Goodnight Mr Tom (Goodnight Mr Tom - Michelle Magorian)

Member Name: kelr101

Product:	Goodnight Mr Tom - Michelle Magorian
Date:	18/12/05 (5821 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Appeals to all ages, very well written, Emotional

Disadvantages: Tear-jerker

Goodnight, Mr Tom is a heart-warming tale of an evacuee, sent into the country from London, during the Second World War. The evacuee, William Beech, is a young boy who has been separated from his abusive mother, to live out the war in the country. He is “assigned” to Old Mr Tom Oakley, a hardened widower who lost his young wife and small son many years ago.

Mr Tom struggles to reach out to poor Willie, eventually realising that he is just a scared, lonely and abused little boy, who has never been taught to read and write. Together they journey through the tale, discovering hidden talents of Willie’s, accepting past memories and seeking out new friends. Alongside Mr Tom is Zach, another very important character of Good Night, Mr Tom. Another evacuee from London, Zach is a lively, optimistic and upbeat child. His parents are actors in a London theatre, resulting in Zach being a very cultured child.

Zach and Willie become firm friends, after helping Mr Tom to build a Bomb Shelter in his back yard. Although Willie is stunned at first, due to Zach’s generous nature and easy offering of friendship, they soon help each other to adjust to life, despite the obvious differences in their backgrounds and upbringing.

Along the journey Willie travels in Goodnight Mr Tom, he also has to see is best friend Zach being called back to London, after his parents are injured in a bombing attack. His positive outlook on life assures Willie that everything is going to be okay, and he’ll be back before you know it. Unfortunately this is not to be. Within a few days Willie is stunned by some dreadful news, which affects the local residents of the country village and leaves his distraught.

Soon after, young Willie is also called back to London. His mother is unwell and asks him to come and look after her. As his experiences have helped him grow up, and become a stronger person, Willie believes his mother has changed so goes back to London to see her, leaving Mr Tom with a gaping absence and unease around him.



I first read Goodnight Mr Tom when I was at Primary school, and the heartbreaking story of William Beech has stayed with me through my teenage years and young adult hood. Michelle Magorian’s expert storytelling never left me, and it was only during the last couple of years that I was able to re-experience the wonders of this tale.

Through-out the entire tale of Good Night, Mr Tom the characters are well introduced and expertly placed throughout the story. I was always amused by the gruff Mr Tom, and was waiting for his character to develop in order to protect and nurture young Willie. I thoroughly enjoyed their tale of trust and commitment as both central characters learnt to live life with trust again, and made attempts to heal their past hurts…although sadly not all hurts could be dealt with so easily.

Zach was a huge part of my enjoyment of this book, and I often found myself laughing out loud at some of his antics. His brotherly protection of Willie makes him a true friend, and it pleased me to see the budding relationship these two youngsters, from completely different backgrounds had been able to build.

There are however, some very poignant and sad moments in this book, and you will find yourself reaching for the tissues as Willie has to endure some extremely difficult times.

Their tales make you laugh and cry, a feat so few authors are able to do. The experiences of Willie, Zach, Mr Tom and their many other friends became a part of you, and you never want the book to end. Although this book is aimed at older children and young teenagers, the book is widely appealing to people off all ages, and I still re-read the tale every couple of years. To me this book is indeed a very special book.




Good Night Mr Tom is published by Penguin books (ISBN: 0140315411) and is available from all good bookshops.

Summary: A loves and losses of an evacuees tale