Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo
So, I know this book and even series may be considered juvenile for our teen book review blog but for those of you looking for something to fill your Harry Potter-less days I have a feeling that the Charlie Bone series may be just what you need. Here, readers get a bit of mystery, magic, and a cast of colorful characters that are sure to make you smile.
In this first installment readers are introduced to the mysterious powers of the Red King, known in his day as a powerful magician whose abilities have been passed down through his descendants for generations. No one as of yet has been born with all of the Red King’s abilities, but one or two powers tend to turn up in those that you would least expect. Those that receive these powers are required to attend Bloor’s Academy to not only perfect them but also to keep a watchful eye on their ability in case new powers come to surface.
Charlie Bone was a normal ten-year-old boy living with his widowed mother, both his grandmothers and, a very quiet Uncle until one morning he comes in contact with an old photograph and is able to hear the thoughts of the people in it!. Grandma Bone is over joyed realizing that her grandson has been given the King’s powers just like his father. This means that her grandson will not only follow in her father’s footsteps but will also keep the family name high and mighty.
Charlie, on the other hand is far from excited and is now forced to leave everything he has known to attend Bloor’s Academy for the gifted. But, with his new endowment comes new responsibility as this mysterious photo gives him clues about a baby who has been adopted by an unkind family while her loving aunt is still among the living! When Charlie and his new friends discover that she is endowed they realize that she must be attending Bloors, but who is she? It seems that this mysterious girl has no idea about her past or her abilities and now it is up to Charlie to figure out what the academy is hiding and how to bring her back to her family.
A wonderful introduction to the Charlie Bone series and although not as good as Harry Potter and on a slightly lower reading level the premise is still intriguing and I am sure it will be fun to watch Charlie grow up much like Harry has been along the way. The first of six books already in the series.
