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Good Night, Mr. Tom

(1981, Fiction - Family Life, Written by Michelle Magorian)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 11, age appropriate for kids over 14; suggested age 11.

  • Is it any good?

    5.0

  • Common Sense says

    A devastatingly powerful children's novel.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 11–14

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Carrie's mother wants her to learn to be a good wife rather than go to high school.

  • Violence:

    Child abuse--the actions aren't shown, but the results are graphically described. Will is forced to return home to his insanely abusive mother. Many extremely intense scenes involving death and abuse and their aftermaths--some very graphic.

  • Sex:

    Will notices Carrie is starting to develop. A brief discussion of sex.

  • Language:

    Rare, mild.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Good Night, Mr. Tom

Parents need to know that this riveting, complex, and intensely emotional blockbuster of a novel will have kids laughing, crying, and unable to put it down.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about Willie's and Tom's journeys. What is each one searching for, and how do their journeys differ?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    varvar
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 1.0

    I cried! I laughed

    I cried! I laughed

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Adult Reviewer
    varvar
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 1.0

    I cried! I laughed

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  3. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Chrissy 505
    Lives in Washington
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    this is an awesome book

    I read this book for school and instantly fell in love with it. This is the best school book I've ever read (besides Uglies) and I recommend it to any one 11 and up.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  4. Adult Reviewer
    moviemadness
    Lives in Connecticut
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0

    This is one fo my favorite books of all time. It is an honest, loving book about recovery and the strong bonds of parent-child love. A must read for teens and adults.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  5. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    basketballdude04
    Lives in Michigan
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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