War Horse

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. How did you feel when Albert made the choice to train Joey to plow? Did he make the right choice? Was there a better way to go about training Joey?

2. How do you believe domestic animals like horses should be treated? Of the characters Albert, Captain Nicholls, Trooper Warren, and Emilie, which one most closely mirrors your own values regarding the treatment of animals?

3. Do you agree that Grandfather kept his promise to Emilie by giving Joey back to Albert, or do you think that keeping his promise would mean personally caring for Joey? What would you have done in his situation?

4. At the end of the story, Albert tells Joey about Father’s complete transformation after selling Joey. Have you seen people in real life undergo dramatic change after a serious mistake, or did you find this unrealistic?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. How are young people impacted when a parent or guardian has an alcohol addiction? Which of these do you see in Albert’s life?

2. What animals besides horses have historically been used by soldiers? Which ones are still being used? Does the novel take a stance on whether this practice is ethical? What are some of the considerations involved?

3. How was the technology of war changing during the period the novel covers? How are these changes reflected in the novel? How does WWI military technology compare to that of the 21st century?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism. 

1. Joey is put to work by both British and German soldiers during the war. What does his story demonstrate about soldiers’ wartime experiences, regardless of what side they are fighting on?

2. In what ways are Joey and Albert similar to one another even before they meet? How do their early circumstances create more similarities? How do their lives, even after they are separated, continue to demonstrate these parallels?

3. How does using Joey as the narrator require anthropomorphosis? Does this conflict with the story’s more realistic elements? How does it develop Joey’s characterization in ways that would not be possible with a third-person narrator?

4. What does the white cross on Joey’s forehead symbolize? What other symbols in the novel is it related to?

5. How do economic status and social class impact the lives of the human characters in this novel? How does Joey learn about similar hierarchies in the lives of horses?