61. Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian (Children’s historical fiction) 382 p.

I first read this book when I was about twelve, and again a few years later, and I loved it both times, so a used copy for $2 seemed like a very good deal. Goodnight Mister Tom is a brilliant children’s book set at the beginning of World War II. It was first published in 1981, but Michelle Magorian did a lot of research into the events, people, speech, and even the clothes of the period.

Even before Britain declared war on Germany, children from the country’s inner cities were being evacuated to country towns and villages, to escape the bombings that would accompany the outbreak of fighting. In Goodnight Mister Tom, one of these evacuees is nine-year-old Willie Beech, a small, underfed, silent boy who is billeted with the crotchety old Tom Oakley in the village of Little Weirwold.

Under Tom’s care, Willie begins to enjoy life, even making a few new friends, including the delightful Zacharias Wrench (”My parents have a cruel sense of humour.”) Although I love Will, Zach, the bold and well-spoken son of two actors, is one of my favourite fictional characters. His exchanges with some of the other characters, particularly the taciturn Tom, are some of the funniest parts of the book.

Goodnight Mister Tom is one of the best kids’ books I’ve ever read, and one of the few that I’ve loved every bit as much on re-reading as an adult. I’ve never tried any of Magorian’s other books—something I’ll have to remedy as soon as possible!

Pages read: 17,279

Tags: 50 Book Challenge 2008, A ~ Z Reading Challenge, Michelle Magorian