Mr Mac And Me

I enjoyed Mr Mac And Me by Esther Freud which is set in an English coastal village just before and during World War I.  The main character, 14-year-old Thomas Maggs, tells his story in the first person.  He befriends an older couple, Charles and Margaret Mackintosh, who are not native to the area.  Charles Mackintosh (based on an actual person of the same name) is a gifted artist and architect.  Tom has a lot to deal with in his young life with family issues and a disability which affects his walking.  He is encouraged to sketch and paint and enjoys his time with the Mackintoshes.  At times the War comes too close for comfort and paranoia causes problems.  A good story. 4/5