Dear Olly

by Michael Morpurgo, Christian Birmingham (Illustrator)

Discover the beautiful stories of Michael Morpurgo, author of Warhorse and the nation’s favourite storyteller

A moving story of a brother, a sister and a swallow, and how all are in some way victims of the horrors of landmines.

Olly’s brother Matt wants to go and work with children who have been made orphans, through war, in Africa. He wants to be a clown and make them laugh. His mother and sister want him to stay in England and go to university.

Hero, a swallow, has a journey to make too. He must fly to Africa for the winter to join all the other swallows. His journey is difficult and fraught with danger.

Three separate stories are woven into one powerful and moving novel whose central theme not only exposes the horrors of war and of landmines, but also the endurance of the human spirit.

Genres: Fiction, Childrens, Middle Grade, Novels, Family, Young Adult, Animals

Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2000

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

[Shahla hajatnia · Rating 4 out of 5]

این کتاب رو شاید ۱۰ یا ۱۲ ساله بودم که مادرم بهم هدیه داد. این و کتاب ادم کوچولو ها! جالبه اون رو ۱۰ ها بار خوندم ولی الی عزیز خیلی دور از تصور بود واسم. همیشه صفحه ی اول و دومو میخوندم و کنار میذاشتم. امروز در سن ۲۱ سالگی میون کتاب ها دیدمش دوباره. با خودم گفتم این بیچاره چه گناهی کرده. بخونش خیالت راحت بشه.
و فقط میتونم بگم خوشحالم که امروز خوندمش. شاید حتی بتونم بگم هنوز وقت داشت! مات رو تحسین میکنم. و در یک کلمه میگویم: کاش مثل مات باشم! کاش الی باشم! کاش قهرمان باشم...!

[Lilith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have a love-hate relationship with Michael Morpurgo books- its either I really love it (Butterfly Lion & War Horse) or I really hate (this and Running Wild). This is the most boring book I have ever read- I really did not like. It has no context what so ever and the characters were really just flat out annoying and tedious. However, I did like the meaning be hide this book and the relationship between the siblings so this is why i am giving it a 2. but apart from that it really wasn't that good to me.This all I have to say- I don't think I have to explain anymore as there is nothing more to explain or comment about, I'm sorry to those who liked it,but I really just didn't.

[Tayebe Ej · Rating 2 out of 5]

کتاب رو دوست نداشتم، پرداخت و نوع روایتش رو نپسندیدم، و یه ساده‌انگاری‌ای در همه‌جای کتاب هست که آزارم میده.

[Jefi Sevilay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zaman zaman çocukluğuma dönüp rahat birşeyler okumak istediğim anlar için elimin altında tuttuğum bazı kitaplar var. Sevgili Olly de bunlardan birisiydi. Michael Morpurgo'nun anlatımını seviyorum. Basit, yalın, anlaşılır.

Sevgili Olly'de de üç hikayeyi çok güzel birbirine bağlamış. Olly -> Kırlangıç -> Matt. Lisedeyken okulda çok fazla bu tarz İngilizce kitap okurduk. Hatta daha geçen gün "Accross the Barricades" ve "Cry Freedom" okuduğumuz günler geldi aklıma. Yeniden kendimi o sıralarda, o en sevdiğim derslerden birinde buldum. İlüstrasyonlar da çok güzeldi.

Sadece Michael Morpurgo o son sayfadaki füzeyi atıp kaçtı ya işte buna çok üzüldüm.

Herkese keyifli okumalar!

[نرگس پ · Rating 1 out of 5]

نمی‌دونم من دیگه رمان نوجوان دوست ندارم یا رمان خوبی نبود. حقیقتش اینه که تمام مدت شبیه آدم بزرگای داستان فکر می‌کردم. زیادی امیدوارانه بود برای من.

[Katie Be · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not immune to Paul McGann (no seriously, check out my podcast with my bestie Maggie called Girlies for McGann) and I'm certainly not immune to Paul McGann reading an audiobook - middle grade or no. That said, Dear Olly was a rather poignant read from the perspective of 3 very different people (especially given one POV is a bird!) about some very hard hitting topics. Really enjoyed this story. 4⭐️

[Bahman Bahman]

خواهر و برادری‌ پدر خود را که‌ دامپزشک‌ بوده‌ از دست‌ داده‌اند. همه‌ اطرافیان آنها انتظار دارند که‌ پسر نوجوان‌ هم‌ دامپزشک‌ شود. اما او ناگهان تصمیم‌ گرفته‌ به‌ آفریقا برود، دلقک‌ شود و بچه‌های‌ آن‌ جا را خوشحال‌ کند. با این‌ همه‌، در آفریقا، حوادثی‌ پیش‌بینی نشده‌ در انتظار اوست‌.

[Klare · Rating 3 out of 5]

A moving story

[Fateme H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

دو و نیم.
به نظرم کتاب خیلی معمولی‌ای بود.
هیچ نکته‌ی خیلی خاص یا قابل‌توجهی درموردش برام وجود نداشت، ولی بعضی تیکه‌هاش بانمک بود.

[Derek · Rating 4 out of 5]

A moving story of a brother, a sister and...a swallow and how all are in some way victims of the horrors of landmines. Olly's brother wants to go and work with children who have been made orphans, through war, in Africa. He wants to be a clown and make them laugh. His mother and sister want him to stay in England and go to university. Hero, a swallow, has a journey to make too. He must fly to Africa for the winter to join all the other swallows.

His journey is difficult and fraught with danger. Three separate stories are woven into one powerful and moving novel whose central theme exposes the horrors of war and of landmines, but also the endurance of the human spirit.

Dear Olly comprises three separate stories which are woven into one powerful and moving novel whose central theme exposes the horrors of war and of landmines, but also the endurance of the human spirit. An emotive story which has descriptive passages of both sadness & uplifting experiences.

[Rebecca Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book, as I found myself getting attached to each of the characters quite easily. I liked how Michael Morpurgo wrote about each of the characters, Olly, Hero and Matt., ensuring that they each of them had a voice, because it was interesting to see how each character perceived the same event that had taken place.

I would definitely recommend this book to a child in Key Stage 2 as some of the events that took place in the story may be a little too upsetting for those of a younger age. I would also suggest this book to someone once they have read 'Sky Hawk' as it is based around similar themes, so if you enjoyed reading that then give this a try!

[Harriet Coulson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fantastic read, it moved me to tears and broke my heart yet left me hopeful and joyful all at the same time. This book is cleverly told by three voices, allowing the reader to see things from different perspectives and empathize with the characters. Themes of family, love, determination and courage make this book truly special. A lovely book, especially for children aged 7-11.

[Pippa Jessop · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the few books that really stood out for me when I was a child. I remember reading this for the first time in year 6 and being gripped by the contrasting stories told by the different view points of the characters. Such a sad but heart warming story, I would really recommend!

[Bella Bonner-Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Book inspired me to write 2 michael and now i am much more confident and i even got a reply

SUCH A MEANING FULL BOOK!!!

[Susan Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent Morpurgo novel, he tackles some painful subjects with extreme humour and sensitivity, I challenge anyone not to be touched by this story.

[Hayley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice story and an interesting take for a children's book to have the story told from three different perspectives.

[Sammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely little book about resilience, it’s only tiny so finest take long to read. 4.5/5

[شهرزاد · Rating 2 out of 5]

اولین ایرادی که بهش وارد بود این بود که سبک ترجمه همه جا یکسان نبود. قسمت دوم کتاب ( داستان قهرمان) ادبی تر از بقیه کتاب ترجمه شده بود و این ایراد بزرگی محسوب میشه.
کتاب در کل سیر آرومی داشت و بعد بووووم یک هو یک پایان شوکه کننده. من ترجیح میدم کتاب پله پله بالا( یا پایین) بره نه این که یک هو از بالای سرسره پرتت کنه پایین.
نکته بعدی که ذهنمو درگیر کرد: این کتاب سعی داشت یک نکته به نوجوان ها یاد بده. این که برو دنبال قلبت
این که لازم نیست به خاطر " بقیه" زندگی کنی
این که برو دنبال آرزوت....هدفت
درسته؟ پس این پایان یکم زیادی تیره، اعصاب خوردکن و ناامیدکننده نبود؟ اون هم با توجه به این که کتاب مخصوص نوجوان ها نوشته شده بود؟

[danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a memorable one to read for me- I started reading it when I was probably 8 or 9, on a friend’s kindle. I didn’t finish it while at her house so I got my dad to buy it for me. Only then did I realise that there were about 10 pages of the book left, and it was basically pointless to get it. So that’s my way of describing this book- it started out great, but the ending felt abrupt, like there could have been more than it. I enjoyed it, but not as much as I hoped I would and the end felt somewhat lacking. Not all bad though, it was a fun read.

[Emma Dargue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting children's book about the relationship between a sister and a brother and the swallow the sister looks after. This book which I listened to as a audiobook was sweet and well crafted and really got to the heart of the relationship between Olly and Matt. There are many twists and turns along the way. I liked the way the story was split into three different points of view Matt, Olly and the swallow. The one thing I didn't like as much was the music which I thought was a bit overpowering but nevertheless enjoyed this.

[Mars · Rating 5 out of 5]

اُلی عزیز واقعا برای من مثل اسمش عزیزه و نمیدونم چطوری احساساتم رو نسبت بهش توصیف کنم واقعا واقعا کتاب خوب و زیباییه هدف کتاب خیلی قشنگه اتفاقاتش خیلی جالب و قشنگه و فقط کافیه که در های قلبتو به روش باز کنی و ذهنتو ساکت کنی و با این کتاب به اعماق رویاهای دور دست خودت و مات سفر کنی.
این کتاب یه پختگی و عشق خاصی داره و هر جایی که تو زندگیم ناامید بشم مطمئنا برمیگردم به این کتاب
و این کتاب واقعا قلب و فکر و احساساتم رو درگیر خوش کرد.
همه چیزش رو دوست داشتم و هیچ کلمه ای نمیتونه احساساتمو نسبت بهش توصیف کنه

[Ellie Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book in around 30 minutes but let me tell you I was in tears by the end. It is such a beautiful story that is structured into 3 sections which are told from Olly (the sister), Matt (the brother), and Hero (the swallow). The Moral of the story is to never give up and Matt definitely shows us this when his world is turned upside down. His sheer determination is inspirational and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone it is a lovely story and must not be missed.

[Vita Luna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars (?)

I have mixed feelings about this book - at first I thought it was going to be a 2 star rating. I didn't like the vibe of the book and the swallow part felt kind of hectic to me, like he was trying too much to make it exciting.

But then... the last part got me emotional, and everything came together so well.

So I was left feeling... moved, but not wholly satisfied.

[Lupita Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous heart warming book which just shares such a beautiful message of hope and courage and to find happiness and love in nature and humanity and believing in yourself when others find faults in your journey but proving to yourself that going for your dream can help others in ways so unexpected and wonderful.

[Success Ksea · Rating 4 out of 5]

only 128 pages worth of content. Not to mention, the font style was very big yet the character development in this book was staggeringly impressive. It's Michael Morpurgo's trademark writing style at it's finest.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Morpurgo has produced another lovely story that artfully links two continents by following the migration to Africa of the swallows and a young man who are both following their destined paths in life. Wonderfully written and illustrated as always.

[Emad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a beautiful book. Michael Morpurgo never fails to bring a smile to my face. Dear Olly is no exception. He shows us that even in the darkest of times there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.

[Max Bean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being from 3 different perspectives really kept the book engaging (my favourite was when it was told from the swallows perspective <3). It was a cool concept of a book tbf. You're definitely taken on a journey through the book.

[Fateme Bostanzadeh · Rating 5 out of 5]

۱۳ ۱۴ سالم بود که این کتاب رو خوندم. هیچوقت احساسی که داشتم موقع خوندنش رو فراموش نمیکنم، انگار که کودک درونم آروم نشسته بود که با هم کتاب بخونیم.
سراسر لبخنده این کتاب.
وقت که بشه دوباره و دوباره "الی عزیز" رو میخونم. :]

[Gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book about finding your way, loss, family and love. Despite all challenges and fights there is always love in all three of the stories that link so closely together yet happen apart.