Private Peaceful

by Michael Morpurgo

Overview

A teen reflects on his childhood as he stands on the front lines of World War I in this stunning novel from the Children's Laureate of England.

As the enemy lurks in the darkness, Thomas struggles to stay awake through the night. He has lived through the terror of gas attacks and watched friends die by his side. But in the morning, Thomas will be forced to confront an even greater horror. As the minutes tick by, Thomas remembers his childhood spent deep in the countryside with his mother, his brothers, and Molly, the love of his life. But each minute that passes brings Thomas closer to something he can't bear to think about—the moment when the war and its horrific consequences will change his life forever.

Includes After Words bonus features.

Praise for Private Peaceful

"[A] suspenseful, ultimately tragic novel . . . A moving depiction of a loving relationship between two brothers, their lives so linked that readers may wonder until the end whose fate lies in the balance. All in all, a powerful story about war's costs, and who pays the price." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"In this World War I story, the terse and beautiful narrative of a young English soldier is as compelling about the world left behind as about the horrific daily details of trench warfare: the mud, rats, gas attacks, slaughter . . . Suspense builds right to the end, which is shocking, honest, and unforgettable." —Booklist, starred review

"This thoughtful novel touches on themes of humanity and duty, and features brilliant characters whose personal decisions have earned them their very own badges of honor." —School Library Journal

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545359634
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	08/17/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	228
Lexile:	860L (what's this?)
File size:	10 MB
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Michael Morpurgo, former Children's Laureate of Britain, is the author of War Horse, called "Superb" by the New York Times Book Review, and now a major motion picture. His other prize-winning books include Kensuke's Kingdom, Private Peaceful, and The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips. Michael lives in England, with his wife, Clare. Together, they founded the charity Farms for City Children, which gives children from urban areas an opportunity to spend a week working on a farm. Learn more at michaelmorpurgo.org.

Editorial Reviews

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)

Kirkus Reviews

Pitched to perfection for a young audience - The glory of Morpurgo is that [he reconnects] us with our past. He simply opens our hearts to feeling.” —Daily Telegraph

“The sheer restrained power of Morpurgo's writing keeps you gripped.” —Guardian

“A balanced, considered, well-structured piece of theatre, impeccably performed and beautifully committed.” —Five stars - The Public Reviews

“A truly special piece of theatre, and from the standing ovation at the end - it looks like I'm not alone in my thinking.” —Broadway World

“A haunting indictment of war's stupidity and waste” —The Times

From the Publisher