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albycarnaby's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
jutta282's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
kittykits's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
sarahthereadingaddict's review against another edition
5.0
This reminded me a little bit of the film What's eating Gilbert Grape.
It's a brilliantly written book which hard topics. I like the way the topics are written, honest but sensitive.
It's emotional and heartbreaking in parts but it's so real. I really enjoyed reading it and the joy that you feel knowing the brothers get on so well.
I adore Big Joe, he is treated terribly by some and so misunderstood, I think his way of looking at the world is beautiful. I loved this so much. I am so glad I read a Michael Morpurgo book.
It's always so interesting and also heartbreaking when you read a book based on true events. This is based on the war and it's terrifying for those soldiers. Some dying because they didnt do what someone told them to do.
Reading the bit at the end of the book that was titled discover more and then the Authors note was so interesting. How he came up with the name and the research he did for the book...wow.
It's a brilliantly written book which hard topics. I like the way the topics are written, honest but sensitive.
It's emotional and heartbreaking in parts but it's so real. I really enjoyed reading it and the joy that you feel knowing the brothers get on so well.
I adore Big Joe, he is treated terribly by some and so misunderstood, I think his way of looking at the world is beautiful. I loved this so much. I am so glad I read a Michael Morpurgo book.
It's always so interesting and also heartbreaking when you read a book based on true events. This is based on the war and it's terrifying for those soldiers. Some dying because they didnt do what someone told them to do.
Reading the bit at the end of the book that was titled discover more and then the Authors note was so interesting. How he came up with the name and the research he did for the book...wow.
book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
Adapted from the book jacket: Private Thomas Peaceful has lied about his age and left his family behind to follow his older brother, Charlie, to France to fight in the First World War. Now, Tommo has one almost unendurable night, alone, fighting sleep, to reflect on his life. As the minutes slowly tick by, his memories are full of his childhood in the English countryside. His father, mother, brothers, and first love, Molly, come vividly alive in his mind. But every moment Tommo spends thinking about his life means another moment closer to something he cannot bear to think about – a time when the war and its horrific consequences will change his life forever.
My Reactions
This is a gut-wrenching tale of brotherhood, loyalty, duty, love, courage and forgiveness. I loved the close bond between the brothers, both Tommo and Charlie, but also their brain-damaged brother Big Joe. I applauded their mother’s moral courage in the face of adversity. I felt uncomfortable with the actions of the Colonel, but recognized the British class system at work in the early 20th century. (Thank you, Downton Abbey.) This is not the first book about World War I that I have read, so I was familiar with the horrors of trench warfare and the brutal realities of a long siege, but I still cringed with fear and anxiety as I read about these young men (hardly older than boys) and what they faced. My heart about broke for Tommo and Charlie; I certainly didn’t see that end coming.
I was very glad that Morpurgo added a Postscript and Author’s Note explaining some of the realities of this period in history and how the governments of Britain, New Zealand, Australia and the United States had such different responses to the soldiers who suffered psychological trauma on the battlefields.
This is the third novel I’ve read by Morpurgo, after War Horse (also set in WWI), and An Elephant in the Garden (Dresden, during WW2). My reaction to the former was lukewarm, but I loved the latter. Private Peaceful is closer to “elephant” than “horse.”
My Reactions
This is a gut-wrenching tale of brotherhood, loyalty, duty, love, courage and forgiveness. I loved the close bond between the brothers, both Tommo and Charlie, but also their brain-damaged brother Big Joe. I applauded their mother’s moral courage in the face of adversity. I felt uncomfortable with the actions of the Colonel, but recognized the British class system at work in the early 20th century. (Thank you, Downton Abbey.) This is not the first book about World War I that I have read, so I was familiar with the horrors of trench warfare and the brutal realities of a long siege, but I still cringed with fear and anxiety as I read about these young men (hardly older than boys) and what they faced. My heart about broke for Tommo and Charlie; I certainly didn’t see that end coming.
I was very glad that Morpurgo added a Postscript and Author’s Note explaining some of the realities of this period in history and how the governments of Britain, New Zealand, Australia and the United States had such different responses to the soldiers who suffered psychological trauma on the battlefields.
This is the third novel I’ve read by Morpurgo, after War Horse (also set in WWI), and An Elephant in the Garden (Dresden, during WW2). My reaction to the former was lukewarm, but I loved the latter. Private Peaceful is closer to “elephant” than “horse.”
emkreads's review against another edition
5.0
I am crying like a big baby. I can see the reading slump coming right in front of me
maryquitecontrary_22's review against another edition
4.0
A historical fiction YA novel based on the author's research of WWI, Private Peaceful is about Tommo, a British teen, who lies about his age and follows his older brother Charlie into war. Despite what the cover may imply, about three-quarters of the text is flashback of Tommo's and Charlie's childhood leading up to their enlistment. Morpurgo's story is both wonderful and devastating. I wish there had been more about the war from the beginning to hook young male readers from the get-go.
charlottelatham's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
amypotter's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5