Not Bad For A Bad Lad

A Defiant Spirit in Rural England

Set against the windswept fields of post–World War I Somerset, Not Bad For A Bad Lad follows young Tommy Barton, a twelve-year-old with a reputation for mischief and a jaw perpetually set against authority. Branded “bad” by the stern headmaster and scorned by local farmers for his daring pranks, Tommy nonetheless harbors a fierce loyalty to those he cares for—and a secret passion for sketching the English countryside. Michael Morpurgo draws readers into Tommy’s world of broken fences, hidden hideaways, and midnight escapades, revealing that behind every defiant grin lies a heart capable of profound courage.

Wounds of War and the Burden of Loss

In the shadow of the Great War, Tommy’s family reels from loss: his elder brother, Private George Barton, never returned from the Somme, and his mother withdraws into silent grief. When Tommy stumbles upon George’s old sketchbook buried beneath floorboards, he becomes determined to honor his brother’s memory and mend his mother’s broken spirit. Alongside his best friend, Ellen Reed—a spirited girl with a voice like a church bell—Tommy sets out on a secret mission to restore the local war memorial’s weather-worn murals. As they gather materials and recruit reluctant townsfolk, the children learn that healing begins when one faces sorrow head-on.

Triumph of Friendship and Forgiveness

What begins as a youthful project blossoms into a community’s shared act of remembrance. Tommy’s pranks give way to purpose, and even the stern headmaster softens when he sees the boy’s unwavering devotion. Through stormy nights and unexpected setbacks—paint washed away by rain, tools stolen by pranksters turned allies—the children persevere. In the novel’s stirring climax, the restored murals gleam beneath the summer sun, and the people of Mapleton gather to witness a boy once deemed “bad” stand tall as a hero of hope.

Author’s Description

Michael Morpurgo is an award-winning author renowned for stories that blend adventure, history, and empathy. A former teacher, he brings deep compassion and vivid imagination to tales that inspire readers of all ages to believe in courage, community, and the redemptive power of creativity.