Customer Reviews

Private Peaceful (After Words)

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This short book is set in two contrasting locations the uglyness and agony of the First World War as well as the main character's home enviroment, the Devonshire countryside. The book tells the tale of two brothers growing up in a poor but suportive home environment, which gets progressivly worse after the death of their father. It shows how the local gentry could force those without resourses to do as they were instructed. This conflict between the gentry and the working classes is one of the main motive forces in the story. Michael Morpurgo shows how ultimatly the older brothers refusal to be broken in spirit led to his undoing. A very well written and enjoyable book, not just for young adults. Its a book that speaks up for those soldiers who were put to death by the the officer corp of the British Army.

A final thought on this topic; Back in 1997 Tony Blair seeking election as the next Prime Minister made an election promise to give posthumous pardons to these men. to date he still has not delivered on this promise.

OK so in the end Blair came through with the pardon when he was needing a boost the polls just before an election if memory serves.

Private Peaceful has a very interesting premise: Set against the backdrop of World War One, we follow brothers Charlie and Tommo as they grow up and subsequently enlist in Britain's army to fight the Hun. Each chapter begins sometime during a very long night as Tommo remembers all the adventures and trials he and his family endured together. Morpurgo does an excellent job of building suspense as we learn slowly that Tommo is dreading the coming of morning, though the reason is unclear until late in the book. By then, we are so emotionally vested in this story that the realization of what's coming is devastating.

Private Peaceful (Peaceful is the family name) is a short book that packs a wallop of emotion. However, at times Morpurgo doesn't move the story along as quickly as I'd like, though of course war itself is like that. Tommo doesn't waver in his commitments, whether to his brothers, his soldiering, or his love for his brother's wife; it's this love for Molly that I found immature on his part. The brothers are realistic in their devotion to each other, and Morpurgo is skilled in bringing us to the climax that tests those bonds.

Overall I enjoyed this book, though I felt it might have done a little better with Tommo being less focused on his own feelings. The book would make a great addition to a history teacher's repetoire; it illustrates the devastation of trench warfare and the unrealistic notions of young men enlisting to fight an unknown enemy. Ultimately packing a powerful punch, this is indeed a book I find easy to recommend.

this book, i thought was touching and wonderfully written... the characters were insightful, and deep, and the plot was full of action, emotion, and even a little romance. i could not put this book down because it was really exciting...i smiled and cried....

Private Peaceful is a must read book by Michael Morpurgo and I would reccomend it to people from 10 years onwards. This is because it is a quite long book and has some complicated words.

The novel is about the Peaceful brothers , Charlie and Tommo, and their life story. The Peaceful brothers venture into war at a young age and the tension and excitment goes up from there.

The book is a novel of romance,war friendships and realationships. All of these features add to the exellence of the book.

GET THE BOOK NOW!!! Daniel,11,Wantage

Tom Peaceful is whiling away a long night remembering what his life has been like up to now. He narrates the events that brought him to France during WWI with his brother Charlie, a rebellious and good hearted soul. Tom has to lie about his age to join the army, but feels he has to come in order to keep his brother "out of trouble." But trouble comes anyway. Tom's memories serve to make the Peacefuls and their close bond real, and help the reader to understand just how alien his war experience is to him.

When Tommo's brother Charlie is about to get executed, Tommo thinks about the 18 years of his life with Charlie the night before Charlie dies. They are in France in the British Army in WW I. Charlie is about to get executed because he did not listen to his Sergeant. Charlie did not go out on the battlefield because he saw his brother get hurt and wanted to take care of him. Tommo thinks about being friends with Molly. Tommo and Charlie met Molly at school. Molly became Charlie's wife. Tommo was in love with Molly. Also Tommo thinks about all of the things he did with his family, Mama, Papa, Big Joe, Molly, Charlie, and Great Aunt Wolf. Tommo is also thinking about how Charlie and he annoyed their great aunt. They used to let mice in the house because their great aunt hated mice. Tommo thinks that it was his fault when his father died. He did not notice that a tree was falling and he was in the way. His father had to push him out of the way and the tree fell on his father. Finally, Tommo remembered that Charlie would take him to school and would teach him things. I feel that this is a historical fiction book for kids 10+. The reason I feel that is because it involves war and execution. I have no feelings for the book. One thing that would make the book better would be to have the story happen in order from beginning to end instead of almost end to beginning to end.

I would recommend this book to people aged 10-14. The novel is about an unbreakable friendship between Charlie and Thomas Peaceful that goes through the First World War and romance. It is a book about war, romance and friendship. The main characters are Charlie and Thomas Peaceful and next Molly. I did not like when suddenly at the end of the book something unexpected happened and I did not enjoy that part. Personally I think this is quite a good book.

Private peaceful

Reviser Big Tony

This book is a good book if you like to read war books. This book is about the adventures and experiences that a person had when he went to war. The bad thing about this book is that it is a made up story but it seems like it could have actually been somebody's life story.

Michael Morpurgo wrote the book and he did a good job at writing it because when he describes the war and some parts of the war, you feel like you are in the book with the characters and fighting with them in the battlefields.

The only thing I really didn't like about the book was that it had butterflies on the cover of the book. I thought it made it look like it wasn't going to be one of the better war books, but I was wrong. It was a good book; so don't judge this book by the cover. Pick it up and read it because if you like fiction war books about people's lives then you will like this book.

is an appropriate to use in a middle school classroom, as it sheds light on World War I through the eyes of Thomas (`Tommo') Peaceful, a young English soldier whose undeniable love for his family brings light to a dark period in history. While Private Peaceful's character is unique, it embodies a collaboration of characteristics of the young soldiers fighting in the war; so, in a sense, he represents all soldiers. The book gradually moves towards the present as Tommo reflects on his life and his relationships, specifically that with his older brother Charlie during the time they spend trekking through the French trenches fighting off the Germans. In order to supplement the story with history, author Morpurgo incorporates specific scenarios that highlight the severity of military culture during this time, specifically through an aggressive Sergeant's maltreatment of his soldiers. All the while a theme of undying loyalty between the Charlie and Tommo prevails; however, when Charlie defies the Sergeant's orders to protect Tommo, he pays the ultimate price and Tommo's role in life suddenly changes. Overall, Private Peaceful would be excellent to supplement classroom instruction as it offers a sobering perspective on human life through a well researched plot that students will enjoy.

Michael Morpurgo's book, Private Peaceful, is an excellent work of historical fiction. The book was a bit slow at first, but once the novel continued on, it was a lot more interesting and engaging. I was impressed with how Morpurgo wove in historical details throughout the work. His descriptions of the trenches and the physical effects of being gassed, shot at, and other hazards, made the novel more real. The realism continued on as the reader also got an idea of the mental effects of trench warfare and the toll it took on soldiers. I think readers will appreciate Morpurgo's honesty in the portrayal of one of the worst wars in the world's history. He does not gloss over the difficulties, and yet the book is still suitable for adolescents as young as middle school.