Goodnight Mister Tom ~Characters~

The book that I am reading is called "Goodnight Mister Tom", by Michelle Magorian. The book has 304 pages. Other books by Michelle Magorian include "Back Home", "In Deep Water", "Jump", although, she is best known for her first novel, "Goodnight Mister Tom".
The main characters in the book are William Beech and Tom Oakley.

William is one of two main characters of the novel. He is an eight year old boy, who evacuated from London to the countryside to live with Mr. Tom, because Britain was going to war. William grew up in the London slums with an abusive mother and with no father. He never had parents’ attention, care or love.
He is skinny, bony and bruised because of his mother who abuses him (page 30). He is very quiet and timid and he tries his best to be well behaved and stay out of trouble. William was emotionally hurt, abused and fearful. He was afraid of people, because people hurt him in the past. He felt dejected and lonely, both at home and at school. At home, he was abused by his own mother. At the school he went to, before moving to the countryside, he had no friends and no support from either teachers or school friends. (page 40). He was ashamed that at his age, he could not read or write. It was with great embarrassment that he admitted to Mr. Tom that he was only looking at the pictures in books and could not even write his name (page 39).
He was scared of everything; he was even scared of sleeping in bed, having been convinced by his own mother that the bed is the place where they put dead people. Once, upon waking up and finding out he was in bed, he was overcome with panic and fear that he wetted himself in bed, (page 37).
His friendship with Mr. Tom helps him gain self-confidence and confidence in people

Thomas Oakley (Mr. Tom) is a healthy and grumpy old man in his sixties. He was born and lives in the English countryside. He lives secluded from the rest of the village. Thomas became very antisocial ever since his wife, Rachel, and his baby son died 40 years before (pages 21 and 56). He is known as being harsh and reclusive to his neighbors, as well as grumpy. However, Thomas is a very caring and understanding person who took custody of William Beech and treats him as if he was his own son. He helps Tom grow up and provides him love and attention he never had. He is tolerant, patient and full of sympathy. He never tells him off, and never makes Willie feel uneasy. He deals with William’s fears and feelings as if he was the boy’s mother and father, (page 30). Having William around has made Thomas Oakley happier because he lived alone for 40 years and now he finally has a companion and an opportunity to change someone’s life for the better.