Peace Maker

by Malorie Blackman

Michela knows the law - everyone must wear a Peace Maker device at all times, and it must never be tampered with. Non-aggression is her society's founding principle, and the Peace Maker the means by which is it enforced. But Michela is desperate to experience the full range of human emotions in her own fantasy world of books and games, and the Peace Maker is the only thing stopping her. And when her mother captains their ship into enemy airspace and they come under attack, it seems that Michela's freedom from the Peace Maker may be the only thing that can save them. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 8+

Genres: Science Fiction

80 pages, Paperback

Published April 15, 2016

About the author

An award-winning children's author, Malorie Blackman was honoured with an OBE in 2008. Her work has been adapted for TV and stage.

More information available at:
Myspace
British Council: Contemporary Authors
British Council: Encompass Culture
Channel 4 Learning: Book Box

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short but good sci-fi novel with dyslexia friendly pages and an exciting story which will realky engage readers starting to try chapter books.

[Briday Peers · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love Malorie Blackman just don’t love sci fi

[Fiona Mackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dyslexic friendly format, quick read. Interesting premise but ended abruptly and wasn't satisfying.

[Bibliotekstanten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ska bokprata i en språk-klass om några dagar och har därför plöjt en rad lättlästa böcker.

Efter att ha läst Malorie Blackmans Robot tog jag Fredsskaparen som jag trodde var en fortsättning, men nej! Böckerna är bara vansinnigt lika varandra ändå. Nåväl Fredsskaparen var bra, så det gjorde ingenting.

Michela bär, liksom alla andra, en fredsskapare. Det är en uppfinning som tar bort aggressiva känslor. Den försäkrar att de senaste hundra årens undervisning om icke-aggression efterlevs.

"Det är meningen att ni människor ska avsky all sorts våld, även i berättelser", sa fröken Faber. "Och trots det, Michela, så envisas du med att läsa förbjudna böcker som Skattkammarön och Hungerspelen. Och sedan skriver du den här sortens befängda, farliga dumheter."

De farliga dumheterna är förstås äventyrsberättelser inspirerade av de förbjudna böckerna. Michela har helt enkelt mixtrat med sin fredsskapare och trubbel väntar. Det visar sig dock att hela rymdskeppet har råkat i trubbel. De har ovetande hamnat på en utomjordisk ras territorie och de förklarar krig.

Ja men det här var ju en bra liten science fiction historia. Tummen upp.

[Bengt Jonsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peace Maker is a fun little slice of scifi for beginners in english or who just wants half an hour of read time. The story takes place in space, all humans now wear a Peace Maker that shuts down any violence they could do, and any media with violent tendencies have also been banned. Naturally our main character isn't alright with that as is revealed at the start where she writes a story with violence taking place.

Everything comes to its edge when the ship with peaceful humans travels into an hostile alien ship.

All in all this is a good story, with some nice twists that carries the story and message with it nicely forward. The only negative part is the ending comes a little abrubt, and could have used just a few more pages spent for it.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ich bin ja immer skeptisch, was diese leicht zu lesen Titel angeht. Aber dieser hat wirklich eine ganz passable Story. Die Message ist allerdings sehr kontrovers. Ja, sich rein darauf zu verlassen, dass ein friedliches Verhalten das Überleben sichert, ist sicher zu naiv für diese Welt. Aber Kämpfen zu müssen ist jetzt auch nicht die beste Alternative....
Ganz davon abgesehen, wie der Kampf endet... aber das will ich hier jetzt nicht weiter ausführen.
Der Titel hält was er verspricht. Er ist leicht zu lesen und dabei noch mit einer angemessenen Storytiefe versehen. Daher 3 Sterne.

[Miss Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Michela struggles to follow all the rules banning her from reading about weapons and warfare. After all life on board the Alliance ship Kitabu is one of non-violence and pacifism. Time after time, she is caught reading banned books and writing about battles. An encounter with an alien ship pressures them to change their approach. This story is about conformity vs rebellion, values, courage, adversity, adaptation, and compassion.

[Vincent Heathcliff · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short story with a good concept and message which I liked more than the actual writing (hence 4* rather than 3*).

[silene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great compelling story, easy and quick read however the ending was not very satisfying

[C.J. Pallister · Rating 5 out of 5]

That's what a short story should be

[Pearce Hendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another quick, easy read. Ending was good and the aliens were kinda creepy (lol)

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this as I'm teaching it to my literacy class.

Quite liked this one, very imaginative

[Bettie Furminger · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting exciting read, another fabulous book for the new not-so-confident readers.

[John Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this short read it was very good

[Aneely · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short snappy book. V Compelling, Good enjoyable read!

[Noorul Ahilah]

_