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4.24 AVERAGE
4.24 AVERAGE
I had completely forgotten how delightful middle-grade books can be, and The Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls brought it all rushing back. This one is packed with heart, adventure, and just the right amount of mischief.
Miss Adelia Mandalay runs the kind of "orphanage" I would've begged to attend as a kid—less Victorian punishment, more secret-society-for-girl-detectives energy. Yes, it's got the reputation of being a place for "problem girls," but really it's a haven where they're taught fencing, hiding, map reading, and motorcar driving (YES PLEASE), all while solving local mysteries and learning how capable they are.
Maggie’s journey to finding a place where she belongs hit all the right emotional notes for me—found family will always be my kryptonite. And I can’t NOT mention the interspersed entries from Miss Mandelay's Useful Things Every Girl Should Know, which range from “How to Escape an Alligator” to “How to Send Messages in Morse Code.” I’d honestly hand this book to any middle-grade reader just for those.
Bonus points for charming black and white illustrations throughout—just the cozy little cherry on top.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC—it was given freely, but my delight (and desire to escape into a girls-only detective academy) is entirely my own.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
4.5 stars. This is such a fun, whimsical adventure! I've read plenty of children's books featuring the magical boarding school trope, and this is one of the most successful, charming and original. Of course, the orphanage featured here isn't technically a magical school -- rather, the orphans take classes like Hiding, Observation and Contriving in order to become as resourceful as possible in their mission to fight bad guys. They get hands-on experience too, through mysterious cases brought for them to solve.
The setting of the story really stood out to me: 1920s big city with a touch of steampunk. The gorgeous illustrations throughout really add to the atmosphere and make the setting incredibly vivid. The plot moves fast, especially in the second half of the story, and there is plenty of action. Something I especially appreciated is that so many elements set up in the first half pay off really nicely in the second half, which was very satisfying.
My only minor complaint is that the plot was so big that it rather got in the way of character development. So many of the characters introduced here look intriguing, but none of them are fully developed. Maggie, the protagonist, is mostly a reader insert. I'm really hoping this first book will turn into a series, because the Midwatch has the potential for many more great stories, and then hopefully we'll get to know the characters a little better.
This is a wonderful story for its age range, though for young and sensitive readers it might be a bit scary and intense at the end. Definitely recommend!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Dial Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
The setting of the story really stood out to me: 1920s big city with a touch of steampunk. The gorgeous illustrations throughout really add to the atmosphere and make the setting incredibly vivid. The plot moves fast, especially in the second half of the story, and there is plenty of action. Something I especially appreciated is that so many elements set up in the first half pay off really nicely in the second half, which was very satisfying.
My only minor complaint is that the plot was so big that it rather got in the way of character development. So many of the characters introduced here look intriguing, but none of them are fully developed. Maggie, the protagonist, is mostly a reader insert. I'm really hoping this first book will turn into a series, because the Midwatch has the potential for many more great stories, and then hopefully we'll get to know the characters a little better.
This is a wonderful story for its age range, though for young and sensitive readers it might be a bit scary and intense at the end. Definitely recommend!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Dial Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Blood
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
A lovely story with brilliant worldbuilding, delightful cast of characters and an intriguing mystery. I loved the illustrations. Additionally, it is a beautifully designed book, the publisher did an incredible job.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A fun adventure for MG readers. No flags. Danger is like that in Scooby Doo = safe. Good characters and fun villains. I audioed this, but am told the illustrations (by the author) are lovely. Looking forward to recommending this one at school!
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No