A Medal for Leroy - Softcover

Michael Morpurgo

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0007363583 ISBN 13: 9780007363582

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers, 2012

Synopsis

Inspired by the true story of Walter Tull, the first black officer in the British army. A new novel about identity and loss by bestselling award-winning author of WAR HORSE. Michael doesn't remember his father, an RAF pilot lost in the war. And his French mother, heartbroken and passionate, doesn't like to talk about her husband. But then Auntie Snowdrop gives Michael a medal, followed by a photograph, which begin to reveal a hidden history. A story of love and loss. A story that will change everything - and reveal to Michael who he really is...

About this title

About the Author:

Michael Morpurgo OBE is one of Britain's best-loved writers for children, and has sold more than 35 million books around the world. He has written more than 150 novels and won many prizes, including the Smarties Prize, the Whitbread Award and the Blue Peter Book Award, while several of his books have been adapted for stage and screen, including the global theatrical phenomenon War Horse. Michael was Children's Laureate from 2003 to 2005, and founded the charity Farms for City Children with his wife, Clare. He was knighted in 2018 for services to literature and charity.

From Booklist:

Morpurgo, author of War Horse (2007), returns with another middle-grade historical drama. Londoner Michael doesn’t know much about his grandfather Leroy, who died in WWI as one of the rare black members of the RAF. There is a mystery surrounding Leroy that even Michael’s mother cannot explain. Then he receives a belated gift—a framed photograph of Leroy. This photo, however, contains a secret that, for the first time ever, will tell the forgotten tale of this brave soldier. Here the narrative shifts to a letter that takes us back to WWI, and it’s a large chunk of pages, which does slow the book’s momentum. It’s a fine story, though, even if Leroy’s goodness is a bit too perfect to be believed. In fact, the entire book is squeaky-clean, which may make some eyes roll, even while being that warm, gentle read that others savor. Regardless, readers will be moved by Michael’s plan to reverse an old unfairness—because he was black, Leroy never got his medal, but that’s about to change. Grades 3-5. --Daniel Kraus

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 0007363583
• ISBN 13: 9780007363582
• Binding: Paperback