The Midwatch

By Judith Rossell

Reviewed by Mia Macrossan

Judith Rossell has made a name for herself as one of those rare creatures who can both write like a dream and illustrate her writing with quirky charming memorable images. She has illustrated many picture and chapter books for other writers as well as her own, but she is perhaps best know for her middle grade Stella Montgomery series, inspired by gothic Victorian mysteries. If you haven’t read them, give yourself a treat – they are funny, suspenseful and filled to the brim with memorable characters. No wonder her fans have been waiting eagerly for her next book. And here it is – The Midwatch!

We have another intrepid hero in Maggie Fishbourne, banished to the Midwatch Institute for Orphans, Runaways and Unwanted Girls, because the nuns have given up on her. Maggie is sure she’s in for the usual life of drudgery.and boredom. The school is keen on ‘useful things every girl should know’, which to Maggie’s astonishment and delight turn out to be ‘how to tell a convincing lie’, how to send messages in morse code, and ‘how to escape from quicksand’, and more, since Midwatch is a busy undercover school for young spies! Soon she has made new friends, is learning new skills and engaging in daring forays into the city to solve puzzles, rescue those in danger and foil a terrifying enemy.

Judith has set the scene in a gorgeous art deco alternative New York lovingly described and illustrated – there’s even a flat iron building. Maggie and her friends, Nell and Sofie blossom and grow in this rich encouraging environment. There is plenty of mystery, suspense, and adventure and a touch of fantasy.  Judith writes with heart and humour, never losing control of her intricate web of events. Her illustrations complete the package, creating a detailed immersive world for her readers to revel in.

This perfectly splendid story is aimed at readers aged 9 – 12, who will be clamouring for more Midwatch adventures.

 Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing 2024

Judith Rossell