Year Six English: Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo
The front cover of 'Private Peaceful'
It is likely to make you think about war and depression. I think it is good that they have faded the soldiers in the background. It makes you wonder. Chloe
I think it is scary because it is dark and you can't see much. Marie
The effect of the dark cover makes you feel sad. When you see the soldiers faded it is really mysterious. It makes you think 'I feel sorry for those men'. That is what makes you feel sad. Matthew
The faded soldiers also add to the effect and make you think of death and ghostly figures. The butterflies act as a contrast. Emily
I think the effect of a dark cover is to show that it isn't for seven year olds. It is more for older people. Hayley
I think the effect of the dark cover is that the army are faded away so it feels like they once were alive but now dead. Amy
It makes you think about what is going to happen in the war. The soldiers are fading which is a bit freaky. Ashley
It makes me feel like there is a dead story coming. Jake
It makes me feel like someone has disappeared because the army men are fading away in the distance. Luke
Butterflies make it look peaceful. Joseph
The cover brings mystery but also makes me feel sorrowful. When you see the butterflies you think of a happy story but when you see the soldiers you start to think more so the two work together. Rebecca
The dark colours make the book sound like a sad book to read because dark colours are depressing. It also is a contrast of colours because there is a dark background but there are yellow butterflies which are peaceful. I also think this is not a children's book. William
It makes me confused because normally a children's book has got bright colours but this one hasn't. It is also a bit disturbing because of the soldiers. Felicity
When you see the army people it makes you think this will be sad. James
I think the effect of the dark colour is to make you feel grim but when you see the butterflies it creates a contrast. The colour makes it look like a sad book but the butterflies make it look happier. Peter
It makes me think it is sad, dark and dangerous but the butterflies make me think it is slightly happy. Olivia
It gives you chills and a sense of loneliness. It makes you feel depressed thinking those people might be deceased. You get a strange feeling of trying to discover what the soldiers and butterflies are doing there. Jack
The effect of having dark colours is that the world is closing in on you. The army men fading means that they were triumphant but had to retreat. They had courage but it was lost. Robert
The dark makes the rest of it stand out. The first thing I saw was the butterflies. They are the only things that are colourful. Harrison
The front cover is very strange because it has two butterflies but the background is dark and gloomy. I feel a bit puzzled about it. Charlotte
The dark cover makes the book seem sad because it is really dark and people wear dark clothes at a funeral. Katie
I think the cover tells me it is a dark and lonely place in the war. I also think the butterflies tell the reader that something bad happens but something good happens too. Ollie
The dark cover with yellow and orange butterflies makes me feel depressed but that there is some light or happiness in the book. Ashleigh
I think it looks mysterious and depressing. The butterflies cheer it up a bit so it must have some happiness in it. CJ
It is quite sinister. Alice
Why is Tommo staying up all night to remember his life?
Some ideas:
Is it a diary for his family in case he dies?
He thinks he is going to die so he doesn't want to go to sleep.
He might not be able to sleep- because of the gunfire.
He is on duty. You are not allowed to go to sleep.
He is writing in secret and doesn't want to get discovered.
He can't sleep because he is troubled by something he has done.
Comforting
Brave
Protective
Joker
Daring
Sarcastic
Angry
Leader
Cheerful
Headstrong
Kind
Cocky
Scared
Guilty
Confused
Jealous
Sad
Sensitive
Terrified
Lucky
Timid
Reliable
Loving
Sorrowful
Justifying the choice of words
Charlie is protective because when Tommo got shot in the head he stayed behind even when Sgt. Hanley told him to go.
Tommo is timid because he wont do anything first. He always waits for someone else.
Tommo is reliable because he says at the end, 'I have promises to keep'. Charlie can rely on him to look after Molly, their mother, Big Joe, Little Tommo and the watch.
Headstrong is a good word for Charlie because he never obeyed Sgt. Hanley. He just did what he wanted.
Leader is a good word to use because to be a leader you need to be all the words in the list which Charlie shows to be in different parts of the story.
Tommo has a lot of feelings about everyone and cares for everyone as well. This is why sensitive is a great word.
We think Charlie is comforting because whenever Tommo was feeing upset or scared Charlie would be there for him.
Charlie was always there to protect his little brother at school when he started and then again when they went to war.
Tommo feels guilty because his dad was killed and he thought it was all his fault.
Even though he is scared about the fighting, he never lets it show and he doesn't want to worry his brother. He keeps up a cheerful show even though it is hard. Brave is a good word for Charlie because of this.
