To avoid a gang of bullies during the summer holidays, 12-year-old Elsie eagerly accepts a role in a play at the local theatre. One thing I distinctly noticed was how groundbreaking this book must’ve been when it was first published 40 years ago.

I thought by the title and the cover that this would be a simple little tale, but it was actually very harrowing! In September 1939, the United Kingdom declares war on Nazi Germany, and children are evacuated from London to the countryside for their safety. Beech seems better after suffering a mental breakdown, but when Willie presents her with gifts that the locals from Little Weirwold had given him, and tells her about some of his friends, she accuses him of stealing and is angry he had been interacting with girls and Jews.Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article.

Tom breaks the rules of the hospital by kidnapping Willie because his moral sense, personified through his wife, tells him to do so.

He had such a transformation in character that it was great to see how he gradually picked up the town accent and Zach’s phrases and smiled more. It was wonderful to see him grow in this coming of age story and his relationship with both Mister Tom and Zack were very genuine and sweet.

I think Willie was very cute, but he was treated very badly with his mum whereas Tom Oakley loved him and looked after him well. Ms Magorian’s writing feels so comfortable to me; it’s simple and gentle but never ventures into twee-ness (twee-dom? The story is fictional but also educational, I even learnt new things about what happened during the war. Will does not deal well with his loss, avoiding every place that reminds him of Zach and finding himself unable to paint because he feels empty inside. According to CCSU some runners up through 2002 were Commended (from 1955) or Highly Commended (from 1966).What I did learn from this novel is that the countryside is so much more superior than the city, but for the stupidest reason in the world. Tom is deeply fond of Willie from the outset, but loathes to admit that he loves the boy as it is a vulnerable position for him. Ah, Mister Tom, if only that were so easy for you to convince yourself with just words, because the moment eight-year-old evacuee, Willie, comes to stay at his home in Little Weirwold, Goodnight Mister Tom beautifully shows just how difficult it is for us to follow through on our own constituents.