The Middle Moffat

The Moffats #2

by Eleanor Estes, Louis Slobodkin (Illustrator)

A 1943 Newbery Honor Book

Who is Jane Moffat, anyway? She isn't the youngest in the family, and she isn't the oldest-she is always just Jane. How boring. So Jane decides to become a figure of mystery . . . the mysterious "Middle Moffat." But being in the middle is a lot harder than it looks.

In between not rescuing stray dogs, and losing and finding best friends, Jane must secretly look after the oldest inhabitant of Cranbury . . . so he can live to be one hundred. Between brushing her hair from her eyes and holding up her stockings, she has to help the girls' basketball team win the championship. And it falls to Jane-the only person in town with enough courage-to stand up to the frightful mechanical wizard, Wallie Bangs.

Jane is so busy keeping Cranbury in order that she barely has time to be plain old Jane. Sometimes the middle is the most exciting place of all. . . .

Genres: Fiction, Childrens, Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, Classics, Realistic Fiction, Family

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1942

About the author

Eleanor Ruth Rosenfeld (Estes)was an American children's author. She was born in West Haven, Connecticut as Eleanor Ruth Rosenfield. Originally a librarian, Estes' writing career began following a case of tuberculosis. Bedridden while recovering, Estes began writing down some of her childhood memories, which would later turn into full-length children's books.

Estes's book Ginger Pye (1951) won the Newbery Medal, and three of her other books (The Middle Moffat, Rufus M., and The Hundred Dresses) were chosen as Newbery Honor books. She also received the Certificate of Award for Outstanding Contribution to Children’s Literature and was nominated for the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award. By the time of her death at age 82, Estes had written 19 children's books and one novel for adults.

Reviews

[Christina Baehr · Rating 5 out of 5]

The section about the three bears play is a masterpiece of comic writing, up there with PG Wodehouse himself.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely comical and positively endearing!

Who can resist Jane, the "mysterious" middle Moffat! Certainly not the Oldest Inhabitant of Cranbury who walks by her one day as she's trying to decide on how she should have her mother introduce her to new people. "Jane, the middle Moffat," or "Jane, the mysterious middle Moffat?" It's a tough decision and she makes an embarrassing blunder; to the Oldest Inhabitant of all people too! He doesn't seem to mind though as he comes to her organ recital - a memorable scene! As she hits the keys with gusto, a fluttering of moths escape from the organ and cover the room!

Sure to capture your attention and turn even the strongest book haters/reading-time haters into book lovers!

Ages: 6+ #familyreadaloud

Cleanliness

Children's Bad Words
Mild Obscenities & Substitutions - 6 Incidents: Criminenty, Pooh, stupid
Name Calling - 2 Incidents: mincemeat, Peewee (a fond nickname - used several times)
Religious Profanity - 39 Incidents: Goodness, goodness' sake, heavens, Gee, Gracious

Religious & Supernatural - 2 Incidents: Children irrationally think of a scary scenario with a witch.
Someone says a boy looks like a brown ghost in his bear costume.

Romance Related - 2 Incidents: Mentions dances and a ball. An older sisters gets love letters.

Illustrations - 1 Incident: There is an outlined drawing of a witch.

Attitudes/Disobedience - 2 Incidents: A little girl wants to give a dog a bathe in the house, as long as her mother is not home. She knows her mother will like it. Two best friends get into an argument. The errant friend says "Jane is a pain," often in front of the other girls at school. After a few days, she apologizes for her actions and they are friends again.

Conversation Topics - 4 Incidents: References mermaids. Mentions missionaries who worked with cannibals. A sister writes a letter to her brother, pretending to be Santa Claus. Mentions a tobacco box.

Parent Takeaway
Fun, cleverly witty and intact with good morals and sibling comradery, you couldn't ask for a more wholesome book!

**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!

So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! You’ll see my updates as I’m reading and know which books I’m liking and what I’m not finishing and why. You’ll also be able to utilize my library for looking up titles to see whether the book you’re thinking about reading next has any objectionable content or not. From swear words, to romance, to bad attitudes (in children’s books), I cover it all!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Moffat series reads a little younger than most of my favorite children's books, but half way through I'm quite charmed, and this one in particular is lovely and very funny. The total eclipse chapter was a most timely surprise.

[Katja Labonté · Rating 5 out of 5]

5+ stars & 6/10 hearts. Aww... I still like book one best, but this is a great sequel. It really is awesome. Besides a chapter about Christmas & Santa Claus (pretty easily edited, I'd say), I can't think of any content. I looooved the oldest inhabitant and Janey's relationship with him. I also really liked Janey's friendship with Nancy and how they dealt with the disagreement. I loved the old-timey atmosphere. I loved the writing style, which is so amazingly descriptive of what is going on... absolutely breathless and even a little confusing during the basketball game, and reflective and quiet during Janey's wait for the eclipse, for example. These books just bring to life the daily adventures of children, and I love it. It's so simple and sweet and realistic and good... and relatable. <3

Also, the whole play was absolutely hilarious. The picture of the three bears. OH MY WORD.

A Favourite Quote: "I always say it's better to try and do a good job, or at least the best you can, no matter what the job is. Otherwise what's the use of doing it?"

[Cleo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read May 28, 2025

The Middle Moffat follows the adventures and musings of Jane Moffat, the middle Moffat as she likes to be called as it gives some distinction to her place in the family. We experience the organ recital featuring the new family organ donated by a Thoreauian-conscious woman; Jane has a best friend in the girl, Nancy, from next door; we meet the oldest inhabitant of Cranbury, a gentleman who turns 100 years old during the novel; and much more.

My favourite part of the story was the play, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, performed at the Town Hall. The accidents and unexpected challenges of the performance made me laugh out loud and I was chuckling over it for long afterward.

The novel ended somewhat abruptly, however, and I'm hoping it wasn't a bad Kindle version that I read. In any case, there are a few more Moffat books to go, so if I miss their antics and Cranbury, I still have a chance to visit.

[Miz Moffatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full review posted on Across the Litoverse

In truth, Jane is one of four Moffat children, meaning she shares her middle child status with an older brother; however, she coins her title after noticing her mother simply introduces her as just Jane. Sylvie is the eldest child; Rufus, the youngest; and Joey is the oldest son. But what about Jane? I would argue her stance in this matter exemplifies a middle-child mindset, so I'll let the the four-child status slide this time.

What follows in this second novel from The Moffats series is a collection of short stories profiling one year in the life of the feisty, fun-loving Jane after she and her family moves across town to a house on Ashbellows Place. In a new setting with a host of neighbours to meet, Jane wants to greet the world with a new persona—and the mysterious middle Moffat seems an excellent place to start. But being in the middle is a lot harder than it looks…

Jane's adventurous spirit and her endless search for fun leads her to befriend and secretly protect Mr. Buckle, Cranbury's oldest inhabitant, to hold her first disastrous organ recital, to help the girls' basketball team win their championship, to stand up to the frightful mechanical wizard Wallie Bangs, to learn about losing and finding best friends across town, and so much more. Throughout her travels, Jane dedicates herself to upholding the honour of the Moffats, and helps her mother and siblings as best as she can.

Overall, a lovely book about a fellow Moffat[t] child. In particular, the book lends itself well to classes studying children's lives during the Second World War and offers a nice, light read to middle readers in general.

Ideal for: Middle readers who like episodic, small-town adventures; Educators looking to capture a child's life in the Second World War for their classes; Older readers looking to reconnect with the classics of their childhood; Members of the Moffat clan.

[Susann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Should be called Plucky In Spite of Herself, because what I most enjoy about Jane is her lack of self-awareness. She has no idea how much gumption she has and spends most of her time worrying about doing the right thing, not the spunky thing.

Many "me too!" moments as I read: the man in the moon confusion; wondering how to read aloud "ha ha"; and the complete assurance that concert-worthy music will pour from one's fingers, without actually practicing/learning the instrument.

Our VSC discussed this with Maud Hart Lovelace's Betsy-Tacy. Nice pairing and fun discussion.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

The focus on Jane sets this book ahead of the first one. Her relationship with The Oldest Inhabitant is a lovely recurring theme that gets its fulfillment in the final chapter.

[Carol Bakker · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightful girl Jane Moffat is! She's the third of four Moffat children and decides to brand herself the "middle Moffat." She plays with the idea of adding another word to her sobriquet; when she meets the town's oldest citizen, Mr. Buckle (99), she accidently describes herself as "the mysterious middle Moffat." He raises his eyebrows, while she confesses that she's really not mysterious.

So begins a sweet relationship; whenever Mr. Buckle sees Jane, he puts his finger aside of his nose, a private joke about her mystery. She tries to do everything she could to help him reach one hundred. She visits him and pays attention to his miniature furniture carved out of chicken bones. I looked it up: it's a thing!

From the chutzpa of giving a private organ recital after one week of dinking around, to the desire to read every book in the library, Jane is adorable.

[David Goetz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one slightly less than The Moffats and Ginger Pye, but it was still excellent. Jane Moffat, "the mysterious middle Moffat," is a wonderful and plausible character in a lovely family, and the book relates all sorts of fun stories about her: her family-room organ recital and its sudden interruption and cancellation on account of moths, her bestfriendship with Nancy Stokes and its survival in spite of Jane's brave decision to side with Beatrice against Nancy (!) in an argument, her observation of a major solar eclipse, and her friendship with "the oldest inhabitant" of Cranbury, who turns 100 at the book's end.

As with the other two of Estes's books I've read, this one was fun to read aloud with my two older girls. The writing is straightforward but poignant, and the depictions of a child's mental and emotional life were humorous and penetrating. I have concluded after this third book that Estes overused the word "disconsolate," but there are worse words to overuse.

Anyway, I recommend it.

[Amy T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter and I are really loving The Moffats series, which we recently discovered. The series reminds me very much of the Ramona series or Henry Huggins series by Beverly Cleary.

The Middle Moffat is about Jane, who is very thoughtful and conscientious. She makes friends with “The Oldest Inhabitant” in town, gives an organ recital, and views a total eclipse of the sun with her best friend, Nancy. (Side note: I’m not sure when the book is set, but it looks like a total solar eclipse happened in West Haven, renamed Cranbury in the book, in January 1925.) It’s fun learning some of the old-fashioned lingo and reading about the types of outfits girls would wear to play basketball.

I was intrigued by the chapter about the new teen neighbor boy who is a “Mechanical Wizard.” I have not seen any other reviews comment on this at all, but it seems this character today would be considered to be on the autism spectrum. He was singularly focused, struggled socially, and repeated the same phrases over and over. An interesting thing to see in a book written long before anyone was talking about autism.

Anyway, the whole book is a charming read. We plan to keep reading more by Eleanor Estes.

[Bobbiann Markle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this aloud to my 10-year-old son who enjoyed it. Jane, the middle child of the Moffat family, is trying to make sure her town’s “oldest inhabitant” makes it to his hundredth birthday, holds an organ recital in her home, has a disagreement with her best friend, and more.

[Bess Bergey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just re-read this book, a favorite from my childhood, and found it to be as delightful as ever! Estes has a way of creating such fun and realistic characters. I hope every child has a chance to read this book. If you are an adult who hasn't and need a lighthearted and fun read, I would highly recommend this as well as the other Moffat books.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

These slices of the life of an early 20th century girl are very pleasantly engrossing, often funny (I appreciated the middle bear's head episode lots), and even moving at times (the middle Moffat's concern for the Oldest Citizen was very touching).

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really fun read aloud! We laughed together, sometimes to the point of tears, and I love reading well written books to the kids. Some things are so old I didn’t even know how to explain what they were, but it was fun reading about oil lamps and coal fires and expanding the kids’ perception of the world.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely and charming.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read aloud with the girls!

52 Book Club: Title starts with letter “M”

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can we say, we found “the mysterious middle Moffat” a very endearing read aloud!

[Charity · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual, Estes does not disappoint.

The Middle Moffat passed the most important test: My kids loved it. Both the 8yo and the 4yo said several times a day, "Read more Moffats, Mommy!" I found myself wondering what my 21st-century children see in these World War I-era books.

I think what makes the Moffat books timeless is the way Estes portrays the children. The books seem very true to the way a child thinks. I really love Jane's perspective, and I enjoyed being in her head. Reading Jane's internal conflict when trying to make decisions really endeared her to me. It's lovely to read a character who is imperfect but trying so hard to do the right thing while receiving conflicting messages (like whether or not to take the last pork chop in a home with a maid).

Estes also incorporates some cultural critiques (and gentle ribbing) that help adult readers look at themselves less seriously. I especially loved the chapter where the women of the town hear a talk about Henry David Thoreau and then go through and declutter their homes. That really hit close to home. I had no idea people were decluttering in the early 20th century. And the means by which the organ---but not the piano bench---comes into the Moffat's home highlights the way that some people feel compelled to declutter without really internalizing the reasons for doing so.

The relationship between Jane and the oldest inhabitant of Cranbury was incredibly sweet, the way she cared for him, and he treated her as an equal. I found myself wishing our town would have a parade for every inhabitant who reached the century mark.

There are so many golden moments in this book. The only trouble I had with it is that the chapters are a tad long for a read-aloud. That didn't stop us, though.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My all-time favorite children's author for ages 7-10 - but read it to or with your child until they get comfortable with occasional old-fashioned vocabulary. After Jimmy got to know (and love) the characters, he read all the other Moffat (and many other books by Eleanor Estes) by himself. To me the characters are timeless - children who know how to play, imagine, create, but also are good kids who love their families, help their neighbors, etc. The Middle Moffat is my favorite - perhaps because I was a middle child. :)

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed getting acquainted with the Moffats - can't believe I missed this series when I was a child. I loved Jane (the middle Moffat) and her point of view - all the scrapes she got in to, and her triumphs and tragedies. From an adult point of view, I admired Mrs. Moffat, raising 4 kids without a husband (she was a widow), and supporting herself and them as a dressmaker. Although the family was poor, they didn't have a "poor us" attitude, as many people do today who are much more well off than this family.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son and I thoroughly enjoyed this as a read aloud. Funny, engaging, sweet! Each chapter held some humor or poignancy we could indulge in together. We loved the organ recital, anything to do with the wonderful oldest inhabitant, the three bears play. The middle Moffat herself was delightful -- mannerly, sweet, a good friend. She cares so much about the feelings of those around her, though not perfectly. We loved the eclipse, taking up sports, and the letter from Santa. Such an enjoyable read. Highly recommended to all.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really enjoying these stories of the Moffats. I love the oldest inhabitant Mr. Buckle and how he plays Hawkshaw with Jane and how she looks after him. I love that she thinks she should hold an organ recital in her home after just a week or so of practice...and she thinks her hands will suddenly know how to play...and that people actually come to her organ recital. Jane has a series of adventures, but seems like a fairly typical/believable little girl. The kind of girl that might live just down your street or be your best friend. I'm quite fond of Jane, the mysterious middle Moffat.

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an adorable book. Jane (aka middle Moffat) is so well developed s a character that she feels like a real person you could meet on the street. She is one of the sweetest people you will ever read about. The book it's self is so adorable. All the adventures that Jane experiences are really fun and playful and so realistic. highly recommend this book to children and adults of all ages. Thanks for taking the time to read this review!

[Elinor Loredan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story has charm and a realism to it. The middle bear chapter was the most riveting and funny to me. I just didn't get attached to the characters and setting, and I feel like the story could be more focused on Jane and her struggles. My expectation was that it would center on Jane trying to distinguish herself as the middle sibling, and I suppose it does (the story with the oldest inhabitant was definitely cute), but beyond the beginning I don't see Jane's struggle to be more noticed.

[Anne (In Search of Wonder) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book about a middle child always has a soft place in my middle-child-heart:)

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple, innocent and oh so charming--like being back inside the mind of a child. Would be an excellent read aloud. Loved Jane and the "oldest inhabitant".

[Camile · Rating 4 out of 5]

We read it to the girls about a year ago. We all really enjoyed it. I love how Estes can think like a kid. We found ourselves laughing aloud occasionaly as we read it.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it !