Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Hero archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Synopsis
Since his father died, Charlie Bone has lived with his mother and her mother, in the house of his other grandmother, Grandma Bone. Looking at a picture of a couple with a baby and a cat, he suddenly discovers he can hear their voices. Although he tries to hide his new gift, Grandma Bone and her scary sisters soon find out, and send him to Bloor's Academy. Charlie quickly finds life at Bloor's pretty tough, with its strict rules and the malevolent head boy, Manfred, set against him. When Charlie discovers that the child in the photograph is being held, hypnotised, against her will, he and his new friends with 'gifts' try to awaken her. But can they overcome Manfred's sinister hypnotic gifts?
Is Midnight for Charlie Bone appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 8 and up.
Parents should know this middle grade fantasy features mild peril, hypnotic mind control, and a child held captive against her will. Themes of parental loss and sinister authority figures are present but handled age-appropriately.
What to know going in
This book has mild violence, no sexual content, and clean language. Content notes include captivity, death of parent, and mental manipulation.
Who'll love this
Kids will love following Charlie as he discovers his magical gift and teams up with other gifted students to rescue a hypnotized girl from the mysterious Bloor's Academy.