Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian is set in the time of the Second World War in a small village just outside London called Little Wierwold and tells the story of eight-year-old evacuee, William Beech. A Londoner brought up by his over-religious mother who frequently beat him for not doing as he was told. He had no father and no brothers or sisters. I think he must have been very lonely, as the book doesn't mention him having any friends. Willie was evacuated to the country and brought to live with a grumpy old man named Mr. Oakley, who Willie calls "Mister Tom". He soon realizes though, that Mister Tom is a fair, caring man whose wife and son died years before. 'Goodnight Mister Tom' is one of the most touching books I have read.
Mr Tom was the kind of person that liked to keep himself to himself before Willie arrived.
English: photo of willie moore
Little_Willie_early_design
"Big" Willie CollumHe didn't socialise much or take part in anything. I really like Tom's personality because it turned out to be so much different to what I first expected. Tom is not pleased when he is landed with the scrawny, ill looking little city boy but because it is compulsory that every villager must take an evacuee he reluctantly agrees to take Willie. At first I just thought it was going to be about the war and fighting but then I found it wasn't, it was about growing up and changes and all sorts of things, some of them I found quite disturbing.
William had leaded a very miserable life with a cruel, sick mother and no father. When he arrives at Mister Tom's house, Tom discovers Willie is obviously used to being beaten - he is covered in bruises and bleeding sores. He is so malnourished...