She must save the day, leaving the duchess unattended in her castle. But then MagnoliaвЂ™s monster alarm, a glitter-stone ring, goes off. When nosy Duchess Wigtower unexpectedly drops by Princess MagnoliaвЂ™s castle, Magnolia must protect her secret identity from the duchessвЂ™s prying. Perfect Princess Magnolia has a secret-her alter ego is the Princess in Black, a superhero figure who protects the kingdom! (This book was reviewed digitally.)ДЄn engrossing look at a war that sacrificed both horses and people. Albert and an English-speaking German soldier toss a coin for Joey, and Albert, the apparent winner, returns home with Joey at warвЂ™s end. After a battle in which both Friedrich and Topthorn are killed, Joey races away, turning up on the wastes of the no manвЂ™s land between the warring armies. MorpurgoвЂ™s sentimental treatment, matched by Disney-esque tableaux intermittently delivered in comics-style panels, nonetheless conveys war as barbaric and treacherous for all-human or animal. They pull an ambulance cart, spend a calmer summer on a farm, then endure grueling work pulling guns before garnering gentler treatment from German soldier Friedrich. The narrative, heavily anthropomorphizing Joey throughout, tracks him as he and stablemate Topthorn are captured by the Germans. JoeyвЂ™s fortunes are equally miserable as a cavalry horse. Ensuing spreads depict Albert training for and entering World War IвЂ™s trench warfare.

He angrily leaves home and enlists in the army, lying about his age. Albert, devastated, vows to one day reunite with Joey. When war breaks out in Europe, AlbertвЂ™s father, in need of money for the farm, sells Joey to the military.

Morpurgo adapts his 1982 novel for a younger audience.ДЄlbert and Joey, his red bay, are bonded вЂњlike brothers.вЂќ Joey responds to AlbertвЂ™s calls, and together, they work on the family farm in Devon, plowing, sowing, and harvesting.

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