I loved this book because of the perfect mix of joy and tragedy. It has the words 'Innocence and Love, Courage and Cowardice', which sums up the book perfectly. The cover of the book is the name of the book with two butterflies next to it, with soldiers in the background, with reeds underneath. My favourite character was Charlie, because he was so brave to disobey Hanley's order. And then Hanley commands the group to do something so ridiculous that Charlie disobeys it, and he does not get away with his actions. And then guess who the brothers' group gets to lead them? No one other than Sergeant Hanley. When they leave Eccles, they have a much kinder sergeant, but sadly he is severely injured.

Tommo and Charlie meet Sergeant 'Horrible' Hanley, in Eccles, who gives the brothers a horrible time. The two of them manage to persuade their mother to let them go. Soon after this, Charlie decides that he wants to fight in the war, although he is underage. Eventually, Charlie marries Molly, something that dreadfully upsets Tommo. It's funny how big things sometimes start with small things! Charlie meets Molly, and he too falls in love. Tommo then falls in love with Molly partly because she is so kind to him. He has written more than 100 books and has won the Smarties Prize, the Whitbread Award, and most recently the Blue Peter Book Award for PRIVATE PEACEFUL. Tommo meets a girl called Molly, who helps Tommo tie his laces. Michael Morpurgo is one of Britain's best-loved children's book writers.

It is Tommo's first ever day at school, and he is extremely scared, mostly because of Charlie's teacher, Mr Munnings and his cane. The story begins while the Peaceful brothers are walking to school, with their mother. You will have to find out how he died for yourself. The book is set from around the beginning of the twentieth century to around the end of the first world war.īefore you start reading about the plot, there is something you must know: the Peaceful brothers' father is dead. The main characters in the story are Charlie and Tommo Peaceful, brothers who decide to fight in the war Big Joe, Charlie and Tommo's older brother, who sadly has learning difficulties Molly, a girl who befriends Charlie and Tommo and Sergeant 'Horrible' Hanley, a cruel sergeant.

Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo