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PRIVATE PEACEFUL

by Michael Morpurgo ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 2004

From England’s Children’s Laureate, a searing WWI-era tale of a close extended family repeatedly struck by adversity and injustice. On vigil in the trenches, 17-year-old Thomas Peaceful looks back at a childhood marked by guilt over his father’s death, anger at the shabby treatment his strong-minded mother receives from the local squire and others—and deep devotion to her, to his brain-damaged brother Big Joe, and especially to his other older brother Charlie, whom he has followed into the army by lying about his age. Weaving telling incidents together, Morpurgo surrounds the Peacefuls with mean-spirited people at home, and devastating wartime experiences on the front, ultimately setting readers up for a final travesty following Charlie’s refusal of an order to abandon his badly wounded brother. Themes and small-town class issues here may find some resonance on this side of the pond, but the particular cultural and historical context will distance the story from American readers—particularly as the pace is deliberate, and the author’s hints about where it’s all heading are too rare and subtle to create much suspense. (Fiction. 11-13, adult)

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2004

ISBN: 0-439-63648-5

Page Count: 208

Publisher: Scholastic

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2004

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT HISTORICAL FICTION

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by Laurie Halse Anderson ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 2000

In an intense, well-researched tale that will resonate particularly with readers in parts of the country where the West Nile virus and other insect-borne diseases are active, Anderson ( Speak , 1999, etc.) takes a Philadelphia teenager through one of the most devastating outbreaks of yellow fever in our country’s history. It’s 1793, and though business has never been better at the coffeehouse run by Matilda’s widowed, strong-minded mother in what is then the national capital, vague rumors of disease come home to roost when the serving girl dies without warning one August night. Soon church bells are ringing ceaselessly for the dead as panicked residents, amid unrelenting heat and clouds of insects, huddle in their houses, stream out of town, or desperately submit to the conflicting dictates of doctors. Matilda and her mother both collapse, and in the ensuing confusion, they lose track of each other. Witnessing people behaving well and badly, Matilda first recovers slowly in a makeshift hospital, then joins the coffeehouse’s cook, Emma, a free African-American, in tending to the poor and nursing three small, stricken children. When at long last the October frosts signal the epidemic’s end, Emma and Matilda reopen the coffeehouse as partners, and Matilda’s mother turns up—alive, but a trembling shadow of her former self. Like Paul Fleischman’s Path of the Pale Horse (1983), which has the same setting, or Anna Myers’s Graveyard Girl (1995), about a similar epidemic nearly a century later, readers will find this a gripping picture of disease’s devastating effect on people, and on the social fabric itself. (Fiction. 11-13)

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2000

ISBN: 0-689-83858-1

Page Count: 256

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2000

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT FICTION | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT HISTORICAL FICTION

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edited by Laurie Halse Anderson

by Laurie Halse Anderson ; illustrated by Leila Del Duca

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NELL OF BRANFORD HALL

by William Wise ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 1999

Loosely connected to historical events, this tale of a 17th-century English town that isolated itself to prevent the plague from spreading celebrates selfless courage, but it does so at some distance, and within the confines of a contrived, ordinary story. Daughter of a prosperous, bookish squire, Nell Bullen has enjoyed an idyllic upbringing, and despite confirmed rumors of plague, eagerly accompanies her father to London when he is inducted into the Royal Academy. Guided by the up-and-coming Samuel Pepys, Nell tours the city, avoiding the plague-ridden districts until by mischance she witnesses a horrifying mass burial. Sobered, she returns to Branford, not long before the local tailor takes ill. Viewed largely from the distant safety of the manor house, the townfolks’ principled decision to stay put rather than flee, and their subsequent suffering, will seem a remote catastrophe to readers, and Nell’s stilted narrative style (“Among our visitors from London was a singular young man whom I misjudged completely at the start,”) gives this the artificiality of a formula romance. Though the act from which this story springs merits commemoration, the inner and outer devastation wrought by disease is more vividly captured in Cynthia DeFelice’s Apprenticeship of Lucas Whittaker (1996) and Anna Myers’s Graveyard Girl (1995). (Fiction. 11-13)

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1999

ISBN: 0-8037-2393-8

Page Count: 128

Publisher: Dial Books

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1999

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT HISTORICAL FICTION | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES

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Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo - review

Private Peaceful is a very emotive book. The book is full of jealousy, grief, joy and anger (basically all emotions). I believe that Michael Morpurgo has done a very good job of hooking the reader into the book and making them read on and on.

This book is a flashback describing the whole of Thomas Peaceful's life up until the present day and the aftermath of a tragic ending. This novel is set just before the start of world war one and leads into it. The book is about the calm, peaceful and tranquil life of Thomas Peaceful and his life in the countryside. However, then the war starts and Thomas and his brother Charlie are forced to go to France to fight. Once there he will experience the most devastating things like pain, grief and the death of his fellow friends; however he will also find love.

This book is a great read for anyone no matter what genre of books they prefer. This is why it has won so many awards such the Red House children's book award in 2004.

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Book Details

Genre: .

• Historical Fiction

Age Level: 

Private Peaceful is about the life of Tom Peaceful before and through his drafting into World War One. With his Mother, Molly, and his brothers Charlie and Big Joe, he has many of great adventures, until the day when the army marches through the town. He is chosen to serve in the army, and he must leave the home he knows and loves.

• Read more about Private Peaceful review by JPM

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Home / Find a book / Private Peaceful

Private Peaceful

By Michael Morpurgo

‘Tonight, more than any other night of my life, I want to feel alive.’

Resources for this book

• Michael Morpurgo Chatterbooks activity pack

I really liked Tommo because he had a great personality. But I also loved Charlie because he was really protective and caring to Tommo. I wouldn't recommend it to younger people because it's quite sad although older people would enjoy it.

This was a outstanding story that touched my heart. The hardships that they endured showed me how strong they are, fighting in the war. This book in my opinion was the best Michael morpurgo book I’ve ever read.

this book is a really touching book but i think the ending could be a bit better

This was definitely my favourite book so far!

'It was a creative, emotional rollercoaster, butterflies woven through the story, like a ribbon, tying it all together. There were some very beautiful descriptions. I found it a very satisfying read.'

It is a great historical book, good to learn about WW2. #FANTASTIC

This book had me crying but I really enjoyed it. It's the story of a boy called Thomas Peaceful growing up and ending up fighting in the First World War. It shows all the different emotions of a child from sadness to happiness, love to hate. I would recommend it to people who like history and heartwarming stories with an extremely deep meaning. Michael Morpurgo is a very good writer with a variety of styles but this is one of my favourites. This is a must read for 12-16 year olds but keep the tissues handy!

Bit violent. Not bad.

Terrible book

this book is so emotional because of all the things that happen to this boy. the characters are so different and they make me feel unusual. never in my life have i experienced, in a book, such emotion from a character. this boy has a brother who gets married to the girl he loves and then they both go off to war. his brother dies and he is left with his mother and brothers wife and son.

will he get through without his brother? and will he survive war?

its a really good book that everyone should read. an emotional roller-coaster.

It told a tale of ww1

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, found it easy to read. I liked the character of Big Joe. Found the story well written and very moving. I would recommend this book to other people

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Private peaceful.

Written by Michael Morpurgo

Illustrated by imperial war museum

Reviewed by Bradley Z. (age 12)

This book is about a family that was in World War I. The boy Tommo's father was killed in an accident and only his mother and second oldest brother Charlie were working to support the family. His oldest brother was mentally disabled. They don't have the right to live in their house any more and the owner is asking them to move out, but Charlie started working for him so they could keep the house. In school Charlie and Tommo met a very nice girl called Molly. She later on became Charlie's wife and they had a baby. When the war started Tommo and Charlie were asked to join the army and fight against the Germans. Charlie was killed when he disobeyed an order from the sergeant to save Tommo who was injured. And.

I liked this book as it was outstanding because it was written in a way that children will easily understand and it let me know how poor people lived during the war, they had to pay the owner of the land to live, and Tommo must feel horrible when he lost his father and brother. I think when Tommo lost his father it was his fault. It was a shocking part when Tommo was in the camp and the girl he loved died and I felt miserable too. My favorite parts were when Charlie Molly and Tommo were at the river bank they were swimming Molly was changing her clothes, she told them not to look but they did. It was quite funny when I read that. And in the end it was a bit disappointed when it ends because every one died.

This book was quite similar to the book "Salone on a Wide Wide Sea" as it was written by Michael Morpurgo before. In that book it is also about two kids like brothers and they were also in the war.

This book is appropriate for children aged 10-14. It was well written by Michael Morpurgo. When I read his books I can see the pictures in my head plus he is my favorite author. I think all children should read this book, the book was telling us what happened to the people in the Wars they were force to fight and living away from their family and we should all know that now we are very lucky that there is no war.

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Private Peaceful

The book Private Peaceful was a great way to start off my second quarter of school. Michael Morpurgo wrote a great book about love and war. In this book two brothers grow up closer than ever. Charlie and Thomas get in so much trouble together until they meet a new girl at school named Molly. Further on, the three learn there's more to life than pulling pranks and getting in trouble. Thomas and Charlie end up falling in love with Molly. Of course Charlie being the oldest won her heart. Before he knew it, Thomas could see them forming a loop that he was not in. He was soon completely cut off from them both after finding out that Molly is having Charlie's baby. Soon after Molly's parents kicked her out, Charlie was sent off to war with his brother following behind him. As always Charlie looks out for Thomas, and takes any burden off of him that he can. When Charlie took everything too far he ended up serving the death sentence. Thomas was all alone after Charlie's death; so Thomas has to fight alone in the war. Thomas learns that life is not about thinking what your next move is; it's about keeping promises. This is exactly what he does after Charlie is gone. He was loyal to his brother. I like that about this book he was sad that his brother was to be murdered, but he was strong through it all. Reading a book about two boys (one being underage) was very eye-opening. The action is suspenseful and I actually cried when Charlie died. I really see where the author, Michael Morpurgo, was coming from. He was trying to get the message out to say that war is a terrible experience to live through. Private Peaceful is my favorite book, because of the message and moral to the story. For once, I am glad I picked up a book. I sure did pick a good one.

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