Product Description

Young Willie Beech is evacuated to the country as Britain stands on the brink of WW2. A sad, deprived child, he slowly begins to flourish under the care of old Tom Oakley - but his new-found happiness is shattered by a summons from his mother back in London... The TV film starred John Thaw. Winner of the Guardian Children's Fiction Award.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10371 in Books
• Published on: 1998-10-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
The gruff and surly Mr Thomas Oakley is less than pleased when he is landed with a scrawny little city boy as a guest, but because it is compulsory that each villager takes in an evacuee he reluctantly agrees. It soon becomes obvious to Mister Tom that young Willie Beech is hiding something, and as the pair begin to form an unlikely bond and Willie grows in stature and in confidence he begins to forget the past. But when he has to return to war-torn London to face his mother again he retreats into his shy and awkward ways once more.

Goodnight Mister Tom is one of the most touching and powerful stories ever written. As the relationship between Willie and Tom begins to transform them both, Magorian¹s powerful yet gentle writing tugs at the heart, taking the reader on an incredibly emotional journey that never once stoops to unnecessary sentimentality. --Susan Harrison

About the Author
Michelle Magorian was born in Portsmouth and on leaving school studied at the Rose Bruford College of speech and Drama and Marcel Marceau's International School of Mime in Paris. Over the years she became interested in children's books and decided to write one herself. The result was Goodnight Mister Tom, which won the Guardian Children's Fiction Award, an International Reading Association Award and was also made into a much-loved film.

Customer Reviews

To be read again and again
I first began to read this book as a 12-year-old, and never stopped. I still bring it everywhere, although in my twenties I am much above the target audience. It is a deeply moving story, about the experiences of an abused and neglected child who finds himself sent to the countryside during the war. While the story has some tragic moments, the courage and positive spirit of the characters stops it from being depressing. I feel that every child or teenager should have this book in their cupboard.

Excellent book with some powerful truths.
I just finished reading this book aloud with my soon-to-be 12 year old son. We both enjoyed it very much. It was a descriptive book with some emotional issues that are heart-wrenching. The author does a good job of conveying what life is like for a young boy during a time of war. The boy comes to know the true meaning of friendship, trust and love - though has to survive some of the most horrible situations imaginable. Every child should be so lucky as to have a Mr. Tom - as he is a true hero. This is a strong book and although it appears to be a children's book - I suggest that an adult read the book with the younger readers as some of the events are quite disturbing. I am glad to have read it with my son - I know that he enjoyed the book - and I did as well.

Good-night Mr Tom
Touching, emotional and inspiring, Michelle Magorian has written a novel for all. Although this is not a childrens' book, it is an excellent read for teenagers who will find the sometimes difficult topics easier to understand than younger readers.

Willie Beech, a troubled London evacuee, is deposited at Tom Oakley's doorstep and he has no choice but to take Willie in. After six months a remarkable bond has formed but then Willie's pious and abusive mother demands that he returns to London where he is abused and maltreated. Tom rescues him and takes him home to the village and their relationship continues until it becomes like father and son.

Many teenagers do not like war books, especially girls, as they find them boring or too melancholy. This book is uplifting and Magorian conveys the emotions and thoughts of the characters very well so that they really come across to the reader.

This book has seem a surge in popularity since the recent TV production and it deserves all it can get as it is an excellent novel although the situation is sometimes not as real as it could be. An excellent read.