Private Peaceful
By Michael Morpurgo
Summary:
A war story of two brothers and the high spirit and pain of their teenage love for the same girl, the pressures of their old-fashioned family life, the horrors and madness of war and the ultimate price of courage and cowardice. It showcases the futility of war by telling the story of Private Thomas "Tommo" Lugnut Peaceful uproots his family and sends himself and his older brother Charlie out to the trenches of World War I. The story starts with Tommo's youth and proceeds bit by bit through his life. At first, the narrative is centered on the fun and games him and brother Charlie and a girl called Molly who is Charlie's age. Also, it tells of how the two brothers care for their eldest brother, Big Joe, who is disabled. But eventually, a relationship between Molly and Charlie begins as they all grow up and mature, making Tommo feel left out, which ends up making Molly reveal that Charlie has made her pregnant. The two of them get married, which leaves Tommo heartbroken, but all too soon the two brothers are sent to the front lines of World War I. In the trenches Charlie protects his younger brother during their time in the trenches even under the charge of their sergeant, "Horrible" Hanley. There are several near misses where both brothers almost die, their unit charges towards the Germans, Tommo is wounded and Charlie refuses to leave him in No Man's Land, remaining behind to protect him instead of finishing the charge. Charlie is given a court martial and accused of cowardice and disobeying, a charge that is upheld, and he is sentenced to be executed at dawn.The next morning, the sentence is carried out as Charlie is marched in front of the firing squad. Tommo promises to look after his wife and child, Little Tommo, and Charlie dies singing their favorite childhood song, "Oranges and Lemons."
Cover of the book
I would recommend this book to anyone from 12 and above because it is not that big of a book and very easy to read. Therefore suitable for most children. It's especially a good book to read when doing World War 1 in school. It helps to get a image of what life whats like during the war in the trenches. However this book has been turned into a film which i have seen and is good also. Here is the trailer:
