I have recently read a novel "Goodnight Mr Tom" by Michelle Magorian. This novel is set in the past yet deals with issues relevant to contemporise society.
This novel is about a young evacuee (William Beech) who is being sent to a village in the country called Little Weirwold. William is being evacuated from his hometown of London because World War Two is going on.
When William finally reaches Little Weirwold he is billeted to stay with Tom Oakley (Mr Tom) the villages Mr Grumpy. Many years ago Tom lost his wife and his son at a very young age. This loss has always stayed with him and he is very withdrawn from society and that's why he is considered to be very grumpy. When William lands on his doorstep Tom's not the happiest of people, but eventually they learn to live with each other.
When they do start to accept each other and become closer Tom discovers Will has a very dark secret. Tom finds this out when Will undresses. His petit, thin and frail body was very badly bruised and cut. He begins to realise that Will's life must consists of emotional and physical abuse from his Mother back home. Tom is disgusted and makes it his job to cure him with love. .
As the months go on he and Will become very close, like Father and Son. Whilst living in Little Weirwold Will meets lots of new friends, especially one character Zach whom he becomes best friends with.
Everything is going great in Will's life! He has started school, knows everybody in the village and finally feels like he has been accepted. That is until his Mother wants him to go back to London because she is sick. As a noble Son Will does what he has been told to do. He hates having to leave Little Weirwold and Tom hates him leaving too, but he has to do it.
When he is back in London his Mother starts to beat him again as she is very stressed.
After a few months Tom begin to suspect something strange is going on, so he goes to London to find Will.
