Raising Readers - "Good Night, Mr. Tom"

Parents who encourage and successfully develop children who read see greater school success and satisfaction.  This series reviews various examples of children’s literature and provides insights for parents to discuss with their children.   Reading and sharing the wonderful stories available to children sends a message that reading is important, creates positive “shared experiences” for families, and helps parents exert a subtle influence on their children’s development.

Eight year old Willie Beech is evacuated from his London home and goes to live in the English countryside with a perfect stranger, Tom Oakley.  It is WW2, and the bombing raids in London have made the city too dangerous for children.  “Mr. Tom” is a widower with a very grumpy personality, but he begins to take to the fragile and bewildered Willie and quickly finds that there are signs of heartrending abuse in Willie’s background.

What began as an awkward intrusion by the war becomes a sensitive journey for both man and boy as they grow to love and trust each other.  Willie learns what it is like to have a proper home and proper care, while Mr. Tom works through the grief over the death of his wife and infant son many years previous.  The villagers of Little Weirwold watch in wonder as Mr. Tom begins to engage and interact with them while encouraging Willie to make friends, go to school and become a part of the community.

During a lull in the bombings, Willie’s mother and other parents send for their children.  Despite serious misgivings, Mr. Tom helps Willie pack and return to London.  He writes numerous letters to Willie but receives no response, so he travels to London to check.  His worst fears are confirmed as he finds Willie back in the same dire situation.  Mr. Tom takes Willie to a hospital for treatment, and upon discovering that Willie’s mother has died, takes him back to Little Weirwold to live.

Sensitive children might be disturbed with some of the moderately graphic descriptions of Willie’s abuse.  Also, a friend (Zach) who is also an evacuee, returns to London to be with his parents and Willie is saddened to later learn that he has been killed in a bomb attack.  While the story is about an eight year old boy, the reading level and content are better suited for ten year olds and up. 

Raising Readers is written by Steve Arnold of Club Z! In-Home Tutoring Services.  He can be reached at 610.831.5101 or ChesMontClubZ@gmail.com.  Find out more about Club Z! In-Home Tutoring at www.clubztutoring.com/ChesMont.