Joey's struggles to do what IS asked of him. This ethic carries on to his time in service to England's cavalry, Joey's 'communications' in a teacher/student role concerning how to cope with humans, war and relationships with the other war horses is symbolic of all our life's lessons. The war scenes are graphic, the fighting is frightening and chaotic -- a fluent statement about the insanity of the violence. Horse lovers may find it gruesome abuse, but it was reality. Obviously I cannot say enough good things about this book. As an English major, however, though padding an essay is often worth more grade points, eloquence is often about brevity, being terse and to the point. Think haiku and famous quotes. If this review were so... I would say in ONLY a brief and to the point comment, that; "this book IS brief and to the point".

[Comments refer to the stage play "War Horse" by Nick Stafford, which is based on the novel of the same name by Michael Morpurgo]"War Horse" is pure story-telling, a classic tale for children but, hey, it's going to cause any adult to choke up with emotion. Think "Old Yeller," by Fred Gipson, or Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' "The Yearling."The stage play by Nick Stafford tells the story of Joey, a horse -- half thoroughbred, half hunter -- born shortly before the outbreak of WWI, separated from his mother while still a foal, raised in the Devon countryside in England by young Albert Narracott and sold to the English cavalry to fight alongside the doughboys in France.Saying good-bye to his beloved horse, Albert vows: "I want you to do yourself proud. You go and drive those Germans back home, and then you come home. I promise you, Joey, that we shall be together again . . . I, Albert Narracott, do solemnly swear that we shall be together again."Although too young to enlist, Albert, 16, lies about his age and sets out to find Joey and bring the horse home to the fields of Devon.A caveat: This paperback by Nick Stafford is the stage adaptation of the novel of the same name by Michael Morpurgo. The National Theatre in London gave the play its premier in 2007. The same production, in association with the Handspring Puppet Company, is scheduled to open at Lincoln Center in New York in the spring of 2011. Steven Spielberg is directing a movie of the book which is scheduled to premier December 2011.With that caveat in mind, for me the question then becomes does it make sense to read the play before seeing the "War Horse" stage production or before sitting down in a dark movie theater with a box of popcorn and watching the action unfold on the big screen.By reading the play beforehand, you'll know the story and how it ends. But it's a fantastically compelling story that has traction enough to be retold and retold without diminishing its emotional wallop.The value of reading the play before seeing the production is that you create Joey and his world in your imagination. Seeing what you've conjured in your mind's eye and how that compares to what happens on stage or in the movie theater is, for me at least, a pleasure all in its own right. Think of reading "Lord of the Rings" and then seeing the trilogy on screen. Reading "Gone With the Wind" before watching the classic movie.For me, reading the play or book first; seeing the movie after, enriches the entire experience. My advice, get to know Joey and his story as soon as you can; then make plans to see the play and go to the movie.[4.5 stars]

This was one of those books that I had been meaning to read for a while and as my 9-year-old niece is currently reading it I downloaded a copy last night and finished it this morning – and I loved every page.It was as brilliant and I thought and hoped it would be. I loved the way that Joey’s story was told and the way that the Great War is also discussed and you see it from his view.It is very well written and I would have stayed up to finish the book in one sitting had I not needed to get up for work the next day. It is a poignant and moving story and it really does show what some of these horses went through. I was lucky to read a book previously on animals in the Great War and they really do deserve a lot more acknowledgment and credit.Worth all the praise I have seen it given in the past by other readers. It is 5 stars from me for this one and another tick on my wish to read more classics this year - very highly recommended!!

I first read War Horse in Year 2, the Chinese version of it. Hurt when Capt. Nicholls died. It was not just because I liked him, but also how much he behaved like a character that would last beyond the end of the book to me. I thought I would have become more critical and capable of better guesses now since I've read a lot, written a lot and have had Adrienne and Sara and UCL Writers' Soc BUT STILL, when I read War Horse again I was shocked to find Capt. Nicholls die this early on. After these many years he still looks like someone who would have many more storylines to contribute to and I'm not used to this sudden farewell. Guess it's not about being a trained reader or having a literary instinct; I simply hate seeing or foreseeing his death. It hurts the same and perhaps even more in English and I'm recollecting my feelings about War Horse.

Although this is intended as a children's book, it has plenty for the adult reader, offering more depth than many books written for adults for adults. The narrative style is sufficiently engaging that it has great potential for reading at a single sitting.Making Joey, the (war) horse, the narrator was a brilliant move on Michael Morpurgo's part, since it simultaneously encourages children to think about the effect of their actions on others (for who could not empathise with Joey?) and helps to show that neither humanity - nor not a lack of it - observes geographical or political borders.Children will learn a lot about the First World War and readers young and old will appreciate the various roles of the horse in warfare on both sides. An excellent read.

Joey (a horse) is sold to a drunk man that has a farm a wife and a son cald Albert who grows to love Joey and Joey grows to love Albert thay think nothing will chang but when war strikes thay are forced to say goodbyes as Joey is sold to war going through meny solders as thay fal of his back ded nothing is worse then this Joey thinkswill Joey and Albert finde each other againa very amotinal story that makes you feel for the characters and think wy do we have war??Michel morpergo never fails to impres me and this was no exeption.there are some extreemly sad bits so would recomend 9+ do read this book i can not see how you could be disappointedd

I first read this book about 4 years ago with my Year 5 class and looked forward with keen anticipation to the film the papers told me was on the way. I watched the film and was left really disappointed at the way it didn't match the quality of the book. I often think there is a problem with writing about such serious events from a fictional standpoint but an author like Michael Morpurgo manages this perfectly. The film tries to make the story too dramatic but the book takes you through the years and helps you understand the moments of happiness and hope as well as the dreaded sections of true horror. I am going to read this book to my Year 4 class, as we approach the centenary of World War One I think it will be a good place to introduce the subject to my children.