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Malcolm At Midnight | August 2, 2012

by W.H. Beck illustrated by Brian Lies (Houghton Mifflin, Sept. 2012)

This illustrated novel, W.H. Beck’s debut, was featured on the middle-grade editors buzz panel at BEA this year, and I got lucky enough to snag an ARC. Malcolm at Midnight is a classic “miniature world” book like Abel’s Island or The Mouse and the Motorcycle, and our hero is a rat. Yes, a rat.

Malcolm the rat is new to being a class pet and has much to learn, especially about joining the Midnight Academy, a secret society of pets that runs his new school. As he soon realizes, all is not well at McKenna Elementary: pets disappear, villains lurk in the shadows, and no one can be trusted—especially not Malcolm, as the Midnight Academy collectively thinks all rats are “skuzzy.” But to unravel all the mysteries, Malcolm will need to become his best rat self.

It’s a compelling narrative with an inspiring message, and the package is perfect for middle-grade readers, with black-and-white interior illustrations by Brian Lies (whose animals have beautifully expressive faces). But Malcolm at Midnight really stands out because of its wry narrative voice, replete with footnotes* and humorous asides. The many secrets, including the narrator’s identity, are revealed at the very end with a lovely sense of “a-ha! Of course!”
All the elements of a classic told in a fresh way—charming, funny, and sure to appeal to all.
*Yes, footnotes.

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