Good Night, Mr. Tom

A powerfully emotional award-winning novel about the ways we save each other.

London is poised on the brink of World War II. Eight-year-old Willie Beech is evacuated to the English countryside and lands on Thomas Oakley’s doorstep, timid and scarred from abuse. Mr. Tom, a gruff but kindly old man, is deeply moved for the boy, treating him with a gentleness he’s forgotten he’s even capable of. With Mr. Tom’s help, Willie forgets his hateful past and learns to love a world he never knew existed, a world of friendship and affection and joy.

But then a telegram comes, and Willie is ordered to return to London. When weeks pass without word from him, Mr. Tom sets out for London to once again rescue the boy he’s come to love as a son.

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Published Dec 3, 1986

384 pages

Average rating: 7.31

13 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Ryannicholls
Jun 10, 2024
Beautiful book!
Mara M. Zonderman
Aug 01, 2023
8/10 stars
In this book, Michelle Magorian has written what is essentially a very sweet story of an abused boy (William) who finds love and happiness. But while most of the book is taken up with William's recovery (both mental and physical), Magorian is not afraid to show us what happened to him. It is a true mark of her skill as a writer that our brief glimpse into this darker side of the story is done with a very light touch, making it completely believable, but not at all overwhelming. Readers of all ages will be moved.
Tia Maria
Jun 19, 2022
10/10 stars
Trigger warning: extreme emotional and physical child abuse, child death If you enjoyed 'The War That Saved My Life' and its sequel, this is very similar. An abuse victim is evacuated from London to a rural village. He is placed with a stolid, middle aged man that has been living on his own for the last 40 years after loss of his wife and son. The new housemates begin to heal under the influence of the other's love. I will definitely reread this heart warming story of hope and redemption.

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