Nothing can prepare you for this powerful and moving masterpiece of a book. Once again, Morpurgo has told us a story which will always stay in our hearts. Each sentence flows like a river, ensuring that you never put the book down and that every word has a huge impact.
The book is set during the second world war, and Arthur, an orphaned child, is separated from his beloved sister and sent to the other side of the world. We follow his life-changing journey, watching him battle through brutal pain, hardship and fear, relishing the love of his new family with Aunty Meg, and discovering his talent for designing yachts. Sixty years down the line, Arthur has a daughter called Allie, who sails across the oceans in a yacht in a quest to find her father’s long-lost sister and piece together his life.
The mystery surrounding the book truly captures you as the reader, and makes you want to know more about the ‘lucky key’ Arthur’s sister, Kitty, gave to him before they were separated. What did it mean and where is she now? I believe this represents the main point of the story: love. Arthur needs love to get through the painstakingly hard life he endures, and he is rewarded by love at the end of the story. His love is also passed on to Allie, who is determined to succeed in her mission to find out about his sister.
You gain so much from the book: learning to stand up for someone and not giving up are two of the main focuses followed by the characters, and I think this gives such a fantastic message to so many people. As the plot is based on a true situation - children with no homes or real identity being sent away into some unknown, terrifying place with strangers - it makes the story so much more harrowing. In WWII, thousands of children were sent to Australia, and while many were lucky to live happy lives, others suffered exactly like Arthur: not knowing anything about who they were and what their future would look like.
What I truly loved about this book was how it captured so much raw emotion, causing me to relive every moment of Arthur and Allie’s lives with them. When Allie was sailing her boat across the ocean, I felt the bitter air on my face and smelt the salty water. When Arthur was in the scorching desert, I felt the heat on my face. Throughout the whole story, I cried with horror, fear and, thankfully, relief. I laughed along with Arthur in his happiest moments, and when Allie succeeded in her mission, I cheered along with her in delight.
This story is absolutely stunning, and deserves so many awards. I think everyone would enjoy this incredible story by the one and only Michael Morpurgo.
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