Malcolm Under the Stars

Malcolm at Midnight #2

by W.H. Beck, Brian Lies (Illustrator)

The classroom rat from Malcolm at Midnight returns to race through “the twists and turns of a fast-paced roller coaster of a plot” (Kirkus Reviews).   Now that Snip the cat is gone (but hardly forgotten), the classroom animals of the Midnight Academy are ready for things to get back to normal at the McKenna School. After all, protecting nutters (students) and lankies (teachers) is an around-the-clock job!   When a rare coin and a strange code are uncovered in the school, Malcolm and the Academy have another mystery on their paws. To find answers, Malcolm ventures into the dangerous outside world full of shady characters, new friends, and old enemies. Can Malcolm solve the mystery and save the school before it’s too late? Join Malcolm and company as they take on their most challenging assignment yet.   Illustrated with black-and-white line drawings by Brian Lies, author and illustrator of the New York Times bestsellers Bats at the Beach, Bats at the Library, and Bats at the Ballgame, this engaging novel will have readers rooting for Malcolm as they try to solve the mystery alongside him.   “Twists and turns abound, including a forgotten time capsule, buried treasure, secret codes, and hidden identities . . . For middle grade readers who enjoy animal adventure tales.” —School Library Journal   “Lies’ naturalistic illustrations enhance the general air of realism in a tale featuring unusually rich thematic underpinnings and a small protagonist with both ‘hero brain’ and ‘hero heart.’” —Booklist

Genres: Middle Grade, Mystery, Childrens, Animals, Fantasy, Audiobook, Young Adult

271 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 4, 2015

About the author

Reader. Writer. Teacher-librarian.
Also writes under the name Rebecca Hogue Wojahn.

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this one. Nice continuation of series

[Amy Webster-Bo · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved the 2nd book just as i did the first one, would love to see more books by this author,

[Caroline Akervik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Malcolm Under the Stars by W. H. Beck, a heartfelt story with charm galore
This is a charming story filled with suspense. Under Beck's deft touch, McKenna School comes to life, with all of its sights, sounds, and scents. As you progress through the story, you find yourself rooting for the sometimes unlikely allies.

In the end, as a mother and a librarian, what resonated most with me is the bittersweet truth that all of the "nutters" eventually grow up and move on. Throughout the story, Malcolm grapples with the knowledge that he is facing a future without Amelia, but could his future hold someone else who will need Malcolm, his courage, and his big heart, as well as the other animals of the Midnight Academy? Like Malcolm sniffing a crumb out of Jovahn's pocket, I "sniff" and hope for a sequel.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

won from GoodReads FirstReads

probably 3.5 stars

even though I hadn't read the first one, I could jump right into this one without feeling lost or left out. intriguing, fun, and sweet.

[Lacy Dohner · Rating 3 out of 5]

McKenna Academy is in trouble– it is falling apart, in danger of being shut down. Malcolm is determined to save his beloved school, even if it means chasing legends. In his quest for a solution, he encounters old enemies, the loss of a friend, humans' inexplicable obsession with money, and a legend of hidden treasure within McKenna. Through it all, the little rat with hero brain and hero heart never gives up hope that he can find a happy ending for everyone.

I guess I liked this a little better than Malcolm at Midnight, but ultimately it didn't draw me in. Somehow it just seemed to take itself too seriously for an anthropomorphic children's book. It got a little melodramatic and philosophical in a way that seemed awkward to me. I will say I enjoyed the mystery and the ending was well-done. But for a book about the secret life of classroom pets, I prefer The World According to Humphrey.

[Jill CD · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have enjoyed the book more if I had known it was part of a series and was not the first book. I discovered I needed the backstory to understand the terminology. The story is cute, and I am sure students will enjoy if read in order.

[Alicia Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story

Easy to read, cute illustrations. I've always been a sucker for animal stories and fairy tales, and this is a little of both.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute sequel. Good messages of helping people/critters. :)

[Andrea Miller · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this for my nephew because his name is Malcolm. The book has a good story but I struggled to read it because of the POV it is written in.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is the school with the Midnight Academy going to stay open? What happens in this book is a lot of adventure!

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this animal tale! Living in a 5th grade classroom in McKenna Elementary School, Malcolm the pet rat has developed many talents. He can read, communicate with "nutters" children, and is an active member of a secret nocturnal critter club called the Midnight Academy. All of the animals in this clandestine club from Honey Bunny, the fluffy long haired yet macho white rabbit to Aggy Pop, a green iguana, clad in Mrs. Snyder's the librarian's red reading glasses, have strong intriguing personalities, and clever minds. Because they're indoor pets they take care of their "nutters" and try to solve unsurmountable problems in their school. When the school board discusses the school's deterioration, and is doubtful there's enough money to save it, the Midnight Academy knows they must find a way to save the school. There is a legend about hidden treasure around the school, they struggle with solving the complex secret mysteries of the legend, solving codes, and hidden clues. There are subtle important questions considered such as the true importance of money,"There's never enough money," observed Malcolm. The animals ponder universal concerns about friendship, loss, and revenge. This fast paced, highly entertaining animal tale comes alive with Brian Lies realistic gorgeously rendered pencil illustrations in shades of gray pencil, giving the animals an expressive three dimensional quality. This is a well developed animal adventure with lots of cliff hangers hooking the reader from the start. A must read for elementary school animal fans.





especially the dangerous yet powerful "fixer" the Striped Shadow who can help any animal in need for a price.

[Dawn Moews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really, really like Malcolm and the rest of the pets in the Midnight Academy at McKenna Elementary School. Beck has skillfully followed the original Malcolm at Midnight with a second engaging tale of the school pets and their quest for a way to save their school--led by Malcolm, of course. The personalities of each pet are so well developed that I can see them as former students or colleagues--or family members. I'd like to say I see Malcolm as myself, but I'm afraid I'm not quite that clever.

One of the challenges of a sequel is to write it in such a way that the reader won't be lost but will wonder what went on in the past. I stumbled onto the Harry Potter series that way--I read book 2 first, and while I was able to follow the story line and to understand and appreciate the characters, I still knew that there was a backstory told somewhere else. I went looking for it. I would hope that anyone who reads this book first would have the same reaction.

Beck has maintained the ease of Malcolm's voice while communicating the urgency of the situation the pets now find themselves in. One thing I especially appreciated--the fact that there are Midnight Academies in other buildings--including the district office.

I highly recommend this book to intermediate and middle grade readers. It will make a great read aloud or be one that students will enjoy reading on their own. Well done!

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series Malcolm at Midnight. I did not read the first book and I think it would have been better if I did. There were many references to occurrences from the first book. That being said, I was still able to follow the story.

Malcolm is a classroom rat living at McKenna School. The animals that live at McKenna all travel around the school at night and are part of the Midnight Academy. In this story, they have found out that the school may be closed and they are worried that their Nutters (children) and Lankies (adults) will all be sent to different schools and they will not be together. They set out to find a hidden stash that has been referred to in stories. The premise is good, but I found the story long and drawn out and it took a long time to read as I kept setting it aside. The story is geared to middle school students and the idea of animals solving the mystery of the hidden stash will be interesting but I am not sure if they will stick to the book. Lots of facts about animals are given in footnotes which is also a good idea. I did love the illustrations in this book and hope that the next one in the series is a little more concise.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Clare Rossetter · Rating 4 out of 5]

W.H Beck introduces to reader to a whole group of interesting characters whose mission is to save the Midnight Academy. Malcolm must face some tough decisions and decide whether to go with what you know is the right thing to do or to do what you want. The final board meeting is very nerve wracking for Malcolm and his pals will the school stay open or not? Read this tale to find out. it is worth the read and you will not forgot these characters.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listed in CCBC Choices 2016 under Fiction for Children. This sequel to Malcolm at Midnight is a gentle adventure/mystery. Classroom pets from McKenna Elementary work together with their "nutters" (students) and "lankies" (adults) to keep their school open. Use of footnotes is interesting in helping readers decode language in a friendly way. Either book would be a great read-aloud for Grades 2-3 classrooms. Sweet spot: Grades 3-6

[Abby · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt like I spoiled the party by not reading the first book. I managed, but was instead slightly annoyed by some of the "asides" in the "manuscript". Seems like a fun series about school pets to read in class with elementary grades.

[Beka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun story about the Midnight Academy. I really liked how they came together to solve so many mysteries in this book.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

More fun with Malcolm and the Midnight Academy and footnotes. :^)

[Melynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved both Malcolm books!! Excellent!

[Amanda Blau]

Classroom pets band together to solve a mystery from the past and save their school.

[Hillvan]

610L