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Michelle Magorian is undoubtedly one of the pre-eminent children’s writers of historical family drama and of books set around the Second World War. She may not be a household name but that’s purely because she doesn’t write as frequently as those more obvious bestselling novelists. Just Henry is just published and is her seventh novel. Like all her previous ones it has been eagerly awaited and hugely acclaimed. Unlike some authors Magorian writes when the time is right having first undertaken considerable research, followed by a lot of thinking time before actually putting pen to paper and then there’s always the very important rewrites to polish the story. Magorian loves the research and the writing in equal measure but particularly loves writing dialogue.
Interestingly, Magorian’s first love when she was younger was to be an actress but she also loved writing and day dreaming – the perfect combination for a successful novelist.
A heart breaking and heart warming story of a special friendship that grows between Willie Beech, evacuated to the country to avoid the Blitz on London, and Tom Oakley, the reserved old man who takes him in. Willie has been lonely and neglected all his life as his mother lacks the ability to care for him. Under Mister Tom’s patient and kind guidance Willie grows emotionally and physically to become the boy he should have been. But then his mother wants him back home in London. Must Willie loose everything that has made him happy? Be sure to check out other books by this author. Just Henry, A Spoonful of Jam, A little Love Song, Cuckoo In The Nest. Puffin Fact! The beech tree’s slim trunk gave Michelle Magorian the idea for her skinny evacuee’s name – William Beech. Download more Puffin Facts here! _____________ Dear readers, dreamers and adventurers, Ever wanted a friend who could take you to magical realms, talk to animals or help you survive a shipwreck? Well, you'll find them all in the PUFFIN BOOK collection. A PUFFIN BOOK will stay with you forever. Maybe you'll read it again and again, or perhaps years from now you'll suddenly remember the moment it made you laugh or cry or simply see things differently. Adventurers big and small, rebels out to change their world, even a mouse with a dream and a spider who can spell - these are the characters who make stories that last a lifetime. Whether you love animal tales, war stories or want to know what it was like growing up in a different time and place, the A PUFFIN BOOK collection has a story for you - you just need to decide where you want to go next... We want to know which is your favourite. Tell us or tweet a photo of your old beloved copy - and we might just send you a new A PUFFIN BOOK so you can pass the story on. Love - PUFFIN @puffinbooks #shareapuffinbook
Winner of the 2008 Costa Children’s Book Award. Costa Book Awards 2008 Judges' comment: "A gripping and masterful tale of the power of cinema, photography and friendship in one boy's life." Warmhearted and full of period detail, Just Henry is a wonderful story of growing up and seizing life’s opportunities. It’s post war Britain and life should be getting better for all – and some things are. But Henry finds an increasing number of unanswered questions about his life and gradually, as he learns the answers, he finds his life is rather different from how it had seemed. As ever, Michelle Magorian gets to the emotional heart of issues. Other titles shortlisted for the prestigious 2008 Costa Children's Book Award (formerly the Whitbread Award) are The Carbon Diaries, Ostrich Boys and Broken Soup. The winner of the award will be announced on Tuesday 6th January. The Lovereading comment: From the award winning author of Goodnight Mister Tom comes a brand new page turning tale. The story itself is very exciting, rich with detail and has a very sympathetic main character. Henry is a boy who’s lost his father in the war. He joins a film club of boys with similar family problems and together they make an extraordinary discovery that changes their lives forever. Michelle Magorian has painted a spellbinding and shrewd picture of post-war Britain. Be sure to check out A Spoonful of Jam, A Little Love Song, Cuckoo In The Nest by the same author.
A beautiful jacketed hardback with a lovely new introduction and extra material by the author to celebrate the 40th anniversary of bestselling GOODNIGHT MISTER TOM. Young Willie Beech is evacuated to the countryside as Britain stands on the brink of the Second World War. A sad, deprived child, he slowly begins to flourish under the care of old Tom Oakley - but his new-found happiness is shattered by a summons from his mother back in London. 'Everyone's idea of a smash-hit first novel: full-blown characters to love and hate, moments of grief and joy, and a marvellous story that knows just how to grab the emotions' - Guardian
The holiday was supposed to give them a break, a chance to get away and heal after the loss of the baby. But Hannah's parents are still listless and distracted, and her toddler brother doesn't understand what's going on. And worst of all, something feels wrong in Hannah's room. Her mum and dad don't understand what she's trying to tell them, so one stormy night Hannah sneaks out to find someone who can tell her the truth about the Front Room...Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 12+
Ben knows he's taking on a lot, offering to do the first hundred lengths of the swimathon himself, but he's desperate to impress Jack and Harry. But as he swims - and swims - Jack realises that his 'friends' aren't going to show. Now he either has to forfeit or swim another hundred lengths! But support and encouragement come from an unlikely quarter and Ben pushes his way to victory. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 7+
Josh has a problem. There's a new little person in the house, his baby brother Charlie. It's supposed to be a happy thing - but he's proving to be a nightmare! When Charlie's not howling the place down, he's hogging all of Mum and Dad's time and attention. Josh is fed up. But can baby Charlie change his mind? Tender and heartwarming tale about new siblings. High quality cream paper and a special easy to read font ensure a smooth read for all.
Penguin presents, the downloadable audiobook edition of Goodnight Mr Tom, read by Patrick Malahide. Young Willie Beech is evacuated to the country as Britain stands on the brink of WW2. A sad, deprived child, he slowly begins to flourish under the care of old Tom Oakley - but his new-found happiness is shattered by a summons from his mother back in London... Winner of the Guardian Childrens Fiction Award.
The 40th anniversary of one of the best-loved stories set during the Second World War. Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian is the unforgettable story of young Willie Beech, evacuated to the country as Britain stands on the brink of the Second World War. A sad, deprived child, he slowly begins to flourish under the unlikely care of grumpy old Tom Oakley. But then his new-found happiness is shattered by a summons from his mother to come back to London. As the weeks pass by Tom begins to worry when William doesn't answer his letters, so he goes to London to find him, and there makes a terrible discovery. Winner of the Guardian Children's Fiction Award.
A Puffin Book - stories that last a lifetime. Puffin Modern Classics are relaunched under a new logo: A Puffin Book, all with exciting new covers and endnotes with author profile, interesting facts around the story and archive material. In Back Home, Michelle Magorian, author of Goodnight Mister Tom, tells the story of Rusty, returning to England after being evacuated to America for five years in the Second World War. After five happy years in America, Rusty must return to England: the place she used to call home. But it doesn't fell like home. Rusty's mother is like a stranger, her little brother doesn't know her and why does the food taste so bad? Rusty just can't get used to the rigid rules and rationing and her strict new boarding school. Lonely and homesick, Rusty makes friends with Lance, another returned evacuee, and her indomitable spirit leads her into a dramatic and devastating rebellion. . . Guardian Children's Fiction award-winning Michelle Magorian is the author of the iconic war-time children's book, Goodnight Mister Tom. Michelle Magorian was born in Portsmouth and on leaving school studied at the Rose Bruford College of speech and Drama and Marcel Marceau's International School of Mime in Paris. Over the years she became interested in children's books and decided to write one herself. The result was Goodnight Mister Tom, which won the Guardian Children's Fiction Award, an International Reading Association Award and was also made into a superb film starring the late John Thaw. In 2012 Michelle was made a Fellow of Rose Bruford College. Also by Michelle Magorian: Goodnight Mister Tom; Back Home; Waiting for my Shorts to Dry; Who's Going to take Care of Me?; Orange Paw Marks; A Little Love Song; In Deep Water; Jump; A Cuckoo in the Nest; A Spoonful of Jam; Be Yourself; Just Henry
Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian won the Guardian Children's Fiction Award. Mum said war was a punishment from God for people's sins, so he'd better watch out. She didn't tell him what to watch out for, though. When the Second World War breaks out, young Willie Beech is evacuated to the countryside. A sad, deprived child, he slowly begins to flourish under the care of kind old Tom Oakley. But then his cruel mother summons him back to war-torn London . . . Will he ever see Mister Tom again? 'Everyone's idea of a smash-hit first novel: full-blown characters to love and hate, moments of grief and joy, and a marvellous story that knows just how to grab the emotions' Guardian Michelle Magorian was born in Portsmouth and on leaving school studied at the Rose Bruford College of speech and Drama and Marcel Marceau's International School of Mime in Paris. Over the years she became interested in children's books and decided to write one herself. The result was Goodnight Mister Tom, which won the Guardian Children's Fiction Award, an International Reading Association Award and was also made into a much-loved film, starring the late John Thaw.
It's 1945. World War II has just ended and twelve-year-old Rusty comes back home to Britain after being evacuated to the US. The greyness and bleakness of life in England is a shock, but even worse is adapting to the strict discipline of her family, including a brother she's never met, after the warmth and openness of her adopted American family. Rusty is sent to an horrific boarding school, before finally running away as her search for happiness becomes more and more desperate.
Goodnight Mister Tom is a Puffin Modern Classic by Michelle Magorian. Young Willie Beech is evacuated to the country as Britain stands on the brink of the Second World War. A sad, deprived child, he slowly begins to flourish under the care of old Tom Oakley - but his new-found happiness is shattered by a summons from his mother back in London . . . Winner of the Guardian Children's Fiction Award. The best books grow old gracefully. They retain their importance and affect each new generation as powerfully as the one before. These are the titles selected for Puffin Modern Classics - Julia Eccleshare Michelle Magorian was born in Portsmouth and on leaving school studied at the Rose Bruford College of speech and Drama and Marcel Marceau's International School of Mime in Paris. Over the years she became interested in children's books and decided to write one herself. The result was Goodnight Mister Tom, which won the Guardian Children's Fiction Award, an International Reading Association Award and was also made into a superb film starring the late John Thor. Also by Michelle Magorian: Goodnight Mister Tom; Back Home; Waiting for my Shorts to Dry; Who's Going to take Care of Me?; Orange Paw Marks; A Little Love Song; In Deep Water; Jump; A Cuckoo in the Nest; A Spoonful of Jam; Be Yourself; Just Henry
A wonderfully nostalgic story about one boy's determination to follow his dreams from the award-winning author of Goodnight Mr Tom. Amid the rubble of post-war Britain, Ralph is entranced by the theatre. He loves seeing the performances, talking to the actors, the buzz of the audience, and the corridors and dressing rooms backstage. But how can a working-class boy achieve his dream when there is no opportunity for theatre training? 'A fascinating story and a vivid picture of Britain in the 1940s' - The Times.
A classic love story from the award-winning author of Goodnight, Mister Tom. It is the summer of 1943 and war continues to rage. For Rose and her sister Diana, it's a time of independence and self-discovery as they find first loves. But when Rose uncovers an extraordinary love story from another war, she is forced to question that love. Rose is about to discover a secret that will change everything. Michelle Magorian combines her rich style with a refreshing take on wartime women in this classic coming of age story.
A classic war story from the award-winning author of Goodnight, Mister Tom. A Spoonful of Jam will truly capture your heart and mind. The war is over but Elsie is still fighting her own battles. She's bullied because she's the only scholarship pupil at the grammar school, and she has an awkward relationship with her father as he struggles to assume a normal life after fighting in the war. But when she begins working at the local theatre, Elsie discovers she can escape ...A Spoonful of Jam is the second of The Hollis Family books, following Cuckoo in the Nest. The book is a treat. A masterly work. Philip Pullman, Guardian.
An absorbing post-war adventure from the award-winning author of Goodnight Mr Tom. WWII has ended, but Henry is fighting his own battles. He misses his father who died a war hero, and his only distraction is the cinema. When Henry develops an old camera film he uncovers a mystery and events spiral until his life resembles the drama of his beloved big screen. Like a bomb waiting to explode, Henry's world is about to unravel ...In this Costa Award-winning novel, Michelle Magorian takes a lens to post-war Britain, revealing its prejudices, its quirks and its warmth.
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