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Geoffrey is a solider returned from the war who lives in 'Spooky Cottage. William meets him after going to investigate the haunted house. Geoffrey lost his leg during the war and stays in the cottage as he isn't ready to return to village life yet. He's an excellent artist and takes an interest in William's painting skills. He also lost his best friend in the war and helps support William after Zach's death

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Mrs Beech is William's mother who sends him to be evacuated at the beginning of the novel. She is a zealously religious woman, who is physically and emotionally abusive to William. We learn about her character in the first half of the book through William's reactions to his new life in the village and how he thinks she would react. During the novel, she writes to Tom, informing him she is ill and William must return home. When he does, she is shocked to see the change in William and returns to her abusive ways. She has had a baby since William has left, a girl called Trudy. When Tom travels to London to bring William home, he finds that Mrs Beech has locked William and Trudy in a cellar with no food or water and abandoned them. Because of this, Trudy has died. Tom returns William home and one month later, is told Mrs Beech has committed suicide. Tom explains to William that his mother was mentally unwell and unfortunately dealt with this through being abusive.

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Emilia Thorne is Little Weirwold's local librarian. After Annie Hartridge leaves to have her baby, she also works in the local school. She directs the local Christmas show and encourages William in his talents as an actor

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Annie Hartridge is a teacher at the local primary school. Her husband is a solider and during the novel she becomes pregnant with their first child. She and William have a close relationship and she acts like a mother figure to him. During the novel her husband is missing, believed to be dead. He later is found to be alive and prisoner of war in Germany. She is supportive of William throughout

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Ginnie is the twin sister of Carrie. She is part of William's friendship group in the village alongside her sister, George and Zach. Ginnie is close to her sister but very different. She enjoys baking & sewing

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Carrie is the twin sister of Ginnie and one of William's friends from the village. Carrie and her sister are close but different. Carrie studies hard and is extremely bright. She is ambitious & sits the examination to attend high school, becoming the first girl to do so and pass. She is close to Zach and is left particularly upset by his death. After this she and William become closer

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George is a local boy who William befriends in the novel. He is part of the wider friendship group in the village that includes William, Zach, Carrie & Ginnie. Initially he doesn't particularly want to befriend the William & Zach however they grow close.

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Zacharius or 'Zach' is another evacuee whom William befriends in the village. He is a much more extroverted character than William and loves to act and sing. Both his parents are actors and his ambition is to join them on the stage. Over the course of the book he becomes William's closest friend. He misses home and returns to visit his parents in London near the end of the novel, only to be killed in a bomb explosion. His death leaves William devasted. Overtime, William accepts Zach's passing and thinks of Zach watching over him.

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Willie is a young evacuee from London who comes to live with Tom at the beginning of the novel. He is initially a nervous and timid child, having suffered at the hands of his abusive and religiously zealot mother. As he begins to settle into life in the village and with Tom, William's confidence and happiness builds. He becomes friends with another evacuee Zach, who is much more outgoing and adventurous. He also becomes friends with local children George, Ginnie and Carrie.
William is a talented artist, which blossoms as the novel continues. He also discovers hidden acting skills which are encouraged by his local teachers Miss Hartridge & Miss Thorne.

William returns home during the novel at his mother's request and discovers she has had a baby since his departure. She returns to her abusive ways, eventually abandoning William & his baby sister Trudy who later sadly dies from neglect. William is rescued by Tom who brings him back to Little Weirword permanently. William's mother later commits suicide.
William is also affected by the death of Zach towards the end of the novel. He spends time talking to Zach, eventually coming to terms with his grief.
At the end of the novel William is adopted by Tom and finally has the family life he's always dreamed of.

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Tom or 'Mister Tom' is an older man who lives in his cottage by himself since the death of his wife Rachel & child 40 years earlier. Initially portrayed as a gruff and isolated man, he is shown to be incredibly kind and caring towards William. Tom provides William with his first real experience of affectionate parenting. William begins to thrive living with Tom and they both create their own family unit. After William's mother writes to say she is ill & William returns to her, Tom travels to London to bring him back. He finds that William's mother has abandoned William & his infant baby sister Trudy who has sadly died. After taking him home, Tom then receives news that William's mother has committed suicide. At the end of the novel, Tom adopts William, securing the family life they've both always wanted