A review by mandikaye
The Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls by Judith Rossell

4.0

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.