Not Bad for a Bad Lad - Softcover

Michael Morpurgo

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1848773129 ISBN 13: 9781848773127

Publisher: Templar, 2011

Synopsis

This is the wonderfully moving story of redemption from one of the greatest living children's writers Micheal Morpurgo and featuring stunning illustrations from three-time Greenaway Medal winner Michael Foreman. When a young boy gets a reputation for being naughty at school, he reacts by being the bad lad that everyone expects. Leaving school at fourteen, he becomes a thief and eventually ends up in Hollesley Prison. But Mr Alfie, the stable manager, decides to give the boy a chance, letting him look after the horses. The boy reveals a talent with horses that saves him from a life of crime and Mr Alfie's believe in the boy is rewarded. On leaving prison, he manages to get a job working with horses in the army, and eventually achieves his life-long ambition.

About this title

About the Author:

Michael Morpurgo is one of the UK's best-loved authors and a former Children's Laureate. He has written over 120 books for children including Kensuke's Kingdom and War Horse. His wife, Clare Morpurgo, is the daughter of Allen Lane, founder of Penguin Books. They have three children and seven grandchildren.

From School Library Journal:

Gr 4–6—The author of War Horse offers another work about the healing power of horses. A boy, named to readers only as a "bad lad," is sent to Borstal, a youth detention center, after a young life of truancy and crime in postwar England. The boy begins working at the local stables and discovers a love of horses, along with insight into navigating human relationships. Caring adults who mentor his talents help him become more than a "bad lad," and the book ends triumphantly with the boy becoming a drum major in the royal cavalry regiment. This is a short, simple tale, with a conversational, informal tone. There are plentiful illustrations of a variety of sizes. They depict the action in a whimsical cartoon style, given some poignancy with gentle watercolors. Despite the minimal text and abundant illustrations, the content may be too sophisticated for younger readers. The protagonist is a teenager, and the text contains a few unexplained Briticisms and historical references, along with instances of corporal punishment. The volume concludes with historical notes about the history of Borstals, the Suffolk Punch horse breed, and horses in the military, as well as photographs. VERDICT The large number of illustrations make this powerful story a high-interest and accessible option for upper-middle grade readers.—Lisa Goldstein, Brooklyn Public Library

About this edition

• Publisher: Templar
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1848773129
• ISBN 13: 9781848773127
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 79
• Illustrator: Michael Foreman