Book info

• Title Goodnight Mister Tom
• Author Michelle Magorian
• Year 1981
• Genre Historical

Britain, 1940. With World War Two raging all around, young children are being sent from their homes in the city to the countryside for safety. When eight-year-old Willie Beech first arrives on Tom Oakley's doorstep, neither are quite sure what to make of each another. Brought up in terrible poverty, Willie is terribly shy, and totally unprepared for village life - but the gruff-but-gentle 'Mister Tom' quickly takes him under his wing. Neither he nor Willie could ever have predicted the journey they will go on together - nor the unbreakable bond that will be formed.

Thoughts

Really enjoyed this one. I didn’t really know the story at all well, although have vague images in my head of the TV adaptation. I thought the gruff old man was going to be more scary but actually he was an absolute darling.

What was scary was the level of child abuse that was detailed in the story. I couldn’t quite believe parts of it, but it was such a great journey seeing Willie become Will and be brought out of his shell.

The characters were really well done, interesting and insular, kind and also wary. The details about the incoming war, particularly that the villagers didn’t see it affecting them to start with, and gradually coming to terms with the bigger world events.

I can see myself reading this one again at some point in the future.

Rating: 5 / 5