Introduction

A Book Report about Out of the Ashes Author: Michael Morpurgo Nelleke 6CB 21/09/2001

Subject
Foot and mouth disease breaks out on a pig farm hundreds of miles away from Becky Morley's home. The disease spreads around and keeps on getting closer and closer to their farm. Eventually the foot and mouth disease hits their farm and all the animals with hooves need to be killed.

Setting
The story takes place in Devon (England) in 2001.

Main Characters
Becky Morley: She is a really social and caring person. She really cares for her family and their farm. Becky and mom don't always get along so well. Dad: Dad is a very hard working man. His job is to make Gloucester cheese. He becomes very depressed when the foot and mouth disease hits his farm. Mom: She is a very strong person and she is always trying to keep the family well together.

Farm animals
On the farm dad had 25 Gloucester cows, 3 families of pigs and 150 sheep. Dad takes care of most of the animals on the farm but Becky also has some animals like a horse and some sheep.

Plot
Farm animals in the north have foot and mouth disease The disease keeps on getting closer and closer. When it hits Becky Morleys farm, all the hooved animals have to be killed. In the end, the barn gets tidied up and the Morleys start a new flock.

Turning Point
All of the Morleys farm animals with hooves get the foot and mouth disease; the animals have to be killed. In the end they start with a new flock. Becky thought that she was the one that brought the disease to the farm, but later her father explained that it could be spreaded in more than 100 ways. Then Becky felt relieved.

Your Thoughts
I really liked this book because it is very realistic. I learned that foot and mouth disease is a disease that cant be stopped and that it is very bad for your farm to get that because you need the animals for living.