Goodnight Mister Tom is a children's novel by English author Michelle Magorian, published by Kestrel in 1981.

[2] She was also a commended runner-up for the Carnegie Medal from the British librarians, recognising the year's best English-language children's book published in the UK.

[4] The most recent theatrical adaptation, Goodnight Mister Tom, won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Entertainment.

[5] In September 1939, as Britain stands on the brink of the war, many young children from the cities are evacuated to the countryside to escape imminent German bombardment.

William Beech, a boy from Deptford who is physically and emotionally abused by his mother, arrives at the village of Little Weirwold.

Though initially distant, Tom is moved after discovering William's home life and treats him with kindness.

William attends school and makes friends with George, twins Carrie and Ginnie, and especially with fellow evacuee Zach.

William learns to read and write with the help of Tom and others, and demonstrates a talent in drawing, painting and dramatics.

It is revealed that Tom lost his wife and baby son to scarlatina (scarlet fever) forty years ago.

Whilst there, he suffers horrific nightmares and is drugged to prevent his screams from disturbing other children's sleep.

He realises his mother had sex with a man, although she had told him that it was a sin for unmarried men and women to consort.

One night, on returning home to Tom, whom he now calls "Dad", William thinks back on how much his life has changed since arriving in Little Weirwold and realises he is growing up.