Review - Malcolm at Midnight

Malcolm at Midnight by W.H. Beck

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I do not usually like talking animal stories.  This goes back to my days in school when my teacher told me I had to read something.  I didn't like being forced to do so then any more than I do now.  So I have never enjoyed that particular genre.  But this story was actually pretty good.  Yes, it was pretty predictable, but there were enough twists in the plot to keep it entertaining.  The author substitutes other words for swear words, like "scraps" that could have been left out to still make the story perfectly fine.  It could have been 50 pages shorter, as the plot was slow to develop and seemed to drag on, but other than those very minor problems, I enjoyed it.

It's a nominee for best Children's Fiction in the Utah Beehive Award, and a worthy nominee.

Plot (from Goodreads.com):  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.

Now I am reading Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai.