This was a great book for middle grade and middle school kids! I can’t keep it on the shelves in our school library! I think adults would love to read it too. I really enjoyed it, even though it had some suspenseful parts. It is a great story of friendship and belonging. Hosting the author at school made it even better!

Such a wonderful middle-grade book about friendship, family, and finding a place to belong. I found myself wondering if it would be to "deep" for middle grade students to pick up on the theme, but regardless, it is a feel-good story that will be enjoyed by readers of all ages.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an audio-ARC of The Midnight Children by Dan Gemeinhart.
A sweet story of loneliness, bullies, and friendship that stays with the reader long after the last page. Dan Gemeinhart has a way of creating endearing characters. His storytelling catches you in the first paragraph and weaves seamlessly through the book. Perfect for fans of Lemony Snicket and Erin Entrada Kelly.

Ravini Foster has never had a friend. Growing up in Slaughtersville is difficult. The town is a miserable place filled with miserable people, many of whom make their living at the slaughter house in the center of town. Ravi, an only child, is lonely. He delights in the woods, and birds, and the adult characters in his small town, but his greatest wish is to have a friend. Picked on by the town bullies, unathletic, unable to connect with his exhausted father, Ravi yearns for something to change. Then one night, unable to sleep for loneliness, Ravi sees something he isn’t supposed to see. A family of seven children move into the abandoned house across the street in the dead of night. There are no adults with them. Ravi’s curiosity gets the better of him, and with persistence, patience, and small, but exceedingly kind gestures, Ravi is able to earn the trust of Virginia and her siblings. Discovering the mysterious secret behind Virginia’s family life puts Ravi in a curious position. He is thrilled to finally belong somewhere, but now must help his new friends remain a family. Ravi has never been prone to taking risks or accepting leadership, but friendship and belonging help him to see a different side of himself. Darkly funny in the vein of Lemony Snicket, but with an emotional and serious message about the nature of friendship and the meaning of family.
A stunning middle grade novel that is an absolute delight to read aloud.

2.5 stars? I have nothing against the actual plot of this book - it's interesting with fun characters and great middle grade situations. However, I really hated the narration style with the oh-so-knowing omniscient narrator. Maybe that's because I am not a kid, but it really didn't work for me at all. I also rolled my eyes at the way the Hunter spoke throughout. I get it. He talks slowly. It was overdone.

Obviously I'm in the minority. I loved Coyote Sunrise but sadly this one just wasn't for me.

Sometimes when a book begins, it's slow, so you understand the people and what will happen--if something does. That's how this story is. After the beginning, it picks up momentum, and it's best not to skip ahead, or you will lose the trail.

A story like this that introduces a group of runaway orphans and how they live, includes many elements; adventure, humor, mystery, nature study, tragedy, love, friendship, a chase scene, dealing with bullies, keeping a big secret (for the right reasons), and comedy, etc.

It sounds like too much, but in the life of a lonely, skinny, uncoordinated, 12 year old kid who is the only one to see children move into an empty house at night, that's where it just gets started.

This is not a light read, or a "cheerful afternoon" average middle-grade book. It is written in an older, more ponderous style, like a teaching fable. But this isn't a fable, or old or ponderous. It's just the voice of the narrator.

The book is about what people "their souls" want and need, the choices they make (and why), and whether they chose wisely.

Midnight Children is also about the loneliness of individuals in the story, and making mistakes. So it can be sad. But also how two kids can use kindness and determination to slowly un-hide who they want to be, and inspire normal day-to-day townspeople.

*WARNING: The story contains a beef slaughterhouse business with sound effects described, death mentioned often, and more than a little gore. The author seems to derive a certain amount of glee from the subject. (I personally question the mother's motives for having her son go there for trivial reasons, but it isn't examined in the text.) The plant is part of the story because it's part of the boy's life. But you may prefer to skim past phrases that begin with "Hisss!"

*This may appeal to horror story readers; it does have some eerie and fearful elements. Don't let it deter you from reading the book!

I enjoyed this book very much. The place names are a joke, so the book doesn't take itself too seriously, and I like the main characters (and the full cast). It's an interesting "world," and I hope the author decides to follow up with Rav and Virginia. Rav's parents are more dimensional than I thought they would be, but I would like to see more.

4/5 Stars
I didn't mind slaughterhouse detail, but there was too much glee in the "Hisss" phrases.

Thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Henry Holt and Co., and NetGalley for the preview of this ebook; the review is voluntary.

#MacmillanChildrendPublishingGroup
#HenryHoltandCo #NetGalley
#DanGemeinhart #ChildrensFiction
#FictionOrphanBooks #FictionRunawayOrphanFamily
#Ragabonds
#WarningBeefDeathandGore

The beginning of this book is a bit dark. Ravani is a lonely boy who lives in a town that is built around the slaughterhouse. Although the description of Ravani's visit to the slaughterhouse was hard for me to get past, it also symbolized the town and Ravani's life before the midnight children came into town. After they arrived Ravani blossomed along with the friendship he found with Virginia. Do we have to accept life as it is or can we find the courage to try something different? As usual, Gemeinhart works his magic with amazing characters that really tug at the heart strings. You will be rooting for the midnight children, Ravani, and everyone in the town of Slaughterville.

Dan Gemeinhart is one of my auto-buy middle grade authors. Each and every one of his books is utterly fantastic.

The Midnight Children, his newest release, is set in the odd town of Slaughterville, and introduces us to Ravani, a lonely, bullied child who longs for the gift of a true friend. One night, Ravani wakes up and sees a van deposit seven strange children with suitcases into the vacant house across the street, under the cover of darkness. He makes it his mission to meet and befriend these secretive children, but especially the golden haired girl named Virginia. But these children are keeping an enormous secret, and they’re being pursued by a dangerous man known as The Hunter.

This is Gemeinhart at his absolute best—and I’ve read them all. It’s like The Boxcar Children for a new generation, but with magic and a bit of horror tossed in to liven things up. If you love books by Jonathan Auxier or N.D. Wilson, The Midnight Children is an absolute must read.

The audiobook is fantastic, especially for kids who may be intimidated by chapter books but love fast-paced, engaging adventure tales.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my complimentary ARC and ALC.

I had such high hopes for this one, as Dan Gemeinhart is a master of middle grade literature, but I could NOT get past the descriptions of the slaughterhouse in the first chapter or two of this book. Although I could have skipped those pages, I could not in good conscience hand this book to a child. It was that disturbing.

DNF

I began following Dan Gemeinhart when I was an elementary school librarian, and I was totally captivated by the spunky, heroic kids who populated his stories. Now that I’m retired, I find his books just as appealing. The Midnight Children includes not just the shy and lonely boy we have come to expect in Gemeinhart’s books but a “family” of seven children who are unlike anyone residing in the small town of Slaughterville. They are runaways from a dreadful orphanage and there is a hunter on their trail. They arrive in the dead of night at an abandoned house across the street from young Ravani Foster, mockingly called Ravioli by the town bully.
The mysterious appearance of this group of children motivates Ravani to step out of his lonely isolation and make a connection. In doing so, he changes his life, the lives of these runaways and in fact, the whole town.
There is danger in the story. (I can’t think of many characters more unabashedly evil than The Hunter) But there is an element of Magic Realism in the tale that keeps the reader hopeful through the darkest events.
Much of Ravani’s strength comes from his new comrade Virginia, who, in her own way, is just as wounded as.Ravi, but she has the power of family to give her courage.
By the end of the story I was smiling from ear to ear and unabashedly wiping away tears. What more could you ask from a story and a master storyteller?

"Welcome to someday, Rav. You're already here."

Ravini is a kid in a small town. He doesn't have friends, and he doesn't like the slaughterhouse that is a significant part of the town's economy. But everything changes for him--and the entire town--when seven mysterious children arrive at midnight and move into the abandoned house next door. Rav learns about what it means to be a friend and how to take advantage of the now instead of waiting for someday. "Sometimes. though, a soul doesn’t know how great it truly is. Until it has to find out."

What this book does really, REALLY well is really make you feel for the characters. The kid characters have unique personalities and challenges. Each of the midnight children has a backstory and a developed personality. We don't always see the backstory, but it is clearly there and important to each child. The adults are real and have their own concerns and quirks. The bad guy is scary. The person you think might be a bad guy isn't and is happy to change the town and his livelihood when he finds a better option. The parents have weaknesses and desires, and Ravini learns more about his parents and develops his relationship with them. It is nice to see parents developed to this level and portrayed as realistic people.

This book has quirky characters and setting, but it isn't a light read. It's the kind of book that makes you think. It makes you stop every so often and think about the sentence you just read and how it applies to your life. It's written in a way that makes you stop and think, huh, I hadn't considered it like that, but I completely agree with the way that is worded. It makes you feel things deeply, whether it is joy or anger or anything else.

The discussion about magic was interesting. Was it magic? Was it luck? Was it something else? It's not explained, and it doesn't need to be for the story. I did like how the kids choose to make their own magic to make things happen at the end, regardless of whether it was real magic or not. The book explores themes of loneliness, the choices people make, and what souls need. It's a story about found family, sibling love, loss, friendship, and hope in spite of terrible odds.

Sensitive readers may want to be aware of scarier elements, such as the slaughterhouse and the spookiness at the beginning. The hunter character may also be a little scary (I kept getting the Child Catcher vibes from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang). The slaughterhouse scenes involve some gore and a not insignificant amount of death. The book seems like it will be light and fun--which it often is!--but it can be dark too.

Overall, I loved every minute in this world. A few times I wondered if I should be reading it alone in the dark, and a few times I laughed out loud. A few times I almost cried, but if anyone asks, it was just strong allergies. Ultimately, this book gave me just what my soul needed.

Thanks to the publisher for giving me an advance copy to review.

Did not finish. The slaughterhouse slant and animal cruelty by the bully was not something I enjoyed. And although the idea of a found family was the book's appeal, the story setting ruined any desire to finish.

The Midnight Children was yet another wondergul , thought provoking read from Dan Gemeinhart. I can't wait to purchase and share with my students!

I read books for children all the time. Sometimes I think, “Wow, this is a really good book for RIGHT NOW!” and other times I think, “Hey, this book is going to last for a long long time, I mean people are still gonna be reading this book when my grandchildren are parents!” The Midnight Children by Dan Gemeinhardt is one of those special books that I think people are going to be talking about forever. Part Pippi Longstocking, part Vanderbeekers of 141st Street, this tale of friendship and family is sure to delight readers of all ages, but it feels especially geared towards ages 8-12.
The book opens with our main character Ravani, bemoaning his loser/loner situation in a town named Slaughterville on the very same day that seven mysterious children appear, seemingly unchaperoned, in the middle of the night.
You can guess from the name of the town what their main industry is. And you might also guess that this book is full of some pretty descriptive (ie: gross) representations of that industry. They aren’t on every page, but there are enough that you might end up with one or two vegetarians in your group after a couple of chapters! But I digress, because this book isn’t about a slaughterhouse at all, it’s about the choices we make and how they can set in motion all kinds of amazing things. It’s also about how wonderful friendship is and about how your very best friends feel like family, because that’s what they really are.
Five stars!

I really liked this story. The characters were well developed and likeable. I enjoyed the main characters and their journey. Side characters were entertaining and I liked how their talents got pulled in at the end. My only concern is that the graphic descriptions of the slaughter house might be too much for some kids.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review.

4.5 stars for the latest book from Dan Gemeinhart, a masterful storyteller. A story of courage, and found family, and mystery, and all the hope you want to see in a middle grade book. I found the premise of the book....these seven bonded orphans to be unique and interesting, and I enjoyed getting to know this group of characters, particularly Virginia!

Note: There are a couple of slaughterhouse scenes which some children may find a bit gruesome, so just be aware when recommending this to students.

This is a really hard review to write. As an adult, I loved the found family trope. I thought the characters were interesting. But the details about the slaughterhouse were a bit too gruesome for me. So reading this as a perspective book for middle grade children, especially my own children this age, it might be a bit too much for some sensitive readers.

The tone and subject matter just weren't for me, but other readers may love it.

I was blown away by The Midnight Children. It is definitely one of my favorite titles of 2022. I look forward to using it as a book club with my middle graders

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy of this book.

I am a fan of everything Dan Gemeinhart writes. This middle grade novel is full of adventure, mystery, intriguing characters, and a heart warming storyline.

Ravani Foster lives a lonely existence in his town of Slaughterhouse, home to a windowless slaughterhouse where his father and many other citizens of the town work. An only child without many friends, when Ravani is unable to sleep one night he looks out his bedroom window and sees a group of seven kids with suitcases sneak out of a vehicle and into the abandoned house on his dead end street. The next morning Ravani wonders if it was a dream or his imagination playing tricks on him, careful not to get too hopeful only to have his dreams of true friendship dashed.

The kids are definitely not a dream, but they are shrouded in mystery and secrets that could eventually lead to danger. Ravani will do everything to keep his new friends safe because if he can't, he risks of losing them and being alone once again.

There is so much to love about this book, but I was particularly touched by the character of Virginia. I found myself laughing out loud and sharing her words with my husband. She is spunky and funny and a wonderful friend with a big heart.

I look forward to sharing this one with my students who have loved Dan's other books. Another middle grade winner!

4 stars

After adoring _The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise_, I was thrilled to be able to read another middle grade novel from the noteworthy Dan Gemeinhart, and this newest further demonstrates why Gemeinhart is such an important author for this audience at this time.

Ravani, the m.c., is not the coolest kid in town or even at home, and his feelings of isolation, sadness, and (on the other hand) altruism are powerful from the start. When he inadvertently witnesses the arrival of his new neighbors - a large group of kids - in the middle of the night, a whole world of possibility opens for him, not only in terms of new adventures but especially in his chances for creating new and meaningful connections, strengthening his family, and understanding both platonic and romantic opportunities. To be clear, this last part is totally age appropriate.

While the found family and healing aspects of this novel are obvious standouts, for me, the eco commentary is what really sets this one apart. Having been vegan for several years and vegetarian for many years prior to that, I'm always interested in books that focus on animals as meaningful characters, the treatment of animals as a serious moral issue worthy of discussion and action, and the opportunities for all members of society at all ages to perform their duties as earth warriors. I really found all of the related content - not to mention the parallels between the kids and the animals - gripping. My suspicion is that this element will be what most frequently has me recommending this book over many of its also worthy contemporaries.

This is my second read from this author, and I so appreciate that readers get to go into some pretty dark circumstances with the protagonists but that there are also opportunities to make choices and to experience some happiness sometimes. These days, what more can we ask for, right? Recommended across the board but especially to folks with an added interest in that eco-contemporary aspect.