Rating: 
Summary: Very Deep... a true heartache
Review: The book Good Night Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian, was a book I extremely enjoyed reading. When I first looked at the title, I wasn't too attracted to reading the book but once I caught the basic idea on what it was about on the inside, I was eager to read it. I'm glad I did, because this book is one of the most heartbreaking stories I have read. The story starts out very nicely, introducing the main character, William aka Willie aka Will. Unlike some books, the beginning of the story catches your attention and does throughout the whole book. The sad part is, Will is an evacuee and constantly gets seriously abused by his mother. With no father to help him out and his mother not willing to take him during a war, Will is sent house after house with other children to be accepted somewhere else. Will's mother is a religious type but takes everything to another dangerous and extreme level that hurts herself as well as her son. Will is very lucky and ends up in a small town named Little Weirwold with Thomas Oakley, or whom Will learned to call, Mister Tom. Hardened by the loss of his son and wife, he gradually starts to accept Will and in a way, takes him in as his own son. After making friends, discovering talents, creating memories and going on wild adventures, he slowly regains the childhood that he missed. Learning that his before life was not suppose to be, Will is reluctant to return to his mother because she is "sick." The rest of the story is something you need to find out yourself. Even I cannot express the joy and sorrows with reading this heart touching story. Only the readers can feel this by encountering it for themselves. The reason this book received the rating it did is because it was so nicely put together, it makes the reader see the innocence of Will when it's such a heart break just to see him learning new things that are common to us. Michelle Magorian also brought out the infinite patience and love of Mister Tom. This made the story even more special because of the hero role he plays to Will. Another reason is because she makes the conclusion and ending worthwhile the read. It was as if the only reason I was reading the book was to get to the end. The final important reason was because the whole book was exciting. I cannot remember one moment in the book where I wanted to stop. The experiences little William became a part of me and I wanted to encourage this character as he went struggling through his rough life. Overall, this book was very satisfying. I hope to read more books like this in the future... a true heartache. (Very special book)
Rating:
Summary: "Good Night, Mr. Tom"
Review: In Michelle Magorian's novel Good Night, Mr. Tom, she brilliantly illustrates the hardships of a young child growing up post World War II after having being abused and abandoned by his mother, the one person who was truly supposed to love him. After being shipped from London to the English countryside to live with Mr. Tom, Willie has to adjust to living in a world he never knew existed. A world in which love, affection and friendships flourish. Magorian uses what she knows to set the plot, being that she was born and raised mostly in England. Her parents met each other during the World War II and perhaps she was reflecting on her own issues because as a child she lived a couple of years in Singapore and Australia. She eventually came back to England when she was 9 years old, but had already been moved around a lot, as did the main character in the book. The New Yorker called Magorian's novel "An engrossing and poignant story, with much sunlight to balance the darkness." Jim Trelease from The Read-Aloud Handbook said it was "powerful." And that, it is.
Rating:
Summary: An Empowering Story
Review: This book has the power to make you laugh, cry, and want to sing. It is a story of a young boy learning how to live life with joy and without fear, and an old man remembering how to live life. This book is like a dear friend to me. When every I am unhappy I come and read this story, and I feel that my passion for life is renewed. An excellent book for people of all ages.
Rating:
Summary: Good Night, Mr. Tom
Review: "Good Night, Mr. Tom",is an excellent historical novel, by Michelle Magorian, set in World War II. This is a wonderful and touching story, about a small boy, named Willie Beech, who is evacuated from London to live in Little Weirwold with a complete stranger, Mr. Thomas Oakley. Tom is an old man, not used to children (he had a baby bay that died, but that was his only child), but he is kind to Willie. Willie is a deprived and abused child, and he is afraid of everything, because he wasn't let outside much in his earlier life. Slowly, Willie starts to think on his own, and he forgets the hate and despair of his past. Tom comes to love Willie like a son. Then a telegram comes, and Willie must return to his abusive mother in London, but weeks pass and Willie doesn't come back, so Mr. Tom goes to London to try to find the boy he has come to love so much. I would recommend this book to anyone young or old wo wants to read an excellent book. I hope all who read this book enjoy it as much as I did.
Rating:
Summary: The Most Saddest And Greatest Book I've Ever Read
Review: This book made me cry. Will's mother was the most horrible person i've ever heard of. I think that it was a good thing Tom did take him from the hospital. This book touched me and if you read it, it will probably touch you. This book is at a great price. Michelle Magorian did a wonderful job.
Rating: 
Summary: A Father is Born
Review: Set in pre WW2 Britain this award-winning novel describes
the birth and growing pains of affection between two strangers, joined by the bizarre circumstances of war. Eight-year-old Willie Beech is one of many London kids sent to the country for safety in the late 30's. Recognizing their children as the country's most precious assets, London parents reluctantly
sacrifice the presence of their offspring by entrusting them to the care of country folk. Paired with Tom Oakley, the crusty recluse who lives next door to the church, the lad arrives terrified of everything: the friendly dog, asking questions,
even of smiling. Expecting nothing, he dares not hope to be recognized as a human being. Not that he has had anything to smile abobut in his miserable years alone with a mentally- disturbed, abusive mother. Mr. Tom, as the boy calls him, quickly realizes that the boy is in desperate need of healing: for his tortured body, his twisted mind and his lonely young heart. As the dour man cares for the sick child (malnutrition, bedwetting, nightmares) he develops an unspoken but deep fondess for the unloved and friendless boy. Compassion for Willie brings out Tom's long-buried tenderness. It takes many months for Willie's true self to emerge: good country air, tender care of his battered body, cultivation of his active mind, and the boon of natural socialization with his peers. Gradually sloughing off his urban shell of fear, Willie makes his first friends, learns to read and write, and then discovers his natural talent as an artist. But these evacuees are only temporary residents of Little Weirwold; we realize that eventual separation and future heartbreak are inevitable. What happens when their rightful parents reclaim these kids? This is a heartwarming tale of the transformation of a rejected weakling into a healthy, lively and accepted member of a generous country village. It is also a story of gradual healing and rejoining of the human race by Mr. Tom, the embittered host--who never came to terms with the death of his young wife and infant decades earlier. We learn many details of Britain's preparation for war and the blitz. But this story is really about the value of human relationships. Two separate entities can become a self-contained family unit, but will the authorities permit the boy to stay with the older man, who is no blood kin? Magorian provides touching insight into the mysteries of friendship and the nature of grief, as one abused little boy takes the country cure. GOOD NIGHT MR. TOM presents readers with an historical setting for contemporary understanding of child abuse issues.
Rating:
Summary: Good Night, Mr.Tom Review
Review: Goodnight, Mr. Tom is a charming, yet saddening book. The book is about a boy named Will trying to survive as an evacuee in World War II. An ornery old man named Tom chooses to house and feed Will. Throughout the course of the story, Will and Tom become closer and closer until Will is then sent home to his mother. Tom instinctively follows and rescues the boy so they can live together in peace.
I loved this book for many reasons. One reason was the way that Will, a small boy, brings back the memories of Tom's wife to Tom. This I like because in the beginning Tom thought that Will would be a burden, but near the end, Tom was starting to love the boy. With every new day, Tom was being relieved of the sadness of his wife's death. When Tom visited the paint shop, he felt happy, not sad, about remembering his wife Rachel. Another reason why I liked this book was the way the author describes the relationships in the story. I knew what each relationship was like with each passing page. Many times throughout the story, descriptions were added explaining the tight relationships of each and every one of the characters.
Lastly, this book gave me mixed emotions. Sometimes it was very gloomy and sometimes it was joyful. When Will was told that his best friend had experienced a tragedy, it was a like you were actually there experiencing the pain along with him. Also, when Carrie was admitted into high school, I was like "Oh Yeah!" It kept me emotionally involved with the story.
This book was extremely good reading, and on a scale from 1 to 10, I would give it a high 9. I recommend that any person able to read it should give it a go. Reviewed by a Cincinnati reader
Rating:
Summary: 6th grade student
Review: Good Night, Mr. Tom is a suspenseful book that will melt your heart. It is set when London is on the verge of joining World War II. Willie is an evacuee from a poor part of the city whose mother is abusive. Mr. Tom is an old man who has shut himself out and only goes out for shopping, etc. Tom is chosen to house Will while the war is going on.
The first reason I love this book is how well developed the characters are. They all have there own adventures and lives. You really get to know them and understand their parts. Good job to Michelle Magian, the author. This excellent novel is about friends, moving on, and discovering yourself. I would recommend it to anyone, of all ages and backgrounds, who likes to be pulled right into a book and never put it down.
Rating:
Summary: Good night mr tom
Review: Good night Mr. Tom was a great novel and added modern problems and hard ships in with ww2. Williams mother have caused all these problems by all hard ships and stress she has incured. The loss of her husband may of influeced her actions
Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: Goodnight Mr Tom is a great book writen be Michelle Magorian.
It was set during the Second World War when England was being attacked by Germany. The book was based on a little boy who lived with his mother and they were very poor. His name is William Beach. When he was 8 years-old he was sent to little Weiwold, a small town in the country as an evacuee. He was given to Mr Tom who was a grumpy old man aged in his 60's to be taken care of. While he stayed there he made alot of friends like Zach, George, Carrie and Ginnie. Mr Tom and Willie made a special bond with love and care. Before Willie can to the town he was very skinny and was very unhealthy
|
