Morpurgo has written multiple books for children about war. The author has been praised for the anti-war messages of his stories, and although Morpurgo has said that none of his books—including Private Peaceful—glorify war, he believes that children must make their own minds up about what the story tells them.[1] Compared to other twenty-first-century children's novels about war, which often focus on families and civilians' perspectives, Private Peaceful is about how soldiers were also victims of the time.[2] The story begins with the Peaceful brothers experiencing the unfairness of the early twentieth-century UK class system amongst the backdrop of their rural village, before experiencing the unfairness of warfare itself.[3][4] Through Tommo's narrative, Morpurgo demonstrates that a soldier can be a whole, complex person with their own motives.[4] The two brothers have conflicting views about fighting in the war. Charlie expresses confusion as to why he should be forced to fight the Germans, saying "Why should I ever want to shoot a German? Never even met a German." Tommo is more willing to fight due to his fear of being called a coward.[3]
Brotherhood and kindness are themes throughout the novel.[3][5] Tommo looks up to Charlie, who has many positive traits similar to an archetypical soldier or hero.[2] Morpurgo has acknowledged the weight of Charlie's sacrifice at the end of the novel, saying "I understand his love for his brother and how he would do anything for him, but I'm not sure that when the time came, I would be able to do what he does".[6]
