The Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls

by Judith Rossell

For fans of The Swifts and A Series of Unfortunate Events comes the story of a young orphan at the edge of society who finds herself at the center of a city’s secrets

Maggie Fishbone is not expecting much when she’s sent to the Midwatch Institute for Orphans, Runaways, and Wayward Girls—the last resort after causing a ruckus at the orphanage where she was living. Except . . . the Institute isn’t some dreadful, dreary place like she thought.

Instead it’s full of curious girls training to solve mysteries, fight bad guys, and keep the city safe. In between fencing lessons and discovering all the shortcuts in the building, Maggie finds herself making friends at the Midwatch and finally feeling like she’s home. And when a woman goes missing, Maggie’s off on her first assignment, with each step leading her deeper into the secrets of the city.

With gorgeous black-and-white illustrations and pages of “Useful Things Every Girl Should Know” (like how send messages in morse code and how to shout extremely loudly), The Midwatch is a whimsical, adventure-filled mystery from internationally bestselling author-illustrator Judith Rossell.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Mystery, Adventure, Childrens, Fiction, Audiobook

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2024

Reviews

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a complete joy this book is. Secret girls school,old fashion feel good adventure. Good gosh Betsy! It’s the bees knees!

[Wal.li · Rating 4 out of 5]

Erwünschte Mädchen

Im Midwatch-Institut für Waisen, Ausreißerinnen und unerwünschte Mädchen angekommen, staunt Maggie Fishbone gar nicht schlecht. Hier ist sie nicht unerwünscht, sondern willkommen. Sie bekommt die Gelegenheit, etwas zu lernen und die Talente und Fähigkeiten der Mädchen werden gefördert. Schnell findet Maggie heraus, dass die älteren Mitschülerinnen besondere Aufgaben übernehmen. Und sie selbst hat ein kleines Püppchen erhalten, das ihr in heiklen Situationen helfen kann. Maggie ist schon gespannt, wann sie die Puppe zum ersten Mal einsetzen kann. Als in der Stadt ein Monster auftaucht, erfahren Maggie und ihre Freundinnen, dass die Mädchen mitunter dabei helfen, Kriminalfälle zu lösen oder auch Monster zu fangen.

Sie sind irgendwie nicht gewollt, bis sie ans Midwatch-Institute kommen. Auch da sind sie erstmal vorsichtig. Doch zum Glück erfahren sie schnell, dass sie an dieser Schule doch sehr erwünscht sind. Die Mädchen können sogar ihren Beitrag für die Gesellschaft leisten. Mit Feuereifer beginnen sie an ihren nützlichen Fähigkeiten zu feilen. Sie suchen den Klassenraum für Verstecken, sie lernen das Morsealphabet oder auch wie man Schlösser knackt. Das wirkt zwar erst etwas seltsam, aber bald stellt sich heraus, dass in der Stadt noch seltsamere Dinge vor sich gehen. Zum Beispiel ist eine Bekannte eines Lehrers verschwunden.

Dieser Roman ist für Kinder ab zehn Jahren gedacht und das wird auch als angemessen empfunden. Auch für Erwachsene bietet das Buch gute Unterhaltung, das es kindgerecht ist, gehört bei einem Kinderbuch eben dazu. Es ist schön zu erfahren, dass Mädchen an dieser Schule erwünscht sind, dass sie gefördert und gemocht werden. Klasse, wie erfindungsreich die Mädchen sind und auch wie sie herausfinden, dass sie was können. Manchmal sind gerade die Kleinen ganz schön schlau und das beweisen sie hier. Die Gruppe von Mädchen, aus denen schnell Freundinnen geworden sind, ergänzt sich sehr gut. Da ist mal Eine, die eher handwerklich begabt ist, oder eine, die durch ihr großes Wissen auffällt. So hat jedes der Mädchen etwas Besonderes. Man denkt sich, dass das Selbstbewusstsein von jungen Mädchen durch die Lektüre solcher Bücher gestärkt werden könnte. Sie haben etwas drauf und nicht so schnell Angst haben. Was sie alleine nicht schaffen, können sie gemeinsam anpacken. Aus der Art einiger Sätze könnte man auf den Gedanken kommen, es könnte sich um den Start einer Reihe handeln, dafür war allerdings bisher kein weiterer Hinweis zu finden. Eigentlich ist das bei den sympathischen Protagonistinnen etwas schade.

Sehr schön vorgelesen wird dieses Hörbuch für Kinder von Merete Brettschneider und Maria Hartmann. Bei erwachsenen Hörern ist es mit der Aufmerksamkeit manchmal nicht so weit her. Man merkt daher vielleicht erst ein wenig später, dass zwei unterschiedliche Leserinnen ihre Kunst verteilen. Wenn man dann das wieso versteht, ist es ein zusätzliches Plus.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good gravy! This is a brilliant book.

A cracking story of girls in the most unexpected orphanage, with an exceptional headmistress.

Set in an alternative 1920s Germanic state, there are crimes, baddies and airships.

Along with pages of a handy manual from the headmistress.

While I read a softcovered, advance reader’s copy, the illustrations are sensational. This is rollicking good read.

Here’s hoping it’s just the first in a very long series.

[Heather~ Nature.books.and.coffee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every now and then I read Middle Grade novels because they are just a joy and can be such a great escape. This one was enjoyable, and I can definitely see children really loving it. It's about Maggie, who gets kicked out of her orphanage to go to The Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls. She's expecting this to be a bad place, but is surprised to find out that there is a secret club for amateur detective girls where they learn all kinds of skills to help them solve cases. She becomes friends with some of the girls and loves the staff. They become more of her found family and finally feels her sense of belonging. The characters are so cute and I think kids are going to love the adventures in this book.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is such a beautiful book with lovely illustrations and a great premise. I very much enjoyed the beginning but felt that Maggies journey got caught up in the plot and I longed for more characterisation.

[Daffodils_and_books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group for the gifted copy of The Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls.

The Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls by Judith Rossell is adventurous, inspiring, and a little bit quirky. This whimsical story is great for young readers who like Matilda. I loved the artwork and the added “Useful Things Every Girl Should Know.”

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

A ‘feel GREAT’ girl’s own adventure.
What do orphans need?
It’s not cruelty, ceaseless drudgery and gruel that’s for sure.
I suspect they need kindness, some hot chocolate and friendly companionship followed by some training in the essential arts of knot tying, walking silently, Morse code and perhaps the Charleston? And now on to the important task of thwarting monsters, rescuing old ladies and catching bad guys.
This is an absolutely brilliant middle grade novel filled with cosy good vibes and fantastic illustrations.
Read it as soon as it’s released this October
Thank you to Hardie Grant for this ARC

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a TREAT. A wonderful addition to the literary canon of Books That Make Kids Wish They Were Orphans. And those illustrations? Ugh ♥️

[✧ Beanie Reads ✧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read: June June 19th - June 28th
Format: E-Book
Rating: 3 Stars

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a cute middle grade book overall. A nice secret-agent-type school for 'outcast' girls with a lot of fun and creativity put into its system. I think it'd even make for a very fun show or something for kids.

While I can appreciate how fun this could be for kids, it's one of those MG that just reads too young and misses the mark for me. I think it's mostly because it was so much more plot oriented. Harriet steals the show so much that for a bit I forgot Maggie's name 🤣 I am extremely character oriented, so such a plot-forward story just didn't do as much for me. Still a fun story for younger readers, though!

[mia ඞ chaos in a flesh suit · Rating 4 out of 5]

protect and embrace the weird girls in ur life

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars!

With a hint of harry potter mixed with series of unfortunate events wrapped up with Nancy drew.

An absolute delight to read and I hope there will be more of these books!

[merle · Rating 5 out of 5]

middle grade at its best ✨
& was für wundervolle bilder!!💛

[Kayla Nightser · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic book!! Maggie is sent to a home for wayward girls. She has heard horror stories about how terrible it is, and when she arrives, it seems like the stories are true. But as soon as the nun who brings her there leaves, everyone goes back to normal. Normal here is building cars, making explosions, solving mysteries, and eating lots of delicious cakes! This book wasn’t at all what I expected and I was very pleasantly surprised. Can’t wait to recommend to lots of readers at school!

[Katey Flowers · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Judith’s illustrations are incredible as always

[Basia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75*

[Kate Mckillinit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Literal perfection - like everything this woman touches. Australia's hidden gem.

[Rebecca Clarke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love that this book has young girls as the heroines! I was drawn to reading this based on my love of the authors previous books but this didn't keep my interest as much and I didn't feel as invested in the main characters as I did with the Withering-By-Sea series.
Though the illustrations throughout are gorgeous.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Good gravy I enjoyed this (and the funny exclamations)! I am a sucker for a school for spies/detectives, I loved the illustrations, the characters and steampunk setting were memorable, and the tongue-in-cheek tips for various things such as knot tying and how to shout loudly were delightful.

reread 10/31-12/1 for book club at school

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter and I read this together and it was a brilliant kids book that kept both my 5 year old and myself engaged, and eager to keep reading. Great mystery, fun characters and wonderful world building. A real delight.

[DaNae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beware little girls, if you are bad and unwanted you will end up at the worst of the worst of the worst orphanages - Midwatch.

Or is it?

This book is over-the-top-ridiculousness. Reminiscent of Lisa Yee’s Misfits series and Friday Barnes, another Aussie mystery series. There was nothing about this that needed to be taken too seriously. My favorite, the Countess, the simply drawn, but oh so lucious villainess. Every time she yelled, “Little Girls” I was in stitches.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful. I can't wait for Gabriella to be old enough to read this one. (I mean she probably could now but I don't know that she would want to yet.) 4.5 stars rounded up. I listened on audiobook. It was a perfect book that could lead to a series or could end here and either way works. Either way, I loved the world, the story, and the plot.

[Anna Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good gravy! This was the cat's whiskers. Full of quirky, brave, interesting girls learning useful life skills like tying knots, fixing cars, and baking vegan chocolate cake. One day I hope to be as wayward as these girls.

[Jackie Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a lovely, cosy novel, another winner from Judith Rossell!

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enjoyable middle grades book featuring Girl Power! Loved it. I hope there are more books in the works.

[Bethany Gorski]

really delightful, just a bit young for me

[Lisa Goldstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly delightful story!

[Katrenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love stories where kids are solving mysteries and fighting crime, and this is a good one. If you like City Spies or The Mysterious Benedict Society, you’ll enjoy this one.

[Dianne Wolfer]

I loved this book and couldn’t put it down!

[Dara Tinius · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute middle grade read. Like a Steampunkish little princess.

[happylittlebirdy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars