Good Night, Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian; 1981; 318 pages; Harper & Row, Publishers, New York, NY; 0-06-024079-2; Recommended by Emma of  Dinged Corners; 8/1/09-8/3/09

During the Blitz of London many children were evacuated to rural England to live with families.  This is the story of one such encounter.  William Beech is the son of a single overly religious mother, who is abusive in several different ways.  Tom Oakley has been a recluse and a widower for the last forty years.  When the two are brought together it is an awesome story of reconciliation and bonding between two men who have difficult lives, and if you think I exaggerate about an 9 year old having a difficult life, you won’t after you read this.  William is called back to London because his mother is ill, and when he doesn’t answer of Mr. Toms’ letters, Tom leaves Little Weirwold for London to find William.  He finds him and in an act of desperation he returns to Little Weirwold with William.  The end up as family.  Trying to describe the story without giving too much of the book away is difficult.

I would say this is one of my favorite books of 2009.  The authors’ writing style and her portrayal of all the characters is wonderful.  I would say that I was hooked within the first 5 pages of the book.  I will looking to see if Ms. Magorian has any other books.  Thank you Emma.  RRRR