Mr. Tom: He is a bit gruff, but caring in the end. He is mostly a loner but opens his heart, when Willie arrives.
William Beech: Scared, abused child who comes to stay with Mr. Tom during the war and later finds out the true feeling of family. Afraid of the belt.
George: A friend of Will's at Little Weirwold.
Carrie: A friend of Willie, who is fiercely independent and later goes on to attend high school.
Zack: An outgoing, funloving boy who is also an evacuee from London staying with a Little Wierwold family. A loyal friend who helps William come out of his shell.
Ginnie: Carrie's sister.
Annie Hartridge: The beautiful and kind schoolteacher with violet blue eyes and a single long blonde braid. Has a baby, just after Willie starts in her class.
Mrs. Fletcher: Caretaker for Mr Tom's house.
Geoffrey: An artist living in Spooky Cott after his time at Dunkirk. Recognizes Willie's drawing talent and becomes his art mentor.
Emilia Thorne: William's second teacher. Later develops a relationship with Geoffrey.
Mrs. Clarence: A middle-aged woman living in Salmouth, who takes Mr Tom, Willie and Zach in for their holidays.
Dobbs: Mr. Tom's horse.
Rachel: Mr. Tom's wife who died shortly after childbirth. After her death, Mr. Tom shut himself away from anyone who reminded him about her.
Mrs. Black
Mr. Bush
Nance
Mrs. Miller
Mr. Peters
Christine
Trudy: Mrs. Beech's surprise baby. Later dies of mistreatment and malnutrition.
Charlie Rudd: A local warden of Deptford. Shows Mr Tom Willie's house and assists in the rescue.
Setting
England
Little Weirwold: The village Willie is evacuated to.
Deptford: Willie's home town. Mr. Oakley later travels there.
Expressions
Wizzo: Expression akin to "Neato!" or "Great!"
Calloo Callay: Originally from Lewis Carroll's "Jabberwockey," Calloo Callay is an expression of joy and excitement.
Theme
Power of Love
Summary
Abused boy goes to live