When young Willie arrives at Tom's cottage during World War Two, the old man expects a difficult, ungrateful evacuee—instead he finds a timid, troubled child who desperately needs kindness. Set in wartime Britain, this moving novel follows the unlikely bond that forms between an elderly recluse and a boy fleeing the dangers of the city. As their relationship deepens, both discover the healing power of care and companionship. A Puffin Classic that captures the resilience and hope found in the darkest times.
