Good Night, Mr. Tom traces Willie's development in a fast-paced story rich in sharp images. The third-person narrative occasionally delves into characters' thoughts, particularly Willie's, but Magorian generally relies on action and dialogue to reveal character. The realistic dialogue effectively uses dialect. As in Charles Dickens's novels, characters' seemingly minor actions or habits suggest a great deal about their personalities or emotional states. For instance, in the first few chapters, Willie compulsively pulls up his socks to hide the cuts and bruises that cover his bony shins because his mother has convinced him that the marks left by her beatings are proof that he is evil. At the end of the book, Willie's request to ride Zach's colorful bicycle indicates that he has come to terms with Zach's death and that he is ready to celebrate.....
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