Midnight for Charlie Bones
by Jenny Nimmo

Release Date: 5th Jun 2006
Publisher: Egmont Books Ltd
ISBN: 978 1 4052 2543 4
RRP: Ł5.99

Could this be the next Harry Potter?

This is a story about a young boy who suddenly acquires a special ability – he can hear what people are saying and what’s happening around them – and all from just a photograph. Alright, so it’s not the most amazing ability out there... but it’s more than I’ve got, so I’ll remain duly impressed.

Charlie is endowed. And endowed children go to Bloor’s Academy, which is a school for children with exceptional skills – including those that are ordinary, but gifted in certain arts (music, art, drama and so on). It doesn’t sound like a very nice school and Charlie’s best friend, Benjamin, isn’t overly thrilled at the prospect of losing his mate to this unfriendly bunch. Thankfully, Charlie manages to find some chums to hang around with and goodness knows he needs them – as he is set on the trail of a missing baby who apparently goes to Bloor’s Academy...

Charlie Bone is a sympathetic character, although, personally, Benjamin gets my vote. Being ordinary and thereby having to survive on his wits and faithful mutt, Runner Bean, makes him much more accessible. But at this stage, it is difficult to really know any of the characters.

What I found most irksome about this book is the way that there are no surprises. The answer is always the obvious one and as soon as Charlie or someone else comes up with remedial action (in this case to free Emma Tolly and return her to her aunt), it is somehow, astonishingly done within a page or two. I can’t help feeling there should be something more to the story – something really juicy... but even the vague histrionics about the “Red King” aren’t that enthralling... I’m guessing he’s still hanging around with his three cats.

Pre-teens will love the action packed pages and the immediate gratification that this books provides, and I do not doubt for one second that they will be hankering after the next instalment – and I have to admit there is a part of me that does as well.

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