Goodnight Mr Tom, Michelle Magorian

My lending library is full of stories and poems. In my humble opinion, nothing is better than a beautifully crafted children’s book. Because I am a (complete) book addict and proud nerd, I spend as much of my life as possible reading. Officially this is because I don’t like to recommend anything I haven’t read- unofficially, it’s because I love reading and work is a brilliant excuse.

This blog, ‘The last I read..’ is an opportunity to share my own book reviews as well as those of the fantastic young people with whom I work. It is fitting that the first of these reviews is for the best book I have ever read.

Goodnight Mr Tom tells the story of an evacuee (William) who is sent from an extremely unpleasant life in London to stay with a rather wonderful old man in the country (Tom). This is a story of salvation- Tom and William save each other from old lives of despair and they forge a deep and wonderful relationship. It is funny and touching and sad and inspiring all at the same time. I cried from page 7 until the end- tears of happiness and sadness for these characters that have been so well crafted. I had never thought of evacuees being ‘saved’ by evacuation and had only ever thought of them being desperately sad to leave their parents. This story turns that idea entirely on it head.  

I had avoided reading this book for years, suspecting that it might leave me forever changed. My suspicions were correct, this story lingers with me still. I am quite in awe of Magorian’s honest, no-holds-barred approach to writing for children. She is an inspiration to this would-be author and I suspect she will inspire some of my pupils to take up their pens to produce their very own works of literary art.

Goodnight Mr Tom scores 10/10