I absolutely ADORED this story as a 35 yr old woman! It was so quirky and fun and action packed and had the loveliest cast of characters. The school! The setting! Fantastic. Such a cute middle grade read.

What worked:
Maggie is anonymously left at an orphanage but the nuns send her to the Midwatch Institute due to her bad behavior. The cannery owner’s son was bullying some young kids so she pushed him off the wharf and into the bay. This shows how she’s willing to protect the weak from the strong. Midwatch has a reputation for taking in the worst kids but Maggie is shocked when she’s settled within its walls. Girls are taught useful skills for solving crimes and keeping the city safe although Maggie doesn’t understand exactly what that means. One surprise for readers might be that the institute has no bullies. Maggie and two other recruits are immediately accepted by other girls so they easily transition to the new setting. There is some banter between first-year and second-year girls but nothing malicious or mean.
Many chapters end with mini-lessons for some of those useful skills mentioned above. These pages add levity to the story even though some seem a bit strange. One of the lessons describes how to escape an alligator attack and another covers how to dance the Charleston. It’s easier to see how learning to communicate with Morse Code and training animals might be useful in helping others. Maggie is surprised by her class schedule but readers will recognize the usefulness of the lessons. They include learning to speak German, read maps, and hide. Maneuvering around the institute tests her agility as it’s often like completing an obstacle course.
The plot’s conflict emerges as it nears the midpoint and it will make readers wonder. People have been disappearing around the city but no one is sure what’s causing it. There’s nothing supernatural about life at the institute so readers will suspect a person or gang must be responsible. However, news reports describe a large beast due to growls heard and scratch marks found at the locations. Eventually, a librarian reports a missing woman and the police direct him to the institute. Everyone is stumped by a note left by the woman until Nell, another new arrival and Maggie’s friend, realizes there’s a cry for help hidden within the words. This leads to Maggie and the other first-years becoming part of the search but things don’t work out as smoothly as they hope. The plot builds to an exciting climax above the city!
What didn’t work as well:
I’m not female but the premise of the story might bother some readers. The girls can move freely around town because no one expects anything from females, especially young ones. The man inspecting Midwatch thinks sewing is the best way to improve a young girl’s character so that’s what the teachers and girls show him when he visits. Nevertheless, the young, female characters at Midwatch prove to be brave, resourceful detectives.
The final verdict:
The book has similarities to another one called The School for Wicked Witches. The most interesting part of the story is Midwatch’s façade of a strict institute for wayward girls while it secretly trains them to keep the city safe. The absence of petty squabbles, jealousy, and malicious bullying is refreshing and the immediate comradery between characters is very enjoyable. Overall, this book will make readers feel positive and entertained and I recommend you give it a shot!

Huge thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for approving this arc!

Despite Rossell's books being popular in Australia while I was a kid I never picked up her popular Withering by the Sea series as my elder sister had beat me to it, so imagine my joy when I come across this author once again. This book did not disappoint, the writing was transportive, the characters loveable and the plot enthralling. Every other page was filled with illustrations done by the author (!) which were beautiful and immersive. The aesthetic is one I've never been able to get over, with a slightly Victorian feel which greatly complimented the narrative. The basic premise for the book is Maggie is sent to an orphanage for girls which presents itself a terrible place to live, only teaching things like sewing and cleaning. However that is but a facade and the ladies who run it train the girls in plenty of useful endeavours; rope tying, hiding, surviving hypnosis etc in an effort to fight crime in London. Overall the novel was charming and I hope to Inshallah add this to my primary school classroom one day.

I love stories like this! I think kids 2nd to 5th grade are going to enjoy it very much! It's well written with great characters, a fun plot- Girls who don't conform or fit in their communities are sent to Midwatch Institute, it's believed, to be punished for being different. Actua;ly, the school celebrates the differences of the girls and uses them to solve musteries! So entertaining! Reminds me of Ms. Rapscott's Girls by Elise Primavera and Miss Ellicott's School for the Magiclly Minded by Sage Blackwood in the most wonderful way.
Kudos, Judith Rossell! I hope you are writing sequel! It should be a series@ Movie?

Was there ever a more charming, silly, and inspiring read than The Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls? I think not. I could not stop smiling and will be so delighted to read it to my children. Midwatch is a school for wayward girls, but Ms. Mandelay knows there’s more to a “wayward girl” that meets the eye. To the public, Midwatch is dreary place of absolute drudgery, but once inside, it’s a delightful crime fighting utopia where all girls are encouraged to pursue their passions and use it to fight crime within their city!

Maggie isn’t sure what to think about this new school, but when a night monster starts wrecking havoc in the city, and a woman goes missing without a trace, it’s up to the girls at Midwatch to save all.

This book was precious and utterly nonsensical and every time the stakes were raised, I couldn’t help but smile at the innovative solutions the Midwatch girls came up with when faced with impossible odds. It also serves as an affirming reframe to any child who feels they are an outsider.

I would like to thank Penguin Group and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My kids and I found "The Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls"" by Judith Rossell to be a suspenseful , Sherlock Holmes middle grade story. Wayward Institute is more than a home for girls, it's a secret society of young girls who solve crimes. My kids loved how the girls would find clues and narrowly escape bad guys through their secret tunnels under the city. The artwork helps the reader really get into the story, we spent at least 20 minutes on each picture while we discussed what was happening in the story. We hope the author will continue this series. @PenguinKidsBooks

This book was adorable. Kind of reminded me of series of unfortunate events and Madeline. Has a good strong message that anyone can do better and help others.

Thank you, NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Dial Books for this ARC for review. Well, that was adorable. Readers who enjoyed A Series of Unfortunate Events will definitely enjoy this book. Maggie Fishbone is being sent to Midwatch Institute for Orphans, Runaways, and Wayward Girls after causing problems at the last orphanage and being kicked out. She doesn’t think she’ll be impressed be this one either, but the institute is something entirely different. The girls here are smart, and are being trained to fight bad guys and help the city. Maggie starts to make friends and settle in at the institute. This book was super cute with a great message- friendship, female strength, doing good for the sake of others.