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Our Jacko
A deeply personal and tender story of war, peace and those who are left behind. One hundred years after the war to end all wars, Jacko’s descendants discover his notebook and the untold stories tucked in its pages."This war is a nightmare that one day I shall wake from and then forget. And if I don't wake, then you shall never know. I don't want you ever to know."No one seems to know where the scruffy tin hat came from – just that it is very old, from some war or other long ago. To young Michael and his family it has its uses as a child’s toy, a feeding bowl for the hens, a hanging basket... Then Michael discovers that it belonged to his great-great-grandfather, “Our Jacko”, who lost his life at Ypres in 1915. As the boy digs deeper, he finds the young soldier's diary and learns more about his forgotten ancestor – husband, father, poet, actor – who died so tragically young. And it becomes clear exactly how Our Jacko should be commemorated.
39 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2018
4 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 11, 2018
Book Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
Brothers Michael and Otto are very different indeed. Otto, the older of the two understands all about war and how and why it happens. Michael is a complete pacifist and believes that war is never the answer and only wants peace.
As they were growing up a tin hat with a bullet hole in the front was Otto’s favourite item, he wore it everywhere. Michael despised the hat and even when it became a holder for chicken feed and then a flower basket, he still didn’t like what it represented.
One day Michael’s class start learning about the war and a trip to Ypres, Belgium is planned. The class are asked to find out if they had any ancestors who fought in the war, that’s when the boys discover that the hat belonged to their Great-Great Grandfather Lieutenant Jack Morris (Jacko) who lost his life in battle in 1915 in Ypres. They also discover an old suitcase of Jacko’s things too, including his little notebook filled with letters and poems.
Our Jacko is a beautiful, poignant book. Although this is a children’s book, I got quite emotional reading it and believe me I rarely get emotional when reading a book but this one really hit me. The story is just stunning and the illustrations complement Sir Michael Morpurgo’s words perfectly. The book is a mixture of story, poems and letters written home and with this year being the centenary of World War One, I feel that this makes the book even more powerful.
The brothers are both lovely children and it was nice to see them age through the book and for Michael who still believes in peace as he ages to also want to find out about his relative and try to understand what happened during the war and learn that it is a valuable part of history that you can’t just block out.
It is a book that makes you stop and think about what the people who lived through the Two World Wars went through and about those who fought in them and the families they left behind. It is a very heart-felt book and one I believe all children (and adults) should read, to learn about that period in history through Jacko’s personal story.
Brothers Michael and Otto are very different indeed. Otto, the older of the two understands all about war and how and why it happens. Michael is a complete pacifist and believes that war is never the answer and only wants peace.
As they were growing up a tin hat with a bullet hole in the front was Otto’s favourite item, he wore it everywhere. Michael despised the hat and even when it became a holder for chicken feed and then a flower basket, he still didn’t like what it represented.
One day Michael’s class start learning about the war and a trip to Ypres, Belgium is planned. The class are asked to find out if they had any ancestors who fought in the war, that’s when the boys discover that the hat belonged to their Great-Great Grandfather Lieutenant Jack Morris (Jacko) who lost his life in battle in 1915 in Ypres. They also discover an old suitcase of Jacko’s things too, including his little notebook filled with letters and poems.
Our Jacko is a beautiful, poignant book. Although this is a children’s book, I got quite emotional reading it and believe me I rarely get emotional when reading a book but this one really hit me. The story is just stunning and the illustrations complement Sir Michael Morpurgo’s words perfectly. The book is a mixture of story, poems and letters written home and with this year being the centenary of World War One, I feel that this makes the book even more powerful.
The brothers are both lovely children and it was nice to see them age through the book and for Michael who still believes in peace as he ages to also want to find out about his relative and try to understand what happened during the war and learn that it is a valuable part of history that you can’t just block out.
It is a book that makes you stop and think about what the people who lived through the Two World Wars went through and about those who fought in them and the families they left behind. It is a very heart-felt book and one I believe all children (and adults) should read, to learn about that period in history through Jacko’s personal story.
March 16, 2019
I found a hardcopy for my Remembrance Day read - 11/11/2018.
November 10, 2018
"This war is a nightmare that one day I shall wake from and then forget. And if I don't wake, then you shall never know. I don't want you ever to know."
Michael Morpurgo tells a cleverly hidden tale of war in what is ostensible a peaceful story. This is most definitely Morpurgo's comfort zone, his perfect setting for telling a story - each of his stories during this part of history are moving, truthful and hard-hitting. This is no exception.
Two young brothers are playing together with a very old tin hat, with a very sad story - this tin hat has a hole in it, and the boys can't guess why for sure. They know this hat is old, they know it was from some war or other, but they are of different opinions about what to do with it - is it a toy? a dress-up piece? a bowl to feed their chickens? a flower plot? Michael soon finds out the truth behind the tin hat with a hole in it.
I adored how Morpurgo captured passing a story of a soldier to his great great grandson and descendants - relatives he was never able to know and share his stories with who now he will post-posthumously via a diary. Jacko lost his life in 1915 in Ypres and now his family will learn about his life, and tragic death, fighting for his country.
This book is clearly written with heart - it's incredibly moving, close to home for many and is ideal for teaching the younger generation about how lucky they were to have such brave men fighting for them. A tear-jerker, no doubt, but also an incredible way to tip your hat in appreciation to those before you. A must-read.
ARC provided free from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
Michael Morpurgo tells a cleverly hidden tale of war in what is ostensible a peaceful story. This is most definitely Morpurgo's comfort zone, his perfect setting for telling a story - each of his stories during this part of history are moving, truthful and hard-hitting. This is no exception.
Two young brothers are playing together with a very old tin hat, with a very sad story - this tin hat has a hole in it, and the boys can't guess why for sure. They know this hat is old, they know it was from some war or other, but they are of different opinions about what to do with it - is it a toy? a dress-up piece? a bowl to feed their chickens? a flower plot? Michael soon finds out the truth behind the tin hat with a hole in it.
I adored how Morpurgo captured passing a story of a soldier to his great great grandson and descendants - relatives he was never able to know and share his stories with who now he will post-posthumously via a diary. Jacko lost his life in 1915 in Ypres and now his family will learn about his life, and tragic death, fighting for his country.
This book is clearly written with heart - it's incredibly moving, close to home for many and is ideal for teaching the younger generation about how lucky they were to have such brave men fighting for them. A tear-jerker, no doubt, but also an incredible way to tip your hat in appreciation to those before you. A must-read.
ARC provided free from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
November 16, 2020
Wow, this was incredible! The story was amazing - it was so interesting learning about "Our Jacko" and what he did in WW1 - and the illustrations were beautiful! All the poetry was lovely as well!
It's a short read, and since it's Michael Morpurgo writing, you won't be disappointed!
It's a short read, and since it's Michael Morpurgo writing, you won't be disappointed!
November 24, 2018
It does feel personal. It really moved me. The effects of WWI are still being felt.
Present day, a pair of brothers grow up around an old soldier's helmet, one hating everything it stands for, the other making it a part of his play. Otto is outraged years later when his younger brother, our narrator Michael, is refusing to visit the First World War battlefields in Belgium as a pacifist, and their father reveals the history of the helmet, and its owner - a relative.
The story we then access is via Jacko's notebooks and poems, written as a soldier, and I found myself really moved by this short story. It's quite tight and sparse compared to some of Morpurgo's others and moved quickly to a conclusion of both the narrator's feelings for facing the War and also finding closure for Jacko.
Older readers may find the notebooks more accessible - there are poems there that will wash over most primary-aged readers, but the detail it presents of an everyday man, father and husband, and how it affects his descendents is really touching.
At only around 60 pages, it is easily read in an hour or two, good as a class resources for discussion, for Key Stage 2 and above.
With thanks to Walker Books for providing a sample reading copy.
Present day, a pair of brothers grow up around an old soldier's helmet, one hating everything it stands for, the other making it a part of his play. Otto is outraged years later when his younger brother, our narrator Michael, is refusing to visit the First World War battlefields in Belgium as a pacifist, and their father reveals the history of the helmet, and its owner - a relative.
The story we then access is via Jacko's notebooks and poems, written as a soldier, and I found myself really moved by this short story. It's quite tight and sparse compared to some of Morpurgo's others and moved quickly to a conclusion of both the narrator's feelings for facing the War and also finding closure for Jacko.
Older readers may find the notebooks more accessible - there are poems there that will wash over most primary-aged readers, but the detail it presents of an everyday man, father and husband, and how it affects his descendents is really touching.
At only around 60 pages, it is easily read in an hour or two, good as a class resources for discussion, for Key Stage 2 and above.
With thanks to Walker Books for providing a sample reading copy.
January 29, 2019
What an inspiring story! I adored the illustrations and it really made my history buff heart happy ;) Definitely would recommend for all ages, although it is geared for junior readers.
December 17, 2018
This is a poignant book which will make children think about the first world war one hundred years after it ended. ‘Our Jacko’ is a hardback book with thick glossy pages inside filled with text and colour illustrations. Some of the text on the cover is in a metallic copper colour. The cover has a jacket which if removed reveals a very different cover. There are also illustrations on the inside front and inside back covers too which should be looked at after you read the story.
The story of Our Jacko is told by Michael, a boy who never enjoyed his brother’s toy, a tin hat he had found. A real tin hat worn by a soldier from the first world war apparently, and Michael doesn’t like to see it as it represents war, something he doesn’t want to ever think about. As the story moves forward, pacifist Michael has to do a special project on the first world war and its this that leads to his family discovering more about the tin hat than they knew. In discovering who it belongs to they unearth a story, a tale untold of a special man who never returned from the war. I don’t want to give away too much more of the story as I think it has a greater impact if you read the tale in full, but the story is a bittersweet one, as the boys, Michael and his brother Otto, are happy and proud of the story they discover but it’s of course sad as it’s all about the war and about the people who didn’t come back which could potentially make some reading this a bit emotional.
While this is a good book to read and I think it’s a brilliant book for adults to discuss with kids and possibly a book to read at school, I don’t think it is a book that children will necessarily fully grasp without an adult’s help. A lot of the story has quotes from Shakespeare’s plays and while these are relevant to the story I do think kids of a younger age may not understand or enjoy this so much. Adults will definitely understand the story and can maybe help children who are younger, but it’s not the sort of book I would pick to just give to a child to entertain them.
The story has a moving ending, and I did like the way that Michael changes his thoughts in wanting to remember and think of the people from the first world war rather than just ignore it. It’s a message that we all need to keep sending out, to never forget. This book feels so special and I think with it being one hundred years since the first world war, it is a book to share and talk about, I think lots of people of all ages can appreciate the story and the way the author is trying to make us always remember.
The illustrations are quite simple but they do fit well with this book. The simple nature of many of them fits as it doesn’t overwhelm the tale being told. I love the colour that’s added to the back of the some of the text when remembering happier times, and the beautiful occasional double page spread that comes in the story along with other images dotted around the text. The illustrations really do fit and have enough detail in them to show what is important without feeling overly detailed and cluttered. I’d also recommend taking a look at the images on the inside front and back covers or the beautiful illustration on the inside of the jacket sleeve.
Overall I’d recommend this book for anyone wanting a poignant book that has a simple yet special and relevant story of remembering those that fought in the war and never came back. However as I said this is a book that I’d see better used in a discussion with children rather than one to just read alone. Once they understand the story then they can read it alone but it’s a bit of a sad tale so I’m not sure if kids would want to.
-thanks to Walker Books for a free copy for review.
The story of Our Jacko is told by Michael, a boy who never enjoyed his brother’s toy, a tin hat he had found. A real tin hat worn by a soldier from the first world war apparently, and Michael doesn’t like to see it as it represents war, something he doesn’t want to ever think about. As the story moves forward, pacifist Michael has to do a special project on the first world war and its this that leads to his family discovering more about the tin hat than they knew. In discovering who it belongs to they unearth a story, a tale untold of a special man who never returned from the war. I don’t want to give away too much more of the story as I think it has a greater impact if you read the tale in full, but the story is a bittersweet one, as the boys, Michael and his brother Otto, are happy and proud of the story they discover but it’s of course sad as it’s all about the war and about the people who didn’t come back which could potentially make some reading this a bit emotional.
While this is a good book to read and I think it’s a brilliant book for adults to discuss with kids and possibly a book to read at school, I don’t think it is a book that children will necessarily fully grasp without an adult’s help. A lot of the story has quotes from Shakespeare’s plays and while these are relevant to the story I do think kids of a younger age may not understand or enjoy this so much. Adults will definitely understand the story and can maybe help children who are younger, but it’s not the sort of book I would pick to just give to a child to entertain them.
The story has a moving ending, and I did like the way that Michael changes his thoughts in wanting to remember and think of the people from the first world war rather than just ignore it. It’s a message that we all need to keep sending out, to never forget. This book feels so special and I think with it being one hundred years since the first world war, it is a book to share and talk about, I think lots of people of all ages can appreciate the story and the way the author is trying to make us always remember.
The illustrations are quite simple but they do fit well with this book. The simple nature of many of them fits as it doesn’t overwhelm the tale being told. I love the colour that’s added to the back of the some of the text when remembering happier times, and the beautiful occasional double page spread that comes in the story along with other images dotted around the text. The illustrations really do fit and have enough detail in them to show what is important without feeling overly detailed and cluttered. I’d also recommend taking a look at the images on the inside front and back covers or the beautiful illustration on the inside of the jacket sleeve.
Overall I’d recommend this book for anyone wanting a poignant book that has a simple yet special and relevant story of remembering those that fought in the war and never came back. However as I said this is a book that I’d see better used in a discussion with children rather than one to just read alone. Once they understand the story then they can read it alone but it’s a bit of a sad tale so I’m not sure if kids would want to.
-thanks to Walker Books for a free copy for review.
December 27, 2018
Actual rating: 4.5/5 star
This had been a really moving read. I really liked how the story started off with brotherhood and the main character, Michael, hating on the idea of war and only love peace. However, as the story went by, I could totally see the changes in Michael’s perspective on war. How his family, especially his brother, Otto, the history teacher and his great great grandfather’s story inspired him and taught him about the importance of our past and how that resulted in the peace we have today. It was a joy to see that process and change in him.
Highly recommended!
This had been a really moving read. I really liked how the story started off with brotherhood and the main character, Michael, hating on the idea of war and only love peace. However, as the story went by, I could totally see the changes in Michael’s perspective on war. How his family, especially his brother, Otto, the history teacher and his great great grandfather’s story inspired him and taught him about the importance of our past and how that resulted in the peace we have today. It was a joy to see that process and change in him.
Highly recommended!
December 1, 2019
Lovely story of how a tin hat that was played with as a child turned out to belong to a great great grandfather who fought in the first world war and died aged 23 in Ypres. The hat later is displayed at the youngest history class display. The class then goes to a visit of the Ypres battlefield and comes across the gravestone of Our Jacko. As Jack was an actor at the nearby Stratford theatre, the family go on to donate the hat to the theatre for any performances that require it in honour of Jack.
Such a lovely well told story
Such a lovely well told story
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2018
I never learn! "Don't read Michael Morpurgo in work, he always makes me cry." I keep reading them anyway. I can't stop. Michael Morpurgo is amazing.
This title, like many of his, is a love letter to the men who went to war in 1914 and didn't come back. It's one of his shorter, illustrated ones, easy for any child from about 8 to read. For a short book it touches on a lot of topics for discussion afterwards.
A fantastic read. Long may he write.
This title, like many of his, is a love letter to the men who went to war in 1914 and didn't come back. It's one of his shorter, illustrated ones, easy for any child from about 8 to read. For a short book it touches on a lot of topics for discussion afterwards.
A fantastic read. Long may he write.
January 8, 2021
Initially, this story did not grab me in the same way as Michael Morpurgo’s other war-related stories for children. But the more I read, the more interested I became and by the last 5 or so pages it was all I could do to hold back the tears. Our Jacko is a short, sweet, simple tale, is beautifully illustrated by David Gentleman and another wonderful, age-appropriate resource from Michael Morpurgo that will help children better understand the World Wars.
April 21, 2022
Considering I am not a big fan of historical fiction, and even less so of war stories, this is definitely my favourite I have ever picked up.
Unsurprisingly, another work of art from Morpurgo.
I intensely resonated with the main character's lack of enthusiasm for war, and really felt like I went on the journey with him. The use of Shakespeare throughout was simply an added bonus.
Unsurprisingly, another work of art from Morpurgo.
I intensely resonated with the main character's lack of enthusiasm for war, and really felt like I went on the journey with him. The use of Shakespeare throughout was simply an added bonus.
December 21, 2020
The book about war, siblings, and several issues that are related. The story unfolds family history and several other things that are attached. Sibling relations, classroom, war, and history author skillfully unfolds the story with narration sure helps in giving the reader a reading experience.
January 31, 2019
Great! Pure Morpurgo!
March 21, 2019
Just a small hardcopy book you can read in less than an hour, but so powerful and so moving.
September 27, 2021
Teenage boy - pacifist reluctantly learning about WW. Researches relative after finding diary and poems etc. Lovely to read, short and easy. Y5-6 up.
July 28, 2022
3.5 stars.
October 1, 2022
A sweet little story about looking back to truly understand the past and your relationship to it.
July 10, 2023
He really knows how to write emotional books, ones that really pull on the heartstrings
July 18, 2025
Very short and moving, this novella describes the short life of a soldier sent to Ypres.
January 5, 2019
Otto and Michael are brothers. Otto’s favourite thing is a tin helmet with a bullet hole in it. He wears it everywhere as a child, teasing his staunchly pacifist brother that the hole was the soldier’s death.
As they grow, Otto becomes an historian, trying to explain why wars are sometimes necessary, whereas Michael still strictly opposes it. When Michael is told their history class is to travel to the battlefields of WWI in Belgium, he doesn’t want to go. His class is also asked to research and try to find something about a relative or friend who was in the First World war.
Otto and Michael have never thought to ask before, but soon learn the origins of the tin helmet. It belonged to their great, great grandfather. A journal is discovered in the bottom of a basket in their attic and they all begin to read about their ancestor.
A sombre tale of a family learning about their past, and the wastes of war. Full of colour illustrations, this novella is perfect for Year 6-9 student studies on WWI.
As they grow, Otto becomes an historian, trying to explain why wars are sometimes necessary, whereas Michael still strictly opposes it. When Michael is told their history class is to travel to the battlefields of WWI in Belgium, he doesn’t want to go. His class is also asked to research and try to find something about a relative or friend who was in the First World war.
Otto and Michael have never thought to ask before, but soon learn the origins of the tin helmet. It belonged to their great, great grandfather. A journal is discovered in the bottom of a basket in their attic and they all begin to read about their ancestor.
A sombre tale of a family learning about their past, and the wastes of war. Full of colour illustrations, this novella is perfect for Year 6-9 student studies on WWI.
December 29, 2018
a really thoughtful read with a really poignant message.
February 24, 2019
This is a children's book, written by Michael Morpurgo. I read it because although it is fiction, it is about a young man killed in World War One, and is written from the point of view of his great grand child. I found it very moving and beautifully written. A must read.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews