In Secret vs Private Peaceful: Which Should You Read?

Both live on shelves: World War I, World War, Fiction

In Secret Robert W. Chambers · 1919 ★★★★☆ 3.9 246 pages · ≈ 4 h 33 m · Challenging

The case in question concerned a letter in a yellow envelope, which was dumped along with other incoming mail upon one of the many long tables where hundreds of women and scores of men sat opening and reading thousands…

Classic Literature Thriller

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Private Peaceful Michael Morpurgo · 1962 ★★★★☆ 4.1 202 pages · ≈ 3 h 44 m · Light

When Thomas Peaceful's older brother is forced to join the British Army, Thomas decides to sign up as well, although he is only fourteen years old, to prove himself to his country, his family, his childhood love, Molly,…

1 film adaptation

People with mental disabilities Single-parent families Poverty Soldiers

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Side by side

The verdict

Readers rate Private Peaceful highest: Private Peaceful 4.1 · In Secret 3.9.
Private Peaceful has the widest readership — 32124 ratings behind its score.
Private Peaceful runs the darker storyline; In Secret stays the lighter read.

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How to choose

New to the genre? Private Peaceful Light vs Challenging for In Secret In the mood for something dark? Private Peaceful a darker storyline than In Secret Want something lighter? In Secret an easier tone than Private Peaceful

Scores by source

	In Secret	Private Peaceful
Goodreads	4.2 (11)	4.2 (32124)
Hardcover	—	4.1 (27)
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Reception

	In Secret	Private Peaceful
Ratings	11	32124
Editions	142	33
Film adaptations	1	1
Want to read	48	11873
Reading it now	—	767
Written reviews	11	2392
Wikipedia attention	95	1857
Pages	246	202
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Questions readers ask

Which is rated higher: In Secret or Private Peaceful?

Private Peaceful has the higher combined reader rating across sources (Private Peaceful 4.1/5, In Secret 3.9/5).

Which is shorter to read: In Secret or Private Peaceful?

Private Peaceful is the quickest read. Estimated at 225 words per minute: Private Peaceful (202 pages, ≈ 3 h 44 m); In Secret (246 pages, ≈ 4 h 33 m).

Which is harder to read: In Secret or Private Peaceful?

Estimated difficulty, based on era, reader shelves and length — In Secret: Challenging; Private Peaceful: Light.

Have both books been made into films?

In Secret: no film adaptation on record; Private Peaceful: 1 film adaptation.