Good Night Mr Tom By Michelle Magorian

The world as people knew it before the Second World War was drastically different. People were forced to move from their homes, and most children were forced to move far away from their family and friends. In Good Night Mr. Tom, Michelle Magorian tells a story of a young boy, Willie, who is stripped from his home in London. Willie is forced to move in with Mr. Tom, an angry man who lives in the country. Soon after arriving, Willie and Mr. Tom hit it off but Willie is called back to London and Mr. Tom has to set off to rescue him. The two main themes of the book are “everyone has talent” and “everything has its own time.” “Everyone has talent” is brought up often in Good Night Mr. Tom. In the story Willie and the people he meets, in Little Weirwold are faced with many challenges, one of which is trying to
Zach had just died and Willie had been havening a tough time coping with the grief. “As he rode, his coat flapping behind him, the crisp wind cooling his face, he suddenly felt that Zach was no longer beside him, he was inside him and very much alive.” (304). This explains the theme perfectly, showing how Willie did not think he would ever accept Zach’s not being there, but that with reflection and time, he did. Another example is when Willie, after some time, finally built up enough courage to visit Mrs. Hartridge and her newborn, Peggy. Willie had been putting off seeing the baby due to the earlier loss of his own young sister, in London, for which he blamed himself. Willie and Mr. Tom were walking home from the visit when Willie felt lighter. After seeing Mrs. Hartridge breastfeed Peggy, he knew, no matter how hard he tried, could not have provide the nutrients that his sister needed to survive (250-254). This example in the book shows that Willie, given some time, saw his innocence in the morbid death of his