what connections are there between the book and society/time?

During World War II, English villages were required to be in total darkness at night to prevent German planes from seeing their targets, and there are multiple references to putting up the blackout curtains. This literal darkness is mirrored in the psychological darkness that Willie and other characters wade through during the story. Tom constantly seems to rescue Willie from the dark and bring him to the light, such as when Willie is having terrible nightmares. Similarly, when after Willie has been tied up in the dark stairwell at his mother's house it is again Tom who rescues him, literally shining a flashlight onto him.

The children's trip to Spooky Cott in the darkness results in meeting Geoffrey, the wounded artist who lives alone, in the darkness of his own grief. When Will and Zach appear, Geoff puts on a fire. Light returns both through the fire and through the loving presence of the boys, who help connect Geoff back to the outside world. Throughout the novel we see darkness as a natural part of life, yet as something that must be confronted in order for light to reemerge. For instance, Will goes at night to the river to cathartically process his deep rage and sadness over the death of Zach and that moment is what begins his process of recovery.