Goodnight Mr Tom Trivia Quiz

Answer: WW2

It is set in a small village in country England, away from the hustle and bustle but not far enough from the horrors and heartache that war can bring.

Answer: William Beech

William arrives in Little Weirwold scared and unsure, with many painful secrets yet to be explored, completely unaware of what a amazing turn of fortune his life is about to take. During WW2 many children were evacuated from their homes in London to the country for their own safety.

They were fostered out to country families; not all were treated very well and there were many problems with runaways. No doubt many were homesick and scared.

Answer: The death of his wife and newborn son

Thomas Oakley and his young wife Rachel were newly married and happily awaiting the arrival of their first child. Rachel died in childbirth and Thomas' newborn son died not long after. At the time that William comes into his life he has been alone forty years, never getting over his loss.

When William first walked through his door Thomas was horrified; little did he know how much they needed each other.

Answer: He has been severely abused

It is later revealed that William's mother is mentally unwell. She has made him terrified of the world and everything in it, convinced him that he is full of sin and must be punished.

Answer: His mother told him beds are for dead people

Tom soon finds William sleeping under the bed. There is a small graveyard near Tom's home and William woke during the night thinking he must be dead because he was in a bed. Looking out the window and seeing the gravestones was his worst nightmare.

Answer: Zacharias

Zacharias Wrench is another evacuee. He is outgoing, confident and cheeky. He is fostered to the local doctor and his wife, his parents entertainers. He and William are complete opposites but their friendship couldn't be stronger.

Answer: He is a gifted artist

After seeing one of Williams amazing drawing's Tom makes the painful decision to part with some of his beloved Rachel's belongings; she was also a gifted artists and he gives William her paints and brushes as a gift. William is awestruck as being given a gift is something he hadn't experienced till he came to Little Weirwold.

Answer: She finds out that Zach is Jewish

Mrs Beech does think that William is lying about his letters and drawings, she is also not pleased to find that some of William's friends are girls, but finding out that Zach is Jewish sends her into a frenzied rage.

Answer: Under a staircase

William is found near death under the staircase at his London home; he is nursing his infant sister. He had only found out about her when he came home.

Answer: Kidnaps William and takes him home to Little Weirwold

These questions only skim the surface of this wonderful book. There are so many other characters, so many things that William gets to experience for the first time good and bad. The journey that William and Tom go on is one that I still enjoy sitting down to read, and it still makes me cry and laugh. I have given away enough of the story, hopefully you might go and discover the rest!