Not Bad for a Bad Lad

by Michael Morpurgo

Everyone thinks this lad is bad, so it’s no surprise when he’s sent to Borstal. But then he starts work in the prison stable and something begins to change . . .

Morpurgo and Foreman weave an inspiring tale about what happens when someone is shown how to follow their dreams. Also includes a fact-packed historical section.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Animals, Horses

79 pages, Collector’s Edition

First published January 1, 2010

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

[Varsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book I’d read with my son and came across the copy and re-read it for its simplicity and feel good factor.

It starts with a grandfather narrating his life story to his grandchild with a forewarning that he has not always been a good lad and has done some things he is ashamed of.

This story talks about the ill effects of labelling a child with names such as ‘bad lad’. The child may also start believing and living up to this label.

It also talks about how one person can help change the path of a child. One person who believes in the child and in this story it is his teacher Mrs May who not only believes in him but encourages his love for drumming.

When he gets caught for one of his acts, he is sent to Borstal. It is here that he does some hard thinking. He reflects on what his life would be , was he that bad or was there some good as Mrs May believed ?

It’s while in Borstal that he also meets his other love, horses. The title of the book ‘Not Bad for a Bad Lad’, are the words Mr Alfie says to him and encourages and trains him to work with horses.

Later through the story, how he gets to combine both his love and leads a fulfilling life.
There are many lessons for kids and adults alike.
Life is not always simple and does not always work as per plan. It has it’s ups and downs. With opportunities and hard work , things can change.

Do not label children and even adults. It could have serious outcomes, and could scar them for life.

I would recommend it for kids 7 years and above.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember being read this story when I was much younger, and to come across it again as an adult brought about a real feeling of nostalgia that I’ve very much enjoyed feeling.

It’s only a short story, I think when I was read the story it was read in one go, but it’s quite an impactful story about a young lad that’s been beaten by the system and forced into an almost self fulfilling prophecy that he won’t amount to anything.

To then see him actually amount to a lot and become one of the soldiers in the Queen‘s platoon is quite inspiring. Even to a young girl that was not considered to be a bad girl.

[Curlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been looking for this book since 2015. Before that, I've been reading random books without actually recording their names/authors a journal; books I read between 2012-2017 are long forgotten.

From what I remember, the title is a line from a character in the book who considers the main character as a good egg despite the latter's reputation of being a "bad boy".
The ending part is what we usually consider as a redeeming moment for the protagonist.
May reread this when I feel nostalgic about fake memories of the past...

[maya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not Bad for a Bad Lad is obviously a children's book and for children but the plot just seemed really simple and predictable. The characters were 2 dimensional and weren't fleshed out at all and quite basic. I know I'm not the targeted audience but all I can say that this isn't Morpurgo's best book.

[Pilar González · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es una preciosa historia corta llena de sensibilidad y con un valor que yo admiro y es la fe en las posibilidades de todas las personas, especialmente de aquellas que viven marginadas y con conductas poco edificantes.
Una excelente novela para regalar a niños y para que los adultos cuenten en las escuelas, por ejemplo.

[emilycake · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘He’s like all of us. He just needs to feel good about himself. He’s got good in him, I know he has. He needs a second chance. All I’m asking is that you give him that chance. He’ll come right one day, you’ll see.’ (p.33)

Glad to also be one of those who have fond memories of a teacher who believed in me when I lacked belief in myself.

[Lyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wonderful story but not very well written, too brief and short of imagery and detail to really capture the imagination. It felt like it had been written to promote a charity for Suffolk Punch horses or something like that.
However, the children went along with the story and found it interesting.

[vias_bookland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in the space of about an hour, it was a quick read which was nice to read. It was quite prodictable at some points, the illustrations were well done and made you feel inspired. I would recommend this book to children of age seven upwards.

[Aruna Kumar Gadepalli · Rating 4 out of 5]

What if one gets a second chance. This book as other books of author deals with war, animals (here horses), and humans. Brings out the best of a story from the facts. The book contains details of juveniles, horse breed etc.

[Sam L Lawson]

This book is about a boy who stole stuff and did naughty things in his child hood. But after going to a school that is meant to change you behaviour he found his love for horses and after that he went on to be a soldier in the army.
I rate this book a 9/10

[Manuel Messina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un racconto illustrato intenso e con sfumature drammatiche che racconta la storia di riscatto di un 'ragazzaccio' che con supporto e fiducia di alcuni adulti e la compagnia di un cavallo speciale è riuscito a definire se stesso ed evitare un destino di perdizione.

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Really engrossing story of a boy who ends up in a Borstal but then gets a second chance because of a kind-hearted person. It is a tale of hope and redemption. A good book for 8 years plus children.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of the more common well-known Michael Morpurgo stories but one with a good moral. Some interesting historical facts about war, horses and borstal after the novel had finished.
Interesting read with lovely illustrations.

[Indah Threez Lestari · Rating 3 out of 5]

225 - 2017

[Gail Wylde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another lovely tale from Mr Morpurgo.

[Miriam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Livre avec une écriture fluide, et une histoire émouvante, adapt aux enfants de CM1.

[jojo · Rating 5 out of 5]

omg il est grave touchant !! d’habitude les classique c’est pas trop mon truc mais là!!!

[Michelle]

This is the story of a reflection and redemption. It the life story of a grandfather who is telling the story of his youth to his grandson.
The story is about a young boy who grows up never knowing his father and being branded a bad lad by the local policeman and various school teachers. As a result of this branding he acts as the bad lad for everyone in a position of authority. Except that is for one teacher Mrs May who is kind to him and encourages his love for drumming, unfortunately Mrs May leaves and our bad lad loses his only source of encouragement and as result continues to act as the bad lad resulting in expulsion from school.

Having now left school at aged 14 he roams the street with a group of older bad lads and is ultimately sent to borstal. It is whilst at borstal he is given the opportunity to work with horses by the kindly Mr Alfie who tells him that 'he's not bad for a bad lad' and encourages him to bond with the horses.

Once released from Borstal he finds himself alone and one night decides to sleep in the park. The next morning he wakes to see the Army horses on parade and is able to assist in the calming of a horse that has been spooked. As a result of his action he is recommended to the Army and we see that he becomes a success in the army playing the drums on horse back.

The story highlights to the reader the negative impact that can occur from the labelling of children and that change is possible.

This book would be suitable for ages 8 and up as although the book is not lengthy or wordy it does have a mature theme and would be good for class discussions.
It would also be a good book for getting boys interested in reading.

Another wonderful MIchael Morpurgo book.

[CR · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely little read, very up lifting and although predictable- you don’t really mind. I was glad that the story had a happy ending. I am becoming quite a fan of these small reads of Michael Morpurgos’

[Thistle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so wrong when I guessed what this book was about.

Based on the title and cover together, I thought it would be about a horse. Bad Lad sounded like a great horse name, and 'Not Bad for a Bad Lad' made me think it would be about a problem horse who turned out good in the end.

While there was a horse in the story, the book was a grandfather writing his life's story so his grandkid could know what he was like. *yawn*

Most of the book takes place when cars were new and radios were known as 'the wireless'. The main character got in serious trouble for stealing an orange, and after a string of other minor issues, had to go off to a reform school.

The only positive to this book was that it was so short. I guess, to a young kid, it could be an encouraging tale -- you can still go on and do good things with your life, even if you get into trouble. To adult me though, the story put me to sleep.

Google told me that Morpurgo was the author of animal stories for children, so I grabbed a small collection of his books. Checking the titles though, they all seem like this one: Stories about people, where animals get only a mention or aren't really all that important at all. . I'll give him one more chance at some point before I give up and delete them all.

[Sofie Lisette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad for a bad lad is a realy good book. It's about this boy and he likes to steel and he has bad behaviour, and when he is older he has to go to jail. But when he is there every morning he does a 2 mile run and he always passes this horse farm and meets a farmer and he gets to look after the horses and the farmer gets sick and doesn't come back for a while and back at prison everyone is set free and now are tramps. The boy sees a soldier on a horse and the boy became one of them and finds one of the horses he was working with. So thats the end and I would definitly recommend this book.

[Wren Hunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book as a night time read as I have always been a fan of Michael Morporgo from a young age. I rate him as an author a 5 star since he is such a brilliant writer and always comes up with the most intriguing stories. People of all ages would be able to enjoy the books that he writes. As a whole I rate this book as a 3 star, not for the contents but for the length of the book. Would have been such an enjoyable book if it was longer and went into more detail, but brilliant all the same!

[Anthony Burt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very brief but involving little coming-of-age story from Mr Morpurgo. A nice, gentle read about a boy that grew up misbehaving - and being told he was bad - who ended up in borstal to then find his calling looking after horses and being in the army.

Well written, to the point (perhaps a little too much brevity in some areas, so the emotional punch was lost compared with some of his stories) and with his classic "older person" frame narrative used as a storytelling device. Lovely book.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely book of a lad's growing up and overcoming his bad reputation. A good man for a mentor and working with horses awaken his better self. A book of hope and second chances. Very encouraging. Wonderful illustration and a great section at the back to explain the facts behind the story. I would have loved this as a child. I really liked finding out about things in the books that I read that I didn't understand. This has these answers at the back of the book. The only thing I would have added would be a list of books to continue my exploration.

[Lottie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another wonderful - yet short book by Michael Morpurgo - I finished it in under 2-3 hours.

Still, it is an amazing book. It is about a man, who tells his story about from when he was a young boy. He was always in trouble at school. Things go from bad to worse - you'll have to read the book to find out.

I'm giving Not Bad for a Bad Lad 3/5, due to the shortness and I would of liked more detail.

~ Lottie

[Cams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this for my daughter and returned it after having read it because of the corporal punishment in it. I understand that it is historically correct, but I took the decision not to hold onto it as the choices for a replacement were wide and varied. I personally enjoyed the story and thought it a lovely book, but I chose Stig of the Dump in its stead.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The narrator is telling his life story to his grandson. He got into a lot of trouble as a boy and was always told that he was bad, so he eventually believed that was all he could be. After he was sent to a juvenile detention center, he is asked to take care of horses. Through the kindness of the caretaker, he turns his life around and becomes a mounted police officer.
Nice story, well written.

[Charlotte Eeles · Rating 5 out of 5]

As ever Michael Morpurgo is a literary genius. A brilliant tale of bad boy makes good, and with the most delightful illustrations. Makes a great change to read something light and feel good for a change.

[Tanja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story in the classical Michael Morpurgo style about a young lad who discovers (helped by a special human being and, of course, an animal) that he isn't as bad as everyone keeps telling him. Heart-warming and just my type of story.

[Janice]

I enjoyed this book so much I just had to sit and read it till I'd finished. Not a hard task as it's less than 100 pages. I found a beautifully illustrated gift edition at my local library which isn't on Goodreads list.