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A review by housedesignerking
Midnight For Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I've often strayed from books where it talks about special abilities and people going off to a school because of Harry Potter. Then I picked up this book. The back cover states that Charlie is surprised when he realizes he can hear voices when he looks at photographs and eventually he is sent off to a special school by his 3 Aunts. Bloor's Academy is for those who are 'endowed,' with a 6th sense, so-to-speak. There are many special abilities in this school. There's a Dr. Dolittle type, one who can shatter glass without touching it and so many others.
Charlie Bone begins to suspect something rotten in the state of Denmark so, of course as any self respecting main character would do, he investigates. He eventually finds out that there is a conspiracy along with several of the teachers at Bloor's Academy involving Charlie's supposedly deceased father, the 3 Aunts who are sending him to said school as well as several others who don't exactly teach at the school.
On a quest after figuring out that a baby has been stolen, re-identified legally and hypnotized, Charlie and his friends go on a quest to uncover the truth. I give it 4 stars. There are some nods and similarities between this and Harry Potter, but when you look past that, the story lines are completely different. Someone once told me that most writers get their ideas from other people and that it's all in the process of writing. So I looked past it and it turned out to be a rather fascinating read!
Even though I found this book in the Teen and Young Reader section, it was over 400 pages and since I dorkishly found myself on the edge of my seat, I went out to the same bookstore and bought the 2nd and 3rd book in the series. There are 8 and then a side story book entitled the Chronicles of the Red King. I reckon it's the start of a spinoff series.
My notes were:
(Page 18, February 15 2012) Not exactly sure if i'm going to like this book, but it must be a good story if there's 8 books so far so i'm gonna give it a try.
(Page 239, February 16 2012) Hmm...Well, I notice small similarities between this series and Harry Potter. The similarities are not too outrageous though. The story line, for one, has no similarity to that of said other series. Just little things are making me think of HP.
(Page 393, February 17 2012) Despite the slight nods and similarities to Harry Potter, I find this story rather fascinating. Right when I thought this was gonna be mostly a slow paced book with mostly information scenes, there's an two action packed scenes coinciding each other. Very fascinating.
Charlie Bone begins to suspect something rotten in the state of Denmark so, of course as any self respecting main character would do, he investigates. He eventually finds out that there is a conspiracy along with several of the teachers at Bloor's Academy involving Charlie's supposedly deceased father, the 3 Aunts who are sending him to said school as well as several others who don't exactly teach at the school.
On a quest after figuring out that a baby has been stolen, re-identified legally and hypnotized, Charlie and his friends go on a quest to uncover the truth. I give it 4 stars. There are some nods and similarities between this and Harry Potter, but when you look past that, the story lines are completely different. Someone once told me that most writers get their ideas from other people and that it's all in the process of writing. So I looked past it and it turned out to be a rather fascinating read!
Even though I found this book in the Teen and Young Reader section, it was over 400 pages and since I dorkishly found myself on the edge of my seat, I went out to the same bookstore and bought the 2nd and 3rd book in the series. There are 8 and then a side story book entitled the Chronicles of the Red King. I reckon it's the start of a spinoff series.
My notes were:
(Page 18, February 15 2012) Not exactly sure if i'm going to like this book, but it must be a good story if there's 8 books so far so i'm gonna give it a try.
(Page 239, February 16 2012) Hmm...Well, I notice small similarities between this series and Harry Potter. The similarities are not too outrageous though. The story line, for one, has no similarity to that of said other series. Just little things are making me think of HP.
(Page 393, February 17 2012) Despite the slight nods and similarities to Harry Potter, I find this story rather fascinating. Right when I thought this was gonna be mostly a slow paced book with mostly information scenes, there's an two action packed scenes coinciding each other. Very fascinating.