GOODNIGHT MISTER TOM
MICHELLE MAGORIAN
I first came across the book 'Goodnight Mr Tom' when my daughter (now in her thirties) read it in her final year at primary school as part of a project on the Second World War.
I have always made it a rule to read any of the books my kids were ... Read review
The gruff and surly Mr Thomas Oakley is less than pleased when he is landed with a scrawny ... more
little city boy as a guest, but because it is compulsory that each villager takes in an evacuee he reluctantly agrees. It soon becomesobvious to Mister Tom that...
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The gruff and surly Mr Thomas Oakley is less than pleased when he is landed with a ... more
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, Magorian's 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
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Advantages: A really lovely book for ALL ages!! Disadvantages: None
== GOODNIGHT MISTER TOM ==
=== MICHELLE MAGORIAN ===
I first came across the book 'Goodnight Mr Tom' when my daughter (now in her thirties) read it in her final year at primary school as part of a project on the Second World War.
I have always made it a rule to read any of the books my kids were studying so that I could discuss it with them, and I remember being very touched by this lovely story.
I have ... ...The Carnegie Medal 1982 for Goodnight Mister Tom
The Guardian Fiction Award 1982 for Goodnight Mister Tom
International Reading Association Award 1982 for Goodnight Mister Tom
Runner-up for The Young Observer Prize 1982 for Goodnight Mister Tom
Western Australian Young Readers Book Award 1982 for Goodnight Mister Tom
American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults 1984 for Back Home
Western ... more
GOODNIGHT MISTER TOM
MICHELLE MAGORIAN
I first came across the book 'Goodnight Mr Tom' when my daughter (now in her thirties) read it in her final year at primary school as part of a project on the Second World War. I have always made it a rule to read any of the books my kids were studying so that I could discuss it with them, and I remember being very touched by this lovely story. I have read the book since and still enjoy it; I think it is just as suitable for adults as well as children. The television adaption with John Thaw in the late 90's was also very good, and is available on DVD.. The book was written by Michelle Magorian, and published in 1981. 'Goodnight Mr Tom' comes from one child's point of view, a thin young boy named William. His mother calls him Willie, but his new carer, Mr. Tom Oakley, chooses to call him the more imposing name of Will.
On the brink of declaring war on Hitler's Germany, and in anticipation of the bombings, British children were evacuated from the major cities into the countryside. Not everybody had a good time as an evacuee, but for nine-year-old William Beech, suddenly transferred from a deprived London background into the heart of the country at the little village of Weirwold, it changed his life forever, and for the better. Will is dumped on grumpy old Tom Oakley, a sharp-tongued widower. who has been reclusive since his wife died during childbirth. Tom is horrified when he unpacks the brown paper carrier bag that Willie has brought with him from his abusive, unforgiving London home. Will has brought no warm, spare clothes, toys or photos. All he has is an old Bible and a leather belt for his new carer to beat him with. Will is obviously used to being beaten - he is covered in bruises and bleeding sores. He is so emaciated he can't keep a proper meal down, he wets the bed, he can't read or write, and his nervousness is demonstrated in the way that he shivers and trembles a lot. Life though is going to change for this poor little boy, Mr Tom does not punish Will as his mother did. Even though Will still wets the bed, Mr. Tom does not shout at him, he simply tells Will how, when his new dog came home for the first time, he had trouble controlling his bladder. Under this loving care, Will grows and blossoms, discovering talents that had been held back by his home life. Both Will and Mr Tom learn to love and to trust and together they rediscover love and enter a relationship that is both rich and worthwhile.
Michelle Magorian skilfully develops the relationship between nine year old Will and the reserved widower, Tom to give us a gratifying story of a true friendship. This friendship not only improves Will's physical well being, but also his emotional well being. In fact, not only does Will undergo a powerful change in this book, but so also does Mr. Tom. The raw pain of this loss of his wife and child has never left the old man, who turned sour because of it. When Will arrives, Mr. Tom immediately demonstrates his kind nature by acquiring good, warm clothing and good, hearty food. He goes out of his way to help along Will's education. He suddenly acquires new respect in the village, as well as new friends. Finally, he overcomes a major obstacle, going into an art store. He would never do this, because his late wife was a painter and the art store produced too many bad memories. For Will's sake, he enters the store and purchases paints and brushes. Then a telegram comes. Willie must return to his mother in London. When weeks pass by with no word from Willie, Mr. Tom sets out for London to look for the young boy he has come to love as a son.
This is a powerful, poignant book and it is impossible not to love it. At times Willie's suffering was so sad it was difficult to continue reading. Especially when Tom goes to London in search of Willie and discovers the shocking truth of Willie's home life.
The characters are well introduced and expertly placed throughout the story, their stories make you laugh and cry. The experiences of Will, Zach, Mr Tom and their many other friends became your friends, and you never want the book to end. The descriptions of the little village of Weirwold and the people who live their are lovely and a sharp contrast to the life that Will has left behind and has to return to in London. As well as being a poignant and very readable book it is also very helpful with being to explain to children some of the aspects of living through the Second World War, especially for children.
I would say that this book is not suitable for children under ten and although this book is aimed at older children and young teenagers, it is widely appealing to people off all ages, and I still re-read the tale every couple of years, and if you haven't read it I would REALLY recommend it.
AWARDS FOR 'GOODNIGHT MR TOM'
BOOK AWARDS Highly Commended, The Carnegie Medal 1982 for Goodnight Mister Tom The Guardian Fiction Award 1982 for Goodnight Mister Tom International Reading Association Award 1982 for Goodnight Mister Tom Runner-up for The Young Observer Prize 1982 for Goodnight Mister Tom Western Australian Young Readers Book Award 1982 for Goodnight Mister Tom American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults 1984 for Back Home Western Australian Young Readers Book Award 1984 for Back Home TV AWARDS National TV Awards 1999: Best Drama for Goodnight Mister Tom BAFTA 1999: Lew Grade Award for Most Popular Television Programme of 1998 for Goodnight Mister Tom Television & Radio Industries Club Award 1999: Best ITV/Channel 5 Programme of 1998 for Goodnight Mister Tom
BOOK DETAILS
Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Penguin; New Ed edition (12 Sep 2003) Language English ISBN-10: 0140315411 ISBN-13: 978-0140315417 Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 12.8 x 2.2 cm
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Summary: Are you still here, how come you're not reading "Goodnight Mr Tom" ?
Advantages: Moving, a children's novel with depth and warmth Disadvantages: Some serious subject matter - be wary for younger readers
...term he and I read Goodnight Mister Tom together in support of the WW2 syllabus subject that they were following. I found that what is essentially a children's novel (in the vein of The Railway Children and The Chronicles of Narnia) and which appears on the school syllabus, had both the depth and gravity of a novel aimed at adults, whilst remaining accessible to the younger reader. To be frank, I was surprised at how moved I was when reading it.
... ...it is genuinely moving.
Goodnight Mister Tom did win awards, the Guardian Children's Award (1982) for one, and understandably. I can see why it would also appear on the school curriculum. It paints quite clearly what day to day life (in the country) was like during this period, from the clothes, to school life, to air raid shelters, to the food and how it was prepared. From this point of view it is a helpful text to support learning about the life ...
sonic0209 30.12.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Goodnight Mister Tom - Michelle Magorian
I read this book when I was 12 and regard it as one of my favourite childhood books. It is an incredibly touching story, set during World War II.
William Beech is an 8 year old boy who is evacuated from London because of the bombings and he is sent to safety in the countryside. He is taken in (reluctantly) by Tom Oakley, a grumpy widower.
It soon becomes clear that William has been cruelly treated by his mother. She regularly beats him and sends ... ...is staying with can also beat him. However, Tom refuses to use it.
William is a weedy boy, who looks sickly and ill. He is clearly frightened and distressed and thinks that Tom will beat him like his mother does. He frequently wets the bed, but Tom is very understanding, and as William becomes more comfortable and happy, the bed wetting stops.
William goes to school but cannot read or write. With tuition from "Mr. Tom" he flourishes. He also has ...
VerySpecialOne 08.03.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Goodnight Mister Tom - Michelle Magorian
Advantages: Emotional. Gripping. Addictive. Disadvantages: None at all.
Goodnight Mr. Tom is a wonderful tale of emotions concerning a small, meek evacuee (William Beech) drafted into the country from London in World War II and the impact he has on a gruff, unsocialable old country man. (Thomas Oakley) The tale develops beautifully, showing how William gradually adapts to life in the country, and life in general. At 8 years old, his gruff supervisor soon warms to the new child in his life, bringing back past memories ... ...the terrified boy suggest to him that something is badly wrong, and after a wonderful few months for William, the suspicions are raised again, when William's mother summons him back to London. Magorian develops the emotions and love between characters very well, shown by William's precious friendships, his reaction to a terrible piece of bad news, and most touching, how he and 'Mr. Tom' develop a bond that cannot be separated. Could it be this that ...
KRMkD 29.05.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Goodnight Mister Tom - Michelle Magorian
Advantages: Heart Warming, Emotional, Suitable for all Ages Disadvantages: None
...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 ... ...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 ...
kelr101 27.04.2004 (18.12.2005)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Goodnight Mister Tom - Michelle Magorian
Advantages: Great story and characters Disadvantages: No wizards, so you might have to persude non-bookish kids to read it
I bought this book for my godson as an Xmas present recently, I had been itching to do so as soon as I thought he would be able to read it. This was my absolute favourite book as a child.
The storyline is set in the early years of the Second World War, and the main character is an evacuee to the countryside. This aspect of the Second World War always interests children as it is about them. The main character, William, is an abused and undernourished ... ...insane mother. He finds himself in the care of Thomas Oakley, a retired country man who has led a secluded and reclusive life since his wife and son died in childbirth. William makes his first ever friends in the country, and forms a very strong relationship with a Jewish boy of the same age called Zach.
William, with the help of everyone in the village, especially Tom and Zach, blossoms and discovers a talent for art, quickly catching up educationally ...
anaglypta 14.02.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Goodnight Mister Tom - Michelle Magorian
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Advantages: a romantic chick lit. perfect for time out to lose yourself with this plot Disadvantages: You can sense what is about to happen/ will happen at times
As author of goodnightmistertom, while browsing my library shelves the other week, I came across this book, and as soon as the cover said MichelleMagorian, I was intrigued. If any of you have ever seen goodnightmistertom, or have read it then it is a brilliant book, and I had to study it for our year nine essay. I thoroughly enjoyed the book at the time, and thought that Michelle was a fab author. When I found that this book was all about falling in love, and aimed towards young adults to read, I was straight in there. As many of you know, I am a fan of chick literature and enjoy this kind of book. If you don't like this genre of book, I warn you to read no further. Otherwise carry on and read a review on a brilliant book.
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Product Information for "Goodnight Mister Tom - Michelle Magorian" »
Product details
Type
Fiction
Genre
Children's
Title
Goodnight Mister Tom
Author
Michelle Magorian
ISBN
0141301449; 0141381833; 0708943772; 0722657013
Manufacturer's 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. This title is winner of the Guardian Children's Fiction Award.
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