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Meeting
Many young children are being evacuated from areas thought to be at risk of bombing to the countryside as Britain stands on the brick of war. An evacuee named William Beech is evacuated billeted at old Tom Oakley's house, because Willie's mother insists he is billeted near a church. Willie is sad and deprived from being raised by his abusive mother, and is fixated on being good. Willie is scared of Tom's dog, and of Tom hitting him. Tom is beginning to understand what is going on. -
Little Weirworld
The small town where Willie is staying is called Little Weirworld, and it is very different from what he is used to back home in Deptford. Willie was scared of Tom's dog, Sammy, at first, but now he is starting to get used to him. Tom shows Willie around Little Weirworld. Tom is horrified when he reads the letter from Willie's mother and finds a whipping belt in the bag she packed for him. He lets Willie know that he will never beat him. -
Saturday Morning
Willie wets the bed and Tom finds Willie huddled under the bed the next morning and cleans up. Tom helps Willie write a letter to his mother since Willie can not read or write yet. Tom takes Willie to the doctor and the post office. There is another boy in the post office who catches Willie's attention. -
"Chamberlain Announces"
On Sunday, Willie and Tom goes to church with the rest of Little Weirworld. The wireless is turned on at the end of the servise, and Chamberlain announces that England is at war with Germany. Willie, Tom, Mr. Fletcher and his sons starts making a shelter. -
Zach
While Willie is finishing the shelter that evening, the boy from the Post Office appears. The boy presents himself as Zacharias Wrench, and insists on helping Willie with the shelter. Zach is one of the other evacuees, and he becomes Willie's first friend. Zach is friendly and uses many big words when he speaks. -
An Encounter over Blackberries
Willie, Zach, George and the twins Carrie and Ginnie goes blackberrying. Willie is shy and does not say much at all. The others talk about their hobbies, and when they ask Willie what he likes, Willie does not know what to say. But then he remembers the art shop and says he likes to draw. That evening, Willie is pleased with himself for surviving a whole day with four other people of his own age, and for making jam. -
School
Willie's first day of school in school is disappointing. He wants to be in the class with the pupils that are the same age as him, and where his new friends are. Instead he is put in the class for the younger children because he can not read or write yet. Tom starts teaching Willie to read and write after supper. -
Carol Singing
Willie comes with George to Carols. Tom is playing the organ, and it is his first practice to. Tom surprises everyone with his Christmas spirit and organ playing. After the practice, Tom plays Willie a song that he have not played in years. It was one of Rachel's favorites. -
Equipped
Tom brings Willie into town by cart and horse. Tom's horse is called Dobbs. Tom runs some errands and buys Willie some new stuff. A comic, materials for clothes, and a pair of boots. Willie is interested in the art shop and draws with his finger on the misted window.The art shop reminds Tom of his wife Rachel, who died of birth. Their baby died shortly after. While Willie picks out three books in the library, Tom visits the art shop for the first time in 40 years, since Rachel died. -
Friday
Willie has Zach, George and the twins over for the first time. They have a splendid time working on their newspaper. Zach is very exited for the children's Christmas show Miss Thorne is producing for the war effort. He convince the others to join him and participate in the role play. When Willie's friends leave, Willie is healthily tired. The next morning when he wakes up, there is no need for the bed sheets to be washed because they are dry! -
The Show Must Go On
Miss Thorne is worried about the Christmas show because hardly any evacuees are left. Willie serves as a prompter, sitting next to Miss Thorne under rehearsals. That is until Miss Thorne discovers his talent for acting. Willie is cast as Ebenezer Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. -
Period: to
Timespan
The story finds place in England, during the Second World War. -
Birthday Boy
On Willie's ninth birthday, Tom gives Willie the materials he needs to draw and paint that he bought from the art shop in town. Willie gets other presents too, and this is completely new to him. That afternoon, Willie sits alone in the church and is completely invested in a drawing when Zach shows up. Zach brings Willie home to Tom, where everyone is waiting for him with a surprise birthday party! Willie is shocked and happy. -
The case
Some of the young men in Little Weirworld leave to fight in the war. Many of the evacuees in Little Weirworld and the surrounding areas are brought back home by their parents. Willie, George, the twins and Zach hang out in Zach's room to open a case with different items from Zach's entertainer parents. Books, cakes, tap shoes, clothes and costumes. The five of them decide on making a newspaper together. -
Tragedy
Just when things are getting good, Will is adopted by Tom and school is beginning again, a tragedy occurs. Zach's father is severly injured, and when Zach goes home to visit him in London, he dies of a bombing attack. This is very difficult for Will to accept. He tries to ignore the pain until he just can't take it anymore. But when he finally unpack the feeling of loss left in him, Zach's death becomes easier to accept. Will learns to ride Zachs old bike, and it is like Zach is there with him. -
New Beginnings
Willie finally makes his way into Mrs Hartrigde's class. He is delighted to sit a desk with his own school supplies. Willie does well in Mrs Hartrigde's class and enjoys spending time with his friends. Carrie asks Mrs Hartrigde if she can take the exam for the high school. No one girl from Little Weirworld has gone to the high school before. One day, when Willie comes home, Tom has gotten a letter from Willie's mother. She says she is ill and want Willie to come back home to London. -
Home
After Tom and Willie says a teary eyed goodbye, Willie catches the Friday train to London. He recognizes his mother on the platform, but she doesn't recognize him. She thinks William has been spoiled. At first, she doesn't go to hard on him, but when they go inside and Willie tries to show her his drawings, she becomes furious. Willie's mother has given birth to a baby girl, and Willie's mother treats her horribly too. Willie is beaten by his mother, and locked in under the stairs. -
The Search
After about a month of not hearing anything from Willie, Tom is worried. He and Sammy catches the Friday train to London and takes the buss to Deptford. While he is there, the siren goes off. He meets a warden in the shelter who guides him to the place where Willie and his mother lived. Sammy's barking makes them believe someone is trapped inside, although it does not look that way. With help from a policeman, they break the door down. -
Resque
Tom, the warden and the policeman finds Willie under the stair. The small alcove stinks of vomit and urine, and Willie is tightly holding on to his dead baby sister, who he thinks is alive. Willie is brought to the hospital in an ambulance. He wants to be called Will or William, not Willie, which only his mother called him. Will is taken care of at the hospital, but wants to go home with Tom. Tom kidnaps Will in the night. -
'Recovery' and the Sea
After Will has recovered during the spring back home in Little Weirworld, Tom takes Will and Sam with him to Salmouth in August. They travel by horse and bicycles. Willie doesn't know how to ride one yet, so he sits with Tom. The three of them stays with a lady called Mrs. Clarence. Will and Zach learns to swim and float, and they have a great time in the sun. -
Postscript
The book ends with Will and Carrie hanging out by a river. Carrie escapes her Mom's chokehold and reads, while Will sketches her. They talk about Zach and school. When Will goes home, he thinks about how far he has come, and how his life has changed for the better. "'Dad,' repeated Will, in a surprised tone, 'I'm growing!'"