In Michelle Magorians cute and heart warming novel “ Goodnight Mister Tom” the protagonist Willie experiences dramatic changes and exciting if not terrifying events throughout the course of the story. He discovers warmth and kindness unlike anything he has ever known. This love mainly comes from his adopted father Mister Tom and his friend Zach. Willie is overwhelmed at the diversity from his life in London. After being with them he becomes happier, healthier and learns to trust and feel secure in his new home, knowing that Mister Tom and his friends will always be there with him.
Willie experiences warmth and kindness right from when he arrives at Mister Tom’s house in Little Weirwold. When he meets Mister Tom he appears thinly clad, underfed and covered with painful bruises. He seems a quiet and timid creature living in a chasm of fear, believing he is full of sin. When he is first at Mister Tom’s Willie is desperate to behave well, terrified of beatings and punishment he thinks he will receive because of his ‘wickedness’. “‘I must be good,’ he whispered urgently. ‘I must be good.’ ”. Having seen Willies bruises and realising he came from an abusive home Mister Tom puts in great effort to give him a happy, healthy life. He acquires warm comfortable clothing for Willie, unlike his current threadbare garments and gives him nourishing food, such as specially cooked breakfasts and tea. He provides Willie with books and reads to him each night much to Willie’s enjoyment. Willie is disappointed to not be in the same class as his friends because he cannot read and write, he is humiliated by this, but Mister Tom helps him to learn and he improves and progresses greatly. Someone else who introduces Willie to love and friendship is Zach. In “Goodnight Mister Tom” Zach is the outgoing, flamboyant character. Upon their meeting Zach declares himself to be Willie’s friend. The two start to spend more and more time together. Zach provides Willie