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Welcome | Shortlist | BGS Reviews | Author visits | Contact us Private Peaceful (Michael Morpurgo)Reviewed by Freddie Wotton |
This book is very well written and has a very good idea. The characters all seem to have very different and individual personalities. Tommo (the main character) tells the story over a night of looking back at his lifetime and the war. Tommo has two brothers called Charlie and Big Joe. His father died in a tree accident when he was at an early age. He hates having to go to school and he goes with Charlie because Big Joe has a disorder. Charlie is Tommo's best friend and they're always together.
He looks back on all the things he's done like seeing a ‘plane, meeting Molly, the Colonel and going hunting and fishing. In his later life Tommo goes to the First World War after being persuaded by an army march and he goes off with Charlie. He says everything that happened to him in the war and his training. It has many upsetting bits for Tommo. And ends up in his worst nightmare.
Even though I really enjoyed this book I think it's too obsessed with the song ‘Oranges and Lemons’. I feel that it's slightly unfinished.
I think that it's suitable for ages 12-16. I would greatly recommend it to anyone. My rating is 8 out of 10.
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