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A review by katykelly
Listen to the Moon by Michael Morpurgo
5.0
Michael Morpurgo often uses stories taken from tales he hears around him, from people he meets, from history. His latest is a combination, a story ostensibly based on his own grandmother's history and a story at the heart of the First World War.
A girl is found by chance on an uninhabited Scilly Island by a fisherman and his son. The girl is injured, half staved and ill, cannot speak and doesn't seem able to account for her being there.
Alfie and his family take her in and care for the girl they come to call Lucy. Her slow recovery is movingly documented, her first days at school and the revelation that she may in fact be German, in 1915. The islanders feelings are also documented through her doctors' notes. And finally, Lucy's history is revealed.
As ever with Morpurgo, the writing is captivating. You want to read a little more to find out a little more. Alfie's point of view and the doctor's tell the story well, with Lucy eventually getting a voice as well, and flashbacks from the start indicating a history the angry islanders can't imagine, that make you want to tell at them. But anti-German feeling then, patriotic fervour were the norm, and the treatment of Lucy will be shocking but eye-opening for young readers. The book itself gives some background to wartime life.
At heart though it's a family tale. Lucy finds a loving family when hers is lost to her. They remain loyal despite local prejudice and her silence. Morpurgo has a way with him in portraying loving relationships and you come to admire the Wheatcrofts very much.
Lucy's story is incredibly sad and upsetting. There are other victims of war whose stories are sadder but background - the young solider returned minus a leg and with brain damage for example. And Alfie's uncle Billy, rescued bun his mum from a horrific mental asylum. Plenty to discuss with a child or a class.
It's tragic throughout yet still beautifully uplifting. As the author usually manages.
One to make sure you talk about with your young readers. Many things they'll want to know more about and understand.
At 400 pages it's one of his longest but the story flows from past to present and school to home regularly enough to maintain interest and isn't anything less than engrossing.
A girl is found by chance on an uninhabited Scilly Island by a fisherman and his son. The girl is injured, half staved and ill, cannot speak and doesn't seem able to account for her being there.
Alfie and his family take her in and care for the girl they come to call Lucy. Her slow recovery is movingly documented, her first days at school and the revelation that she may in fact be German, in 1915. The islanders feelings are also documented through her doctors' notes. And finally, Lucy's history is revealed.
As ever with Morpurgo, the writing is captivating. You want to read a little more to find out a little more. Alfie's point of view and the doctor's tell the story well, with Lucy eventually getting a voice as well, and flashbacks from the start indicating a history the angry islanders can't imagine, that make you want to tell at them. But anti-German feeling then, patriotic fervour were the norm, and the treatment of Lucy will be shocking but eye-opening for young readers. The book itself gives some background to wartime life.
At heart though it's a family tale. Lucy finds a loving family when hers is lost to her. They remain loyal despite local prejudice and her silence. Morpurgo has a way with him in portraying loving relationships and you come to admire the Wheatcrofts very much.
Lucy's story is incredibly sad and upsetting. There are other victims of war whose stories are sadder but background - the young solider returned minus a leg and with brain damage for example. And Alfie's uncle Billy, rescued bun his mum from a horrific mental asylum. Plenty to discuss with a child or a class.
It's tragic throughout yet still beautifully uplifting. As the author usually manages.
One to make sure you talk about with your young readers. Many things they'll want to know more about and understand.
At 400 pages it's one of his longest but the story flows from past to present and school to home regularly enough to maintain interest and isn't anything less than engrossing.