The Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls by Judith Rossell was a wonderful surprise in our household. My 8-year-old daughter picked it up on her own and was immediately captivated. Not only was she able to read it independently, but she was also so excited by the story that she couldn’t stop telling me about the characters and what happened next—often with wide eyes and animated enthusiasm!

It’s not always easy to find books that both challenge and engage younger readers, but this one struck the perfect balance. The writing is accessible yet rich, and the story is filled with just the right mix of mystery, adventure, and heart. My daughter had such a positive impression of the book that she’s already asking if there’s more to come.

As a parent, it’s a joy to see your child light up over a book. I’d definitely recommend The Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls to other families with young readers—it’s a gem that inspires imagination and confidence.

Judith Rossell’s THE MIDWATCH INSTITUTE FOR WAYWARD GIRLS is a delightful, whimsical mystery that wraps adventure, heart, and empowerment into one beautifully illustrated package. It follows Maggie Fishbone—a spirited orphan who finds herself at a school unlike any other.

Sent to the Midwatch Institute after causing a stir at her previous orphanage, Maggie expects gloom and punishment. Instead, she discovers a vibrant world where girls are trained to solve mysteries, defend the city, and grow into their best selves. With fencing lessons, secret passages, and a missing person case to unravel, Maggie’s journey is one of friendship, courage, and self-discovery.

This book is a celebration of curiosity, kindness, and courage. It’s a reminder that every child deserves a gentle hand and a safe place to grow. I finished it wanting more—more mysteries, more lessons, more Midwatch.

This novel is appealing from the title and cover to the concept. It does a great job using "boarding school" trope, introducing a large group of personalities interacting, mostly positively. The idea that girls have far more potential in far more areas than domestic arts isn't just hinted at, but stated clearly. I also appreciate that the adults acknowledge the dangers to their young detectives, and do their best to provide safety, but the simple existence of risk isn't enough to stop the investigations. This was a fun quick read with lots of potential for sequels.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 4/5 stars.

This is a really fun lower-middle grade novel. It's set in what feels like early 1900s/industrial revolution-ish times. I love how it's like "oh no, getting sent to a workhouse as an orphan" but then it turns out that it's basically a spy school for the children. All of the characters are interesting, and I rather enjoyed the plot and how it developed. The whole concept was just a fun, quick read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy..

The Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls by Judith Rossell is for the weird kids, and I mean this in the most loving way and as a former weird kid. Reminded me of whenever I read Emily The Strange, or Ottoline's books, but heavier on plot. I just know I would've loved this when I was about ten, as I really enjoyed it now. I hope it can be translated into Spanish as well because there is always a lack of weird books for weird kids in the industry.

I really liked the twist on the Institute, and loved particularly the small sections of "rules" and "how-to"s. Although a bit predictable (as an adult reader, I mean), the cast of girls was really fun and endearing. Found-families will always have a special place on my heart.

This book is full of twists and turns. The idea of orphans/unwanted girls becoming essentially spies and being trained at this secret institution is just thrilling. It was a fun jaunt that reminded me of the Parasol Protectorate series, but "the younger years".

I’m a huge fan of middle grade books and while this one has its moments, the story as a whole is mostly just okay.

I liked the concept of the school and I love how low stakes this feels, and that it’s much kinder than a lot of middle reader books focused on orphans. I also loved the little training tips between chapters for this truly unique finishing school.

What’s less interesting is the more action-driven sections of the book, which take up most of its real estate. The story isn’t especially unique in this regard and both the villains and the outcome feel a bit clumsy and obvious. I would have much preferred to spend more time in training with the girls, or perhaps on a mission that better matched the cleverness and originality of those aspects of the story.

Read: June June 19th - June 28th
Format: E-Book
Rating: 3 Stars

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a cute middle grade book overall. A nice secret-agent-type school for 'outcast' girls with a lot of fun and creativity put into its system. I think it'd even make for a very fun show or something for kids.

While I can appreciate how fun this could be for kids, it's one of those MG that just reads too young and misses the mark for me. I think it's mostly because it was so much more plot oriented. Harriet steals the show so much that for a bit I forgot Maggie's name 🤣 I am extremely character oriented, so such a plot-forward story just didn't do as much for me. Still a fun story for younger readers, though!

A delightful romp that emphasizes the potential of clever young girls & the love of found family. Great for fans of A Series of Unfortunate Events.

What a delightful book! Both the characters and the plot kept me turning the pages. Maggie, Sofie, and Nell are new girls assigned to the “first years” group at the Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls - an ominous sounding orphanage name. However, after a grim first hour of their time there, they discover that the Midwatch is actually a much more relaxed - albeit confusing - place to be. The headmistress is intent on teaching them actually useful skills, like hiding, foreign languages, observing, and how car engines work - as opposed to strictly the sewing and cleaning skills the inspector of orphanages expects them to teach.

Some of the characteristics that I enjoyed about this book were:
A character who says that people and things are “absolutely the ant’s pants” - but she uses different rhyming words and animals each time (“lizards gizzard”, etc)
At the end of each chapter, there was an excerpt from a book called Useful Things Every Girl Should Know and I delighted in learning some things myself - or agreeing that those are indeed useful things to know. I don’t know how the author came up with all of those ideas, but I loved them.
There are plenty of mystery and adventure elements as the girls try to help find a missing elderly lady, which then turns into all sorts of hair-raising close calls


I found the setting of the book a bit confusing for a good chunk of the book. It has some sci-fi elements, though it seems to be set in the past in a nonspecific European city. So the airships mixed with older-fashioned cars and other technology didn’t mesh in my mind.

That wasn’t enough to put me off the book, though; it was such a fun read! Get it for yourself and your kiddo(s)!

Thanks to the publisher for the advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

We meet Maggie as she is being dragged to the Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls by one of the nuns from the orphanage where Maggie had been living. She grew up in the orphanage and never hoped that she would be able to get a good job like a serving girl, but assumed that she would be working in the fish cannery, until she got into a disagreement with the owner's son. So she's pretty anxious going to MIdwatch, which is not at all what it seems. Even though it represents itself as a place to teach orphans a trade and keep them in misery, it turns out that Midwatch is a kind of detective agency, where the girls learn all sorts of surprising skills like lock picking and hiding and help solve mysteries. This is a super fun book to read-the characters are interesting and the dialogue is very funny. The art work in the book is a lovely addition. There are themes of justice, friendship, problem solving, using your own talents and helping others. This would be a wonderful addition to any middle grade or middle school library.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions written are completely honest and my own.

Wonderful story full of whimsy and imagination. These are my favorite to read with children, because to truly enjoy the book, they need to think out of the box, which is always a joy to do

This book has a lot going for it—strong girl power themes, clever use of Morse code, and knot-tying that adds an interactive touch. It’s the kind of story that encourages teamwork, bravery, and resourcefulness in a way that’s both accessible and empowering for young readers.

That said, it doesn’t do quite enough to stand out in a crowded genre. The premise and structure feel very familiar, and I found myself wishing for a few more surprises or deeper character development along the way.

Still, it’s a solid read with plenty of charm. Readers who enjoy mission-style stories with a DIY twist will find a lot to like here—and I wouldn’t be surprised if it sparks some knot-tying adventures at home.

In Judith Rossell's THE MIDWATCH INSTITUTE FOR WAYWARD GIRLS, little does Maggie Fishbone know that being shipped off from her home at the Mud Harbor Orphanage to the scary, imposing Midwatch Institute will be a life-changing adventure. Once inside, Maggie learns that the Institute secretly provides its residents with unconventional training in subjects like Hiding, Contriving, and Maps with the goal of building skills to use for solving mysteries and protecting their city from crime. When a woman mysteriously disappears, Maggie and her newfound pals will find their skills put to the test.
Maggie is a delightful lead character, emerging from her surprise at learning about the Institute and growing to embrace her new setting and her found family. Artwork interspersed throughout the book and the chapter-ending excerpts on topics like Morse Code, knot tying, and screaming loudly from “Useful Things Every Girl Should Know,” a book authored by the Institute’s director, complement the story. A fun mix of adventure and mystery fueled by girl power, creativity, and innovative problem solving, the book will leave readers wondering what the next mystery will be.

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group for the gifted copy of The Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls.

The Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls by Judith Rossell is adventurous, inspiring, and a little bit quirky. This whimsical story is great for young readers who like Matilda. I loved the artwork and the added “Useful Things Every Girl Should Know.”

Judith Rossell's The Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls transports readers to a deliciously gothic world brimming with mystery and charm. Orphaned orphan Pip is sent to the remote, peculiar Midwatch Institute, where strange rules and even stranger inhabitants abound. As Pip uncovers the school's secrets and its connection to her own past, Rossell crafts a captivating narrative perfect for fans of Lemony Snicket or Neil Gaiman. The novel's atmospheric setting, quirky characters, and clever puzzles make it a delightful and intriguing read for young and old alike, leaving you eager for more.

Maggie Fishbone is unceremoniously whisked away from Mud Harbor Orphanage to the Midwatch Institute for Orphans, Runaways, and Wayward Girls. Midwatch is nothing like the cheerless facility presented by its carefully maintained facade, and, upon arrival, Maggie learns that director Adelia Mandelay has cultivated a place of wonder that welcomes girls of all ages. As Maggie settles in alongside fellow first-years Nell and Sofie, whose hand was damaged in a circus accident, she’s soon pulled into investigations of local crimes at Miss Mandelay’s behest—after all, “being girls is a big advantage, because nobody suspects us, so we can go places without being noticed, and talk to kids, and find out things the police can’t.” Periodic titled “Useful Things Every Girl Should Know”—presented as excerpts from a book of the same name by Miss Mandelay—provide bite-size lessons, including ones on how to escape an alligator, how to dance the Charleston, how to shout extremely loudly, and more. It’s full of curious girls training to solve mysteries, fight bad guys, and keep the city safe. In between fencing lessons and discovering all the shortcuts in the building, Maggie finds herself making friends at the Midwatch and finally feeling like she’s home. And when a woman goes missing, Maggie’s off on her first assignment, with each step leading her deeper into the secrets of the city.

The author has written an adventure filled mystery. Action and adventure abound in this German and art deco inspired world, which comes to life via black and white illustrations throughout. It’s a terrific book!

After disrupting the peace at her previous orphanage, Maggie Fishbone is sent to The Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls - a place that promised to tame her wild ways and make her sufficiently miserable. To her great surprise, the Institute was not dreadful at all led by the benevolent and cunning Miss Adelia Mandalay. Maggie and her fellow new classmates, Sofie and Nell, fit in well with the other first years, proving their worth by training and eventually solving mysteries. The charming illustrations and the included “excerpts from Useful Things Every Girl Should Know by Miss Mandalay,” are just the icing on the cake!

This story was the absolute “cat’s pajamas." It is equally mysterious, whimsical, and humorous. Many have compared this story to The Swifts and The Series of Unfortunate Events, which I can get behind. This was a joy to read and is highly recommended for all middle grade mystery lovers

The Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls is one of a number of recent books with historical settings that focus on the education of girls and finding ways for them to achieve spectacular things within societal constraints. These sorts of books tend to resonate with girls in particular and do so with a lot of finesse.

In The Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls, author Judith Rossell tells Maggie’s story with a whimsical flair. With a tone reminiscent of the Lemony Snicket books, Rossell’s prose is smart, snappy and laced with a dash of snark, making for a delightful read.

At the center of the story is Maggie, an orphan who’s never known life outside of an institution. She’s expecting the worst when she gets shipped off to Midwatch Institute, but quickly discovers the delights of learning and gains true friends for the first time in her life. It’s fun to see Maggie and her co-inductees come out of their shells as the story progresses.

The Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls features lovely black-and-white illustrations and pages of “Useful Things Every Girl Should Know” that helps break up the text for readers who may otherwise be intimidated by the book’s 320 pages. This is a fun one to read by yourself or out loud.

This book was so much fun! I couldn’t put it down, and I loved the story and the characters.
While adventure novels were probably some of my first reads, I haven’t read a kids book like this in a while. I absolutely adored it! The story is so intriguing with a lot of twists and turns. Firstly, I loved how this book was set up. The idea of an institute for wayward girls actually being a cover for a school for heroes is such an interesting one. Rossell does an excellent job of adding her own flair to this with characters who you fall in love with. The school was so well explained that I could picture it in my mind, and I loved the illustrations.
Maggie was such a fun, fiery character! I really liked how she was not automatically amazing at this new world or that she even wanted to be there. Her natural growth to falling in love with this school and her new sisterhood was so fun to watch. And the side characters in this one are lovely and hilarious!
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book! This is a wonderful read for middle schoolers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.