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Content snapshot
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Violence
Some
World War I trench warfare; a soldier's execution is the novel's devastating conclusion
Language
Barely any
Mild language for the era
Sexual Content
Barely any
Mild romantic content appropriate to the WWI setting
Substance Use
None
No substance use
Emotional Intensity
A lot
The weight of an unjust execution, and the night of waiting before it, creates the novel's profound and devastating emotional impact
What this book is about
Michael Morpurgo's YA novel is told in one night as Tommo Peaceful waits through the hours until dawn. He remembers his whole life — growing up in a Devon village, his brother Charlie, the girl they both loved, and how they ended up in the trenches. The novel deals with the execution of soldiers for cowardice in World War I with devastating honesty. One of the most powerful anti-war novels written for young readers.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Execution of a soldier for cowardice — extremely sad ending
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