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cupofbooksreviews's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House who are publishing a special 40th anniversary edition. I have given Goodnight Mister Tom by Michele Magorian five out of five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I have to admit I was surprised that I had never read this book before; this would’ve definitely been a book I would’ve loved when I enjoyed reading Michael Morpurgo. However, I’m so glad I finally picked it up because this book absolutely ruined me and is a new found favourite!
This is an incredibly emotional, touching and hopeful story based around WWII and evacuees. One evacuee in particular, Willie Beech. When we first meet Willie, he’s a frightened and traumatised boy who has been abused and neglected by his mother. That is until he moves to Little Weirwold and meets Tom Oakley, a grumpy man who keeps to himself. As they become acquainted with one another, the friendship, love and happiness that starts to blossom between the two is unmatched. I found myself smiling, tearing up and in awe at this book.
We’re introduced to more evacuated children in the town who also become a special part of Willie’s life and my life too. This book is beautifully written; from the atmospheric descriptions to the accented language in which they speak in Little Weirwold. The best way I can describe Goodnight Mister Tom is with an oxymoron: an uplifting tearjerker.
I definitely want to watch the movie adaptation to Goodnight Mister Tom in the near future as I’ve heard lots of wonderful things about it although I expect I’ll bawl my eyes out more at an adaptation. I would recommend this book to absolutely everyone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Confinement, Death, and Excrement
Moderate: War and Antisemitism
Minor: Suicide
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