Mr. Nobody's Eyes

by Michael Morpurgo

Follows the adventures of an extraordinary pair on the an escaped circus monkey and an ostracized young English boy named Harry

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Animals, Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, Historical, War

138 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Sir Michael Andrew Morpurgo, OBE, FRSL is the author of many books for children, five of which have been made into films. He also writes his own screenplays and libretti for opera. Born in St Albans, Hertfordshire, in 1943, he was evacuated to Cumberland during the last years of the Second World War, then returned to London, moving later to Essex. After a brief and unsuccessful spell in the army, he took up teaching and started to write. He left teaching after ten years in order to set up 'Farms for City Children' with his wife. They have three farms in Devon, Wales and Gloucestershire, open to inner city school children who come to stay and work with the animals. In 1999 this work was publicly recognised when he and his wife were invested a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to youth. In 2003, he was advanced to an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (FRSL) in 2004. He was knighted in the 2018 for his services to literature and charity. He is also a father and grandfather, so children have always played a large part in his life. Every year he and his family spend time in the Scilly Isles, the setting for three of his books.

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enchanting Morpurgo tale - young Harry Hawkins struggles in post war London, with a step dad, newly born step brother, a tough teacher at school and overall perceived isolation, which leads to him running away… with a circus monkey! A pretty enjoyable read, from the man that teaches history via great storytelling! 7 out of 12.

2014 read

[Greenglasses · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing and I still remember some of it even though I must of read it 3 or 4 years ago

[Klare · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice story, well written as always.

[Jackie Rudge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read to my 8 y. o. and we both loved it.

[Ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical Morpurgo, Very Enjoyable!

[Dhruv Marwa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am here to give a short review on my book i recently read over the holidays "Mr. Nobody's Eyes" written by a wonderful author. Michael Morpurgo is an elaboration of emotive language and writes excellent children books as well. This story is set just after the World War II in England. This book is known quite well and can merge with the understanding of when children react to events like this story proves. The protagonist is a wild, contemplative bot who mostly expresses his way by thoughts. His name is Harry. The young lad had a father who died during the war, who was valorous pilot. He finds himself a new step-father, Bill Wesley and step-grandmother, consistently has a reason to fault Harry. He soon has a little brother and is gradually pushed out the family. He was being bullied at school, picked on by teachers and yanked by a ruler several times on his delicate hand. Harry just feels the misery and has no where to go. The day he finds Ocky, an escaped chimpanzee from the circus he decides to hide him in a shaggy secret den, on the bomb site. But an unexploded bomb is uncovered the the hideout. Will Harry make ti with all the danger and secrets relieved? Can he successfully make it from the chase he is given from the cops and family?

For any reader seeking a suspenseful and tantalizing book they should refer to this author. With his precise and high-level of understanding, Mr. Morpurgo is able to share to the audience in a differently, clearly and is able to stir strong emotions from the readers. Some popular books are War Horse and Shadow which is the current book i'm reading now. I am positive that both books has a touching and gripping plot. Breathtaking images are still stuck after reading "Mr. Nobody Eyes." The book had humor and thrilling action involved, as Harry and Ocky have desperate escapes but the pain witnessed by the adolescent boy is unbelievable. It is a balanced, engrossing book which has few depressing moments but overall it is filled with action and happiness. These are the reasons why i am giving this book a 4.5/5.

Dhruv Marwa

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Michael Morpurgo writes great childrens books, they are quick and easy to read, this is set after the war, a young lad whose father has been killed in the war, finds himself with a new stepfather and a new baby brother and is pushed out of the family, after being bullied by a teacher at school and a chance meeting with a circus chimpanzee,and a clown ' in the park, he decides to run away from home, but complicates matters by taking the chimp with him ! He has all sorts of adventures and finally it is all sorted out, but there are sad moments and funny moments and it is the sort of book you dont want to put down because you want want to find out what happens at the end and you are willing it to be a happy end !

[Sami Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Nobodys Eyes is such a detailed and descriptive book that I felt that I was really with the characters and feeling what they were feeling. I love reading Michael Morpurgo and I really connected with some of the characters and it's just amazing how he describes everything so clearly and he also manages to teach us a bit history and mix in to his story. My favorite character is Harry because even though his father dies he is so strong and manages to find some comfort with his mother but dislikes his step father and granny which is part of the reason he runs away with his friend ocky, the chimp, which is from the circus. A brilliant story which I will over and over again.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great story of how a child's mind reacts to different events. It's extremely interesting how the story and characters grow, learn and evolve, and the end truly made me cry (though it was late at night!)

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read about a little boy named Harry, and his monkey friend, Ocky. It might seem like a silly sort of story from reading the back, but it was delightful and full of so much just like many of Michael Morpurgo's books are.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

It really good but it's the type of book you can only read once.

[Joyce · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly I just didn't really enjoy this book, it was quite boring in my opinion. I usually like his books but this story just didn't grab me like they usually do.

[KSena · Rating 4 out of 5]

And me and kiddo continue our travels through Michael Morpurgo's books...

This is one of the older ones, and I could tell that the language was a bit more complicated. The story however was VERY engaging. Kiddo was hiding behind a pillow sometimes. And when I asked her if it was thrilling she squealed YES, DON'T STOP READING! So, yeah... Older language, but for us it didn't matter. If we ended up with a difficult word, we just stopped and made sure she understood what it meant.

A bit cringe though, which we also have to discuss is that Morpurgo in this book is using the word gypsy for romani people. In his newer book Flamingoboy he is not using the word gypsy, which I know romani don't like. So a slight warning for that.

But the rest of the story is pretty amazing! Harry who lives in London right after the second world war with his mom and stepdad and stepdad's mom in a house that has remained standing. He meets a member of a circus one afternoon and his chimpanzee. Harry is totally infatuated with the chimpanzee called Ocky. And when Ocky runs away momentarily one day, Harry kidnaps her for lack of a better word. Combined with him feeling forgotten and bullied at home, he ends up running away with Ocky from London...

The journey is awesome, and I think Morpurgo has caught the troubles you'll end up in if you try to travel with an animal like a chimpanzee if you don't fully understand what you're doing. I'm sure more troubles could have happened, so I think he really made Ocky kinder really... But the story feels real still. Ocky is quite the character and I really liked her! Even when her mean wild streak came out at one point.

Harry is quite the character too, an unhappy boy who just wants to feel at home somewhere. And when he feels as if his beloved mother is all busy with her new husband and new baby, he falls down in what I can only call a form of depression. Hence running away to find a new home.

TOTALLY worth a read despite the cringe. A bit on the older side now, but it definitely holds up! Kiddo loved it as well!

[John Naylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some books do resonate with me for reasons of a personal nature. In keeping this review spoiler free I am going to have to keep aspects of my life spoiler free too.

This book is set in post-WW2 London but the actual war that people go through could be more personal. It features a lonely boy who befriends a chimpanzee. This part has never happened in my life (the chimpanzee not the loneliness.) He has poor relationships with the "grown-ups" in his life and next to no relationship with his peers. He feels isolated and alone.

The book isn't too difficult to read for an average new reader and would be suitable for the age of 8 and above. I would also recommend this book to adults too. It has themes most people will relate to as well as a chimpanzee.

There is a reason why some authors are wildly successful. With Michael Murpurgo it is because he writes themes that resonate and surrounds them with great stories.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another classic Morpurgo story!

Young Harry Hawkins struggles in post-war London, with a step-dad, a newly born step-brother and a cruel school teacher all making him feel isolated and unwanted. When walking home from school one day, he comes across a man with a circus Chimpanzee named Ocky and he instantly fell in love with her. Ocky manages to escape the circus and finds Harry in the park who decides to look after Ocky. But then events take a turn and Harry and Ocky are soon running away from home, hoping to find a happier life together.

This was very similar to The Little Foxes in the sense of narrative and plot structure, however it was a sweet read about family, acceptance and the battle between right and wrong.

[Amaya Mehta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another awesome Michael Morpurgo tale. Young Harry Hawkins is in trouble at school ever since his dad passed away, his mom married a random stranger, and his new baby sister. One day after school, walking back he befriended Ocky, a chimpanzee from the circus. Ocky’s owner doesn’t mind if he borrows ocky for a bit, but then after running away to his aunts house his stepfather and the police find out. Harry and the chimpanzee are soon on the run.

This story made me depressed, angry, annoyed, laugh and get worried, but in the end Harry was fine and got used to his stepdad and his new baby sister.

[Carole Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking for some light reading not too heavy as I was recovering from the flu, and I remember I had this book on my bookshelf along with others children's book I bought for my 11 years old daughter. I was quite delighted to plunge into the post-war story of ten year old Harry who is feeling lets out when his mother remarry after the death of his dad. Michael Morpurgo has this incredible gift to make the story comes alive though the eyes of children. It's very sweet and easy to read ( I finish the book in one sitting) so it was the perfect book for a cozy and wintery afternoon.

[Lady Nona Ashwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet story about change, responsibility, family and acceptance from the eyes of a young boy.

Michael Morpurgo has a simple yet beautiful style of writing which is easily understood.

It did take me over the course of a year to finally finish it, due to losing steam in the first half. However, after picking it up, I finished the second half within a day.

- spoilers below -

My hope is that Harry meets Meg in the future! I love stories that leave space for hope and wonder at the end.

[Green Jazz Blues · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enchanting but rather far-fetched story of a boy's friendship with a chimpanzee during the First World War. The near ending seemed somewhat peculiar to me because there wasn't any real reason why Harry's stepfather should end up liking him on the spur of the moment or Harry to like Bill and I don't remember that he started to call him Dad but it ended OK.

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is set in post-war times. The main character is Harry, a boy whose father died fighting in an aircraft. His mother marries another man, called Bill, and Harry isn't happy about this. He befriends a chimpanzee named Ocky, and the presumed circus master Signor Blondini. One day he finds Ocky alone, and lets her stay with him for a while. But there's much more in store for him.

[Danielle Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 - This is a book that I read multiple times as a child and revisited this year after having the urge to feel nostalgic again. I may be biased as it was one of my favourite books growing up but even reading this 10 years on, I found that I loved it just as much now as I did as a child.

[Emandherbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read in one sitting!

An easy to read children’s book with a story that resonates. Beautifully written and so much more than what it seems from the synopsis.

Probably one I’ll only read once. Don’t want to post any spoilers so you’ll have to just read it yourself to find out!

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Michael Morpurgo and so when I needed a book that contains animals I didn't think twice about turning to him.

This was such a sweet story but from a mother's perspective terrifying too. If my children ran away at 10 years old, I would be a mess.

[Natasha · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was really disappointed with this short story, got it to read with my son and it was just beyond horrible. Glad I read through it first. The adults in it are mostly vile. The fact he merrily skips off back to school was so unbelievable, nothing seemed to be resolved, just accepted.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and the way the author shows the bond between animal and human. I also loved the way the emotion of Harry is portrayed and how we see a change in perception of Bill at the end.

[Indah Threez Lestari · Rating 3 out of 5]

194 - 2017

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael Morpurgo is definitely one of my favourite authors. Beautiful writing and beautiful stories. I thoroughly enjoyed Mr Nobody's eyes.

[Padma Baliga · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story. Some of the writing was awkward and needed editing

[Isabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book by Michael Morpurgo, at times heart rendering, but as always ending up on a hopeful note...

[Odera Onyekwere · Rating 3 out of 5]

class book only recommend to good kids with nobodys eyes ;)