A heart-warming tale of courage, set against the backdrop of the Second World War, about a deserted village, a lifelong friendship and one very adventurous cat!

A master storyteller at his bestSunday Times

Its 1943. Lily lives in a seaside village and her life is scarcely touched by the war. Until one day when the villagers are all told to move out of their homes.

Soon, the whole area is out of bounds, as the allied forces prepare to invade France. But Tips, Lilys cat, has other ideas and returns to the forbidden area. Lily decides to enter the danger zone to look for Tips herself . . .

Review

A master storyteller at his best Sunday Times

From the first sentence of a Michael Morpurgo book, you know you are in the hands of a natural storytelle. Guardian

Classic Morpurgo brilliance Booksellers choice, Publishing News

a succinctly engaging tear-jerker, it is also full of happiness and affection and has a joyful ending It is also about people who care enough to look after each other, offering a lesson in life as well as history. Sunday Times, Childrens Book of the Week

Michael Morpurgo weaves a touching tale thats full of surprises. A master storyteller at his best. Funday Times

As always, Morpurgo writes with solid confidence in a voice thats gentle yet spellbinding. Evening Standard

Praise for PRIVATE PEACEFUL:

Tommos journey from agricultural labourer to cannon fodder is movingly toldMichael Morpurgo is expert at getting through to his readers. He writes here about events that should never be forgotten nor forgiven, and does so most effectively. Independent

full of warmth as well as grief, conveying vividly how precious it is to be alive Sunday Times

The best novel hes written since The Butterfly Lion. The Times

Deserved to last as an insight into the First World War in the same way as, say, The Silver Sword or Goodnight Mr Tom. Telegraph

A poignant, elegiac novel. Daily Mail

• Publisher : HarperCollinsChildrensBooks (14 Sept. 2023)
• Language : English
• Paperback : 192 pages
• ISBN-10 : 0008638624
• ISBN-13 : 978-0008638627
• Reading age : 8 12 years, from customers
• Dimensions : 12.9 x 1.2 x 19.8 cm