Emilie's Grandpapa is talking about the death of Emilie's parents. Sounds familiar, though, right? That's because it's echoed throughout the novel, as "one shell" is all it takes to kill Friedrich, Coco the horse, and Albert's best friend, David. Scary.

The rules of war are strange indeed. An unspoken truce puts an end to the gunfire and bloodshed for one night—Christmas Day.

Plenty of people talk to Joey, even though they have no idea if he can understand them. Emilie's grandpapa seems to do it out of desperation. The horses brought happiness to Emile's fragile life, so maybe they can save it in the process.

The soldiers' admiration for the bravery of the horses knows no borders. Even though the horses are English, the German soldiers give them a medal of honor. The horses' bravery and strength transcends the conflict that has put these two countries at odds.