What do you think?
Rate this book
Malcolm at Midnight #1
Malcolm at Midnight
When Malcolm the rat arrives as the pet at McKenna School, he revels in the attention. He also meets the Midnight Academy, a secret society of classroom pets that keeps the nutters (kids) safe. There’s just one problem…rats have a terrible reputation! So when the Academy’s iguana leader is kidnapped, Malcolm must prove his innocence—and that even rats can be good guys. Illustrated by Brian Lies of Bats at the Beach, this engaging middle-grade novel will have readers rooting for Malcolm as they try to solve the mystery alongside him.
265 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
44 people are currently reading
963 people want to read
About the author
W.H. Beck
17 books61 followersReader. Writer. Teacher-librarian.
Also writes under the name Rebecca Hogue Wojahn.
Also writes under the name Rebecca Hogue Wojahn.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 180 reviews
March 3, 2020
I am not ashamed to say that I got a wee bit misty at the end of this. <3
RTC!
RTC!
December 20, 2014
3.5
I ended up really enjoying this book. Maybe I'm just a sucker for anthropomorphic animals, but Malcolm was great. Some of the secondary characters weren't quite as developed, but the important characters were all developed enough to be interesting and believable - especially Amelia and, to a lesser extent, Jovhan.
The narration style was really interesting, and it's not something I think I've encountered before. Basically, it's written by a student as a note/explanation to his/her teacher. (It's left "ambiguous" who the student is, but it's really rather obvious.) See, Malcolm is a classroom pet to a fifth grade class, and when a missing ring turns up the teacher asks for an explanation for what happened - and the story is one student's explanation of the events which lead up the ring's return.
It's also a sort of dictated memoir, as Malcolm must pass on the details of the story to the author, being unable to write himself. (But, because this is a kid's book, he can read and, using books, point out the words to tell his tale. (Which just requires some suspension of disbelief - not just in the ability, but in the short amount of time such a thing takes in the story, when I can't help but imagine it would take forever.))
It's also a mystery story - not about the ring, which is actually ancillary, but because the Malcolm must discover what Snip, the villain of the story, has planned and who is helping her.
But, for me, it was the characters that really made this book shine.
Malcolm is a rat - but he's small, and mistaken for a mouse. He learns that people, and even that other school pets, don't like rats, because they're considered dirty thieves and liars - but Malcolm wants to show that not all rats are bad.
It's really a story about not judging people based on surface traits, on getting to know people, and about figuring out who the real you is, and being the best you can be.
I think it's a great story for kids, with lots of great little lessons, and was a treat for me to read as well.
I ended up really enjoying this book. Maybe I'm just a sucker for anthropomorphic animals, but Malcolm was great. Some of the secondary characters weren't quite as developed, but the important characters were all developed enough to be interesting and believable - especially Amelia and, to a lesser extent, Jovhan.
The narration style was really interesting, and it's not something I think I've encountered before. Basically, it's written by a student as a note/explanation to his/her teacher. (It's left "ambiguous" who the student is, but it's really rather obvious.) See, Malcolm is a classroom pet to a fifth grade class, and when a missing ring turns up the teacher asks for an explanation for what happened - and the story is one student's explanation of the events which lead up the ring's return.
It's also a sort of dictated memoir, as Malcolm must pass on the details of the story to the author, being unable to write himself. (But, because this is a kid's book, he can read and, using books, point out the words to tell his tale. (Which just requires some suspension of disbelief - not just in the ability, but in the short amount of time such a thing takes in the story, when I can't help but imagine it would take forever.))
It's also a mystery story - not about the ring, which is actually ancillary, but because the Malcolm must discover what Snip, the villain of the story, has planned and who is helping her.
But, for me, it was the characters that really made this book shine.
Malcolm is a rat - but he's small, and mistaken for a mouse. He learns that people, and even that other school pets, don't like rats, because they're considered dirty thieves and liars - but Malcolm wants to show that not all rats are bad.
It's really a story about not judging people based on surface traits, on getting to know people, and about figuring out who the real you is, and being the best you can be.
I think it's a great story for kids, with lots of great little lessons, and was a treat for me to read as well.
Read
October 12, 2023The intended audience will likely enjoy this one a lot. The idea of classroom animals protecting the school after hours has a lot of charm and whimsy. As an adult, I struggled a bit with the villain (a 20 year old cat who was abandoned). The art is lovely, and the story is certainly clever, but I feel damn old.
January 15, 2023
4.5 rounded up
Enjoyed, will continue the series.
Enjoyed, will continue the series.
September 17, 2012
Malcolm is a rat who is suffering an identity crisis of sorts. He aspires to be a rat of “valor and merit,” a heroic rat. The problem is that his friends at the McKenna School, both human and animal, are suspicious of rats in general and mistake him for a mouse. Honey Bunny, one of the leaders of Midnight Academy, despises rats and claims that they are “skuzzy garbage-eaters who lie and cheat.” Malcolm aspires to be the rat he is inside, the rat he is when he is alone at midnight, while striving to save the McKenna School and the nutters who attend it from the evil plottings of a desperately evil villain, the cat Snape.
Malcolm is an heroic and compelling protagonist. Readers come to care deeply for him. The characterization of all of the animals in the story, from Malcolm, to Snip, to Aggy the iguana, and Beert, the great snowy owl, is particularly strong. These characters come to life in a reader’s mind, as do the nutters and Mr. Binney and Ms. Brumble.
Beck includes clever little footnotes throughout and the lovely illustrations by Brian Lies bring the story to life.
Malcolm is an adventure with many unexpected twists and turns. Some of the magic of the story is in the details, from the symbols left by the members of the Midnight Academy for each other, to the descriptions of Malcolm’s three story cage, to the dust and grime of the upper floors of the McKenna school. Indeed, the descriptions are incredibly vivid. I could smell Snape’s foul breath and hear her raspy voice.
Malcolm at Midnight should be on every must read middle grade fiction list along with The Adventures of Edward Tulane and the Tale of Despereaux.
Malcolm purports to be about a mouse, but it’s more universal than that. Readers come away from it reflecting on who we are at midnight, whether we are the individuals of valor and merit whom we may wish to be.
Malcolm is an heroic and compelling protagonist. Readers come to care deeply for him. The characterization of all of the animals in the story, from Malcolm, to Snip, to Aggy the iguana, and Beert, the great snowy owl, is particularly strong. These characters come to life in a reader’s mind, as do the nutters and Mr. Binney and Ms. Brumble.
Beck includes clever little footnotes throughout and the lovely illustrations by Brian Lies bring the story to life.
Malcolm is an adventure with many unexpected twists and turns. Some of the magic of the story is in the details, from the symbols left by the members of the Midnight Academy for each other, to the descriptions of Malcolm’s three story cage, to the dust and grime of the upper floors of the McKenna school. Indeed, the descriptions are incredibly vivid. I could smell Snape’s foul breath and hear her raspy voice.
Malcolm at Midnight should be on every must read middle grade fiction list along with The Adventures of Edward Tulane and the Tale of Despereaux.
Malcolm purports to be about a mouse, but it’s more universal than that. Readers come away from it reflecting on who we are at midnight, whether we are the individuals of valor and merit whom we may wish to be.
January 29, 2013
Let's talk about this book's narration, because holy wow is it unique: written to the class's teacher from the students, the narrator addresses him as "you, Mr. Binney". It's subtle but effective. And footnotes linking to "vocabulary words" or hilarious commentary on specific students in the class are definite funny highpoints, a burst of awesome in each chapter.
That being said, Malcolm isn't distanced at all from the reader due to the narration style. In fact, it'd be nigh impossible not to relate to him, thanks to the identity struggles he goes through. His interactions with the students and other classroom pets alike make him utterly endearing, someone to cheer for.
Speaking of the students and pets -- alll of the side characters are so amazingly developed it's mindboggling. The little quirks of the students and teachers both flesh them out and create that tangible, authentic classroom air. The pets are larger-than-life, from the tarantula (Lance?) to the sister-and-brother hamster duo. Even minor characters like Snip and the barn owl (sorry, I'm forgetting names) are very much 3D. Also, my favourite human? Johan. (Hopefully I'm remembering his name right...!) THIS KID, GUYS. <3
Now, the mystery. Oh, is it a mystery. Red herrings, multiple suspects and hidden motivations propel this storyline non-stop as Malcolm adventures throughout the whole school and even to the great outisde. Beck uses her entire school to map out the action, from the creepy, disused 4th floor to the underground boiler room.
Malcolm at Midnight also has: a villain you can empathize with. A twist-and-turn mystery. And hilariousness when you least expect it. This is by far my best read of 2013 so far.
*Review originally published at Pass the Chiclets.
That being said, Malcolm isn't distanced at all from the reader due to the narration style. In fact, it'd be nigh impossible not to relate to him, thanks to the identity struggles he goes through. His interactions with the students and other classroom pets alike make him utterly endearing, someone to cheer for.
Speaking of the students and pets -- alll of the side characters are so amazingly developed it's mindboggling. The little quirks of the students and teachers both flesh them out and create that tangible, authentic classroom air. The pets are larger-than-life, from the tarantula (Lance?) to the sister-and-brother hamster duo. Even minor characters like Snip and the barn owl (sorry, I'm forgetting names) are very much 3D. Also, my favourite human? Johan. (Hopefully I'm remembering his name right...!) THIS KID, GUYS. <3
Now, the mystery. Oh, is it a mystery. Red herrings, multiple suspects and hidden motivations propel this storyline non-stop as Malcolm adventures throughout the whole school and even to the great outisde. Beck uses her entire school to map out the action, from the creepy, disused 4th floor to the underground boiler room.
Malcolm at Midnight also has: a villain you can empathize with. A twist-and-turn mystery. And hilariousness when you least expect it. This is by far my best read of 2013 so far.
*Review originally published at Pass the Chiclets.
December 8, 2012
MALCOLM AT MIDNIGHT will appeal to fans of mysteries and animal adventures, particularly fans of Humphrey the Hamster, Despereaux the Mouse, and the Rats of NIMH.
McKenna School has a newbie: Classroom mouse Malcolm. He is quickly inducted into The Midnight Academy, a secret society of all the classroom pets at McKenna School. They meet under cover of night and are devoted to keeping the school kids safe. Malcolm loves the school, and he loves the club, but he has a secret… he’s not a mouse at all, but a Rat. And Rats are not trusted. When the group’s leader, an Iguana, vanishes, Malcolm must embark on a grand adventure to both solve the mystery and prove his bravery and worth.
Beautifully illustrated by Brian Lies (NYT Bestseller BATS AT THE BEACH among others), MALCOLM is one of my big picks for middle grade this Fall. This is the type of book that is such a great find as a bookseller, as it is so easy to hand a book like this to any parent or grandparent looking for a gift for a middle grader: It is super cute, gender-neutral, and totally appropriate as either a read-aloud or for independent readers. It’s got a classic feel, but unlike the “big name” books, the giftee is almost guaranteed not to already own it. Plus, the hardcover format and rich illustrations mean it is classy looking, but it won’t break the bank. Perfecto!
McKenna School has a newbie: Classroom mouse Malcolm. He is quickly inducted into The Midnight Academy, a secret society of all the classroom pets at McKenna School. They meet under cover of night and are devoted to keeping the school kids safe. Malcolm loves the school, and he loves the club, but he has a secret… he’s not a mouse at all, but a Rat. And Rats are not trusted. When the group’s leader, an Iguana, vanishes, Malcolm must embark on a grand adventure to both solve the mystery and prove his bravery and worth.
Beautifully illustrated by Brian Lies (NYT Bestseller BATS AT THE BEACH among others), MALCOLM is one of my big picks for middle grade this Fall. This is the type of book that is such a great find as a bookseller, as it is so easy to hand a book like this to any parent or grandparent looking for a gift for a middle grader: It is super cute, gender-neutral, and totally appropriate as either a read-aloud or for independent readers. It’s got a classic feel, but unlike the “big name” books, the giftee is almost guaranteed not to already own it. Plus, the hardcover format and rich illustrations mean it is classy looking, but it won’t break the bank. Perfecto!
August 3, 2012
Malcolm at Midnight by W.H. Beck with illustrations by Brian Lies tells the story of Malcom a classroom rat. After arriving at McKenna school he soon finds himself part of a caper involving a secret society of school pets, and evil cat and a kidnapped iguana. Malcolm must use his smarts and wits and his human friends to clear his name and to help save the school.
I loved this book. Malcom was delightful and his relationships with the other pets and his classmates were fun to read. The book is narrated by a mystery writer to the teacher and there are lots of footnotes defining the vocabulary words that the narrator adds to the story. The book has a bit of everything friendship, adventure, mystery and even a touch of romance and the pictures are fantastic. I tore through the book enchanted at every turn, this is a book I will be buying for gifts.
Appropriateness: This is a fantastic book that will be enjoyed by the middle grade audience. It will appeal equally to girls and boys (Malcolm is a boy but his best student friend is a girl) and has some great vocabulary for growing readers. I would recommend this book to readers 10-14 and it is fully appropriate for younger advanced readers.
I loved this book. Malcom was delightful and his relationships with the other pets and his classmates were fun to read. The book is narrated by a mystery writer to the teacher and there are lots of footnotes defining the vocabulary words that the narrator adds to the story. The book has a bit of everything friendship, adventure, mystery and even a touch of romance and the pictures are fantastic. I tore through the book enchanted at every turn, this is a book I will be buying for gifts.
Appropriateness: This is a fantastic book that will be enjoyed by the middle grade audience. It will appeal equally to girls and boys (Malcolm is a boy but his best student friend is a girl) and has some great vocabulary for growing readers. I would recommend this book to readers 10-14 and it is fully appropriate for younger advanced readers.
April 19, 2025
A cute and witty story of discovering your true self…rat…and being brave enough to be yourself! Malcolm becomes a class pet, makes friends with the nutters (kids), is a victim of mistaken identity, and turns out to be a natural detective!
May 18, 2021
I finished this but John didn't. We'll have to try again when he's older and see if it catches his attention better then.
February 5, 2026
I loved this SO much! The only complaint I have is that it ended without resolving a few things... then I saw that there is a sequel. Sooooooo I know what book I'll be looking for next!
April 6, 2022
My daughter had two ratties when she read this one, so many years ago. Delightful story!
October 27, 2020
I don't know how to rate this book, and I'm hoping writing this will help me figure that out.
It must be said, this is an exciting adventure about a rat trying to save schoolchildren from an unknown disaster at the hands of an angry cat. My son was hooked. The writer draws the audience into Malcolm's point of view -- my son made all the same mistaken assumptions that Malcolm did, and was stunned each time Malcolm was.
What worries me, though, is the underlying message. Because this rat begins by passing as a mouse -- not due to anything *he* did, mind you, but because others who looked at him thought he was a mouse. And then they said nasty things about rats, so he was afraid and let them go on thinking he was a mouse. And then he got caught out, and ostracized, but still tried to live his life in denial of his innate rattiness (whatever that is) in order to prove to these anthropomorphized animals that he's more than they think.
"Okay," I thought. "This is going to be a story about dealing with people as people instead of as stereotypes."
How wrong I was.
Again and again -- even to the final page -- the message is not, "We were wrong about rats" but "We were wrong about you. You're not like other rats."
Nobody likes rats, is what you're thinking right now. What's you're problem? Fair question. :-D I guess I would say my problem is what happens when I replace "rat" with my own identity, and then with others:
You're not like other girls / 鬼佬 / Jews / Blacks / Mexicans / ...
It's delicious to hear, at first, isn't it? I'm special. I'm different. Somebody sees me as me, as a whole person. Unfortunately, it also says, "all the other people like you are a problem." It says, "we can't expect any better of other people who look like you." It says, "you're the exception that proves the rule."
This is how groomers get their claws in, you know? They make you feel special and like if you just try a bit harder to do what *they* want, they'll accept you despite your inherent failing of being an X. When you make a mistake or don't line up perfectly with requirements, they cut you off (and maybe worse). You scramble to prove yourself to be more than X by doing what they want.
The Midnight Academy has a mission, apparently, to keep the kids at this school safe... or so they claim. (We don't actually see any behavior in line with this.) They're an elite club... or so they claim. (At least one member left by choice.) When Malcolm asks directly what is the problem with rats, the response is not, "One of our members had a terrible experience with a rat and he assumes all rats are the same" but "Rats are complicated."
Are they, though? The one other rat in the story isn't complicated, he just chose a different life. Not a life I would choose, maybe -- but he isn't fundamentally doing anything wrong within the bounds of this book *except* not pretending to conform with The Midnight Academy expectations. He didn't sabotage the academy; he didn't out them. He just left, instead. And for this one rat's great crime of nonconformance and departure, all rats are despised (or at least distrusted).
By the end of the book, members of The Midnight Academy admit they were wrong about Malcolm -- he's not a terrible person just because he's a rat. They do not ever consider, however, that maybe they are wrong about rats. And Malcolm does not ever consider that maybe, just maybe, this crowd of people who damaged him both physically and emotionally is not a crowd who deserves him.
You're not like other rats / girls / Jews / Blacks / Mexicans ...
Yuck.
It must be said, this is an exciting adventure about a rat trying to save schoolchildren from an unknown disaster at the hands of an angry cat. My son was hooked. The writer draws the audience into Malcolm's point of view -- my son made all the same mistaken assumptions that Malcolm did, and was stunned each time Malcolm was.
What worries me, though, is the underlying message. Because this rat begins by passing as a mouse -- not due to anything *he* did, mind you, but because others who looked at him thought he was a mouse. And then they said nasty things about rats, so he was afraid and let them go on thinking he was a mouse. And then he got caught out, and ostracized, but still tried to live his life in denial of his innate rattiness (whatever that is) in order to prove to these anthropomorphized animals that he's more than they think.
"Okay," I thought. "This is going to be a story about dealing with people as people instead of as stereotypes."
How wrong I was.
Again and again -- even to the final page -- the message is not, "We were wrong about rats" but "We were wrong about you. You're not like other rats."
Nobody likes rats, is what you're thinking right now. What's you're problem? Fair question. :-D I guess I would say my problem is what happens when I replace "rat" with my own identity, and then with others:
You're not like other girls / 鬼佬 / Jews / Blacks / Mexicans / ...
It's delicious to hear, at first, isn't it? I'm special. I'm different. Somebody sees me as me, as a whole person. Unfortunately, it also says, "all the other people like you are a problem." It says, "we can't expect any better of other people who look like you." It says, "you're the exception that proves the rule."
This is how groomers get their claws in, you know? They make you feel special and like if you just try a bit harder to do what *they* want, they'll accept you despite your inherent failing of being an X. When you make a mistake or don't line up perfectly with requirements, they cut you off (and maybe worse). You scramble to prove yourself to be more than X by doing what they want.
The Midnight Academy has a mission, apparently, to keep the kids at this school safe... or so they claim. (We don't actually see any behavior in line with this.) They're an elite club... or so they claim. (At least one member left by choice.) When Malcolm asks directly what is the problem with rats, the response is not, "One of our members had a terrible experience with a rat and he assumes all rats are the same" but "Rats are complicated."
Are they, though? The one other rat in the story isn't complicated, he just chose a different life. Not a life I would choose, maybe -- but he isn't fundamentally doing anything wrong within the bounds of this book *except* not pretending to conform with The Midnight Academy expectations. He didn't sabotage the academy; he didn't out them. He just left, instead. And for this one rat's great crime of nonconformance and departure, all rats are despised (or at least distrusted).
By the end of the book, members of The Midnight Academy admit they were wrong about Malcolm -- he's not a terrible person just because he's a rat. They do not ever consider, however, that maybe they are wrong about rats. And Malcolm does not ever consider that maybe, just maybe, this crowd of people who damaged him both physically and emotionally is not a crowd who deserves him.
You're not like other rats / girls / Jews / Blacks / Mexicans ...
Yuck.
January 31, 2013
I really enjoyed listening to this delightful mystery about Malcolm, a smaller than average rat, who becomes the newest fifth grade pet at McKenna School. Malcolm will steal your heart! He meets a secret society in the school called the Midnight Academy, which is made up of classroom pets who look out for the nutters (kids). Unfortunately, since rats have a bad reputation, Malcolm lets the misunderstanding go uncorrected that he's a mouse. One day the Academy leader, an iguana named Aggy, disappears, and Malcolm is under suspicion for committing the crime. He must prove that he is a rat of merit and valor and rescue Aggy. This book reminds me of a cross between The Rats of Nimh and Tale of Desperaux (which is a book read aloud in the story). I liked the point of view, and I think kids will love the idea of a secret classroom pet society. It's perfect for grades 3-5.
June 12, 2014
I received an audio book of Malcolm at Midnight from W. H. Beck along with some bookmarks. It was such a treat to listen to Malcolm's story while I worked and I look forward to sharing it with my students.
Malcolm at Midnight is a wonderful school story mystery full of interesting characters with quirky personalities. Malcolm becomes the 5th grade's class "mouse" even though he is actually a small rat. He befriends a girl in the class and becomes a member of The Midnight Academy which is led by an iguana. It soon becomes clear that not everyone trusts Malcolm and he quickly finds himself in trouble and has to prove his innocence.
This is the perfect follow up book for fans of The World According to Humphrey and The Tale of Despereaux (which is often mentioned in the story).
Malcolm at Midnight is a wonderful school story mystery full of interesting characters with quirky personalities. Malcolm becomes the 5th grade's class "mouse" even though he is actually a small rat. He befriends a girl in the class and becomes a member of The Midnight Academy which is led by an iguana. It soon becomes clear that not everyone trusts Malcolm and he quickly finds himself in trouble and has to prove his innocence.
This is the perfect follow up book for fans of The World According to Humphrey and The Tale of Despereaux (which is often mentioned in the story).
September 28, 2012
Absolutely fantastic! On par with Beverly Cleary's The Mouse and the Motorcycle and Carmen Agra Deedy's The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale. A must read for lovers of animals acting like people stories.
May 18, 2013
Devoured in a day. Impressive laying of plot-groundwork in this mystery. Animal illustrations gorgeous, as expected of Brian Lies of Bats at the Beach fame. Excellent dialogue and rich atmosphere--we get to know the school intimately through Malcolm's nose, ears, and over-gnawed whiskers.
Regrettably, the primary antagonist is a cat--but though a villain, she's a tragic one.
Will definitely recommend to my library patrons!
Regrettably, the primary antagonist is a cat--but though a villain, she's a tragic one.
Will definitely recommend to my library patrons!
June 12, 2014
Wonderful!! I loved it. I believe this will make a great read aloud. Kids will love the animals and mystery involved. The story was so engaging as we learned about all the characters and how it all fits together.
If like Poppy by Avi you will love this!
RECOMMEND
If like Poppy by Avi you will love this!
RECOMMEND
November 19, 2012
This is a wonderful story! There is a lot of action and suspense. It was hard to put down when I knew it was time to go to bed. It has some great lessons about friendship, self-esteem, honesty and integrity.
October 7, 2012
Even my 11 yr old who is usually too big for read alouds listened along. We all loved it.
May 15, 2013
You will want to stay up all night reading this because it is such a good book. I read this until 4:00 in the morning. I reccomend this for people who are night owls.
May 22, 2014
Charming and clever
July 13, 2014
Really cool
December 3, 2014
My 8 year old and I read this together and we loved it! Great kids chapter book!
December 3, 2018
I really wanted to like his book, but it would’ve been so much better if the author had been willing to have a story that had more bite to it. The later into the plot we got (especially what I discuss below), the more the elements felt very convenient and pat. Initially while I was reading, I thought the story was going to be played very straight and cliché: “Snip kidnaps the Academy’s leader, Malcolm would find her, proving that not all rats were bad, and Honey Bunny and the others would apologize to him." Boring. But when I saw that Snips’ plot was a lot more devious and deadly then what I'd initially guessed, I was actually surprised.
I think Honey Bunny (who I hate because he's such as jerk and got away with entirely too much) should've been working with Snip, because he made a better villain then a hero to me. Or the author should’ve just let him die on the clock tower (which could’ve been a good lesson -- see where blind hate gets you? And why couldn’t there have been some causalities on the heroes’ side?). Instead he survives because there were some tents below him. Come on. Honey Bunny (who I'll be calling HB from here on out) had no redeeming qualities. Snip had a backstory that made you feel bad for her (it didn’t excuse what she did and was going to do), and she was the major villain. HB's sad backstory? "He had a rat as his pledge, and the rat wanted to go live outside. HB doesn’t like to make mistakes, so he hates rats now."
I also thought the narrative trying to equate Malcolm's thinking HB was a villain with HB's bigoted attitude towards him was really weak, unneeded, and not even the same thing. Heck, I thought HB was going to be the bad guy. He smacked Malcolm in the face and then later attacked him. But Malcolm is just as bad for thinking he's guilty? Really?? That dog don’t hunt. So I’m sorry, but at the end, his apology to Malcolm didn't make me start liking him or forgive him for his misdeeds. If anything, I was thinking I didn’t want to read another book with the character in it. I thought it would’ve been really interesting to have the cute widdle rabbit be a genuine powerful (both physically and in terms of the power he wielded among the Academy) villain. Plus, the book never explained why his back leg was bandaged up earlier.
There were plot elements i enjoyed. I like the idea of focusing on classroom pets and them having a little secret club. I felt genuinely creeped out when Malcolm and his human friend realize Snip had been at the school for twenty years. I like that the humans weren't stereotypes, or defied them (dumb class bully, a cartoonish bumbling or antagonistic janitor, etc). I gathered what was going on with Mr. Binney and the janitor pretty early on, but was cute. I like Malcolm. I kept wanting him to just form his own little club.
I think Honey Bunny (who I hate because he's such as jerk and got away with entirely too much) should've been working with Snip, because he made a better villain then a hero to me. Or the author should’ve just let him die on the clock tower (which could’ve been a good lesson -- see where blind hate gets you? And why couldn’t there have been some causalities on the heroes’ side?). Instead he survives because there were some tents below him. Come on. Honey Bunny (who I'll be calling HB from here on out) had no redeeming qualities. Snip had a backstory that made you feel bad for her (it didn’t excuse what she did and was going to do), and she was the major villain. HB's sad backstory? "He had a rat as his pledge, and the rat wanted to go live outside. HB doesn’t like to make mistakes, so he hates rats now."
I also thought the narrative trying to equate Malcolm's thinking HB was a villain with HB's bigoted attitude towards him was really weak, unneeded, and not even the same thing. Heck, I thought HB was going to be the bad guy. He smacked Malcolm in the face and then later attacked him. But Malcolm is just as bad for thinking he's guilty? Really?? That dog don’t hunt. So I’m sorry, but at the end, his apology to Malcolm didn't make me start liking him or forgive him for his misdeeds. If anything, I was thinking I didn’t want to read another book with the character in it. I thought it would’ve been really interesting to have the cute widdle rabbit be a genuine powerful (both physically and in terms of the power he wielded among the Academy) villain. Plus, the book never explained why his back leg was bandaged up earlier.
There were plot elements i enjoyed. I like the idea of focusing on classroom pets and them having a little secret club. I felt genuinely creeped out when Malcolm and his human friend realize Snip had been at the school for twenty years. I like that the humans weren't stereotypes, or defied them (dumb class bully, a cartoonish bumbling or antagonistic janitor, etc). I gathered what was going on with Mr. Binney and the janitor pretty early on, but was cute. I like Malcolm. I kept wanting him to just form his own little club.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2017
I had passed this book several times at the library, debating whether or not I should try it. I finally decided to give it a go and was delighted by the results.
Malcolm at Midnight follows the rat Malcolm, who is commonly mistaken for a mouse. When the lights shut down at McKenna Academy, Malcolm's new home, he discovers the Midnight Academy a secret society of classroom pets who meet at midnight to discuss how to protect their school. The venerable iguana Aggy Pop is the head of Midnight Academy; her deputies include Honey Bunny (much tougher than he sounds), twin hamsters Jesse James and Billy the Kid, grumpy fish Oscar, and, of course, a tarantula named Octavius (ingenious wordplay). One night Aggy goes missing, and Malcolm, eager to prove that rats can be noble, decides to search for her.
Malcolm at Midnight was a wonderful surprise. I was hooked from the opening chapter thanks to W. H. Beck's unique writing style, which spoke directly to the teacher (Mr. Binney) and included clever footnotes. I read the entire book in two sittings; I simply had to find out what happened to these characters. As others have mentioned, the characters are wonderful, particularly the complex villain Snip.
For me, Malcolm is one of the more underrated books of the past few years. Don't hesitate to read it, regardless of whether or not you have kids. Its entertaining and surprisingly detailed plot will be enjoyed by kids and kids at heart.
Malcolm at Midnight follows the rat Malcolm, who is commonly mistaken for a mouse. When the lights shut down at McKenna Academy, Malcolm's new home, he discovers the Midnight Academy a secret society of classroom pets who meet at midnight to discuss how to protect their school. The venerable iguana Aggy Pop is the head of Midnight Academy; her deputies include Honey Bunny (much tougher than he sounds), twin hamsters Jesse James and Billy the Kid, grumpy fish Oscar, and, of course, a tarantula named Octavius (ingenious wordplay). One night Aggy goes missing, and Malcolm, eager to prove that rats can be noble, decides to search for her.
Malcolm at Midnight was a wonderful surprise. I was hooked from the opening chapter thanks to W. H. Beck's unique writing style, which spoke directly to the teacher (Mr. Binney) and included clever footnotes. I read the entire book in two sittings; I simply had to find out what happened to these characters. As others have mentioned, the characters are wonderful, particularly the complex villain Snip.
For me, Malcolm is one of the more underrated books of the past few years. Don't hesitate to read it, regardless of whether or not you have kids. Its entertaining and surprisingly detailed plot will be enjoyed by kids and kids at heart.
February 12, 2018
Potential Battle of the Books book for 2019. This is the story of Malcom, a rat mistaken for a mouse, who longs to be a critter of valor and merit. Malcom is a classroom pet at McKenna School, and his story is told as a lengthy note from a student to the teacher, Mr. Binney. Malcom no longer resides in Mr. Binney's classroom, having bitten a student. The note explains why.
Malcom deals with issues of self-image, peer pressure, mistaken identity, misplaced trust and forbidden friendships. The book is described as a mystery, but most of the mysteries are transparent and there is little surprise when things that are meant to be surprises are revealed. There are amusing footnotes throughout the book. The illustrations are done by Brian Lies known for the "Bats in/at the...." series of picturebooks. Not a bad read, but not earthshaking either.
Malcom deals with issues of self-image, peer pressure, mistaken identity, misplaced trust and forbidden friendships. The book is described as a mystery, but most of the mysteries are transparent and there is little surprise when things that are meant to be surprises are revealed. There are amusing footnotes throughout the book. The illustrations are done by Brian Lies known for the "Bats in/at the...." series of picturebooks. Not a bad read, but not earthshaking either.
September 30, 2021
In this detailed illustrated book that is perfect for elementary students, Malcolm, the new class pet hides his identity of being a rat in order to become accepted as a mouse by the others. Throughout the story he experiences challenges while being in the midnight academy club, which are pets from other classes and learns why he is being accused of being responsible for another class pet going missing. Although it was a chapter book, there was some illustrations that further highlighted the plot and provided foreshadowing. I really liked this book because it was suspenseful and had a mystery, but at the same time it taught a valuable lesson. Malcolm was often singled-out and bullied by the other pets because he was a rat so he pretended he was a mouse. The lesson that can be understood from this book is that you should not hide your true self and identity in order to fit in.
November 3, 2017
This book was just meh for me. It kind of reminded me of a Bunnicula type of story where the animals all talk to each other and have to solve a mystery. I did like the way this book incorporated vocabulary words with footnotes though. It would be a great read aloud for like a 4th or 5th grade class.
If this book were to become a live action film, I think I would chose John Ceena to play Honey Bunny - the adorable little bunny that is gruff and hates kids (but who is classroom pet) and Tim Curry as Scat the evil black cat who wears a collar that is too tight.
If this book were to become a live action film, I think I would chose John Ceena to play Honey Bunny - the adorable little bunny that is gruff and hates kids (but who is classroom pet) and Tim Curry as Scat the evil black cat who wears a collar that is too tight.
August 16, 2018
My oldest had been wanting me to read this one for a long time so when we were ready for another family read aloud book, she quickly got this one off her shelf. :) It has fairly short chapters so it was a good one for summer night readings when we needed it fairly short.
Good animal story (think The Secret Life of Pets in a school) and loved the internal dialog about being a rat of "valor and merit" and to "be the fifth grader you want to be". More depth than I would have expected and a fun story for the whole family.
Good animal story (think The Secret Life of Pets in a school) and loved the internal dialog about being a rat of "valor and merit" and to "be the fifth grader you want to be". More depth than I would have expected and a fun story for the whole family.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 180 reviews