Compulsory Readings

1st YEAR STUDENTS 

( Secondary Education )

TORO, TORO by MICHAEL MORPURGO

Synopsis 

Toro! Toro! by Michael Morpurgo is a moving historical novel set during the Spanish Civil War. It tells the story of Antonito, a young boy growing up on a farm in Andalucía, Spain, where bulls are raised for the bullring. Antonito becomes inseparable from a little black calf named Paco, whom he has cared for since birth. However, he learns that Paco is destined to fight and likely die in a bullfight, which Antonio cannot accept. So at dawn the two friends flee together to save Paco from that fate.

As they escape, Antonito and Paco encounter the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936, with bombing and violence sweeping their village. Antonito cannot return to his old life — his home and family are destroyed. He ends up living in the hills and later joins Resistance fighters. Around campfires, they tell stories of an amazing black bull — a symbol of freedom — and Antonito wonders if it could really be Paco. Later, years after the war, when he is working in the mountains, he dreams of Paco and wakes to find hoofprints beside him… a haunting and hopeful ending.

This is a tale of friendship, courage, survival, war, and loss, told with clarity and emotional depth.

📚 Why It’s Highly Recommended to Read in English

Here’s why reading Toro! Toro! in English — the original language — is especially valuable:

✅ Authentic Voice

• The book was written in English, so the tone, rhythm, voice, and choice of words reflect the author’s original intention.
  
  

✅ Literary Style

• Michael Morpurgo’s simple yet expressive language is excellent for learners of English: it’s accessible but still rich in vocabulary and emotional nuance.
  
  

✅ Cultural and Historical Insights

• Reading it in English helps you absorb the language of a major English-language author while also learning about Spanish history through the lens of international literature.
  
  

✅ Better Understanding of Themes

• Many of Morpurgo’s themes — war, compassion, friendship — gain an extra layer of nuance in the original phrasing that translations might miss.