War Horse

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of alcohol addiction and animal cruelty.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. It is unusual for such a serious story to be narrated by a nonhuman character. Did you get attached to Joey and enjoy reading about his struggles and adventures, or did you find it harder to immerse yourself in the story because its protagonist is a horse?

2. Michael Morpurgo’s novel Born to Run also features an animal as a main character—in this case, a dog. If you have also read this novel, what is similar or different about the way Morpurgo develops these non-human central characters? Can you think of any other novels that feature an animal as a protagonist?

3. Michael Morpurgo has written other novels centered on World Wars I and II, including Private Peaceful and An Elephant in the Garden. Have you read either of these other novels? How would you compare the role that war plays in these stories?