The Midnight Guardians is torch-under-the-duvet, can't-stop-reading magic . British folklore rebooted … in an edge-of-your-seat, heart-filled search for hope in the darkest hour." Piers Torday Beautifully drawn fantasy characters ... a story of hope and love underpinned by witty humour.\" Daily Mail Embark on a mythic, comic, classic adventure with the finest fellowship since Frodo set a hairy foot beyond the Shire.” David Solomons A tale of enchantment and friendship … a ll the warmth of a timeless story, told between friends round a winter fire … funny and true in the way all good stories are.” Thomas Taylor Spectacular. A story of real and rare power - The Midnight Guardians is one of the best books I've read in years." Kiran Millwood Hargrave

In the book the character that I found the most fascinating was Ruth and that was because she was strong, although she did break down at times, but she kept going on helping the main character save his sister from a raid that would happen in London. The book was reallyinteresting because of the parts when the main character, Col/Collie, has to face a nightmare from the Midwinter king who was trying to take over the spirit world plus the world. The bookexcited me and I didn’t want to stop reading. I would recommend the book to others. I learned some new words, some being the word laborious and mellifluous. I thought the book had a lovely balance of the mythical and magical, but with plenty of war time information thrown in that's loosely based on fact. I felt as though this would be a great way to introduce readers to some of the elements of the war and the Blitz, and potentially pique their interest enough to maybe look into things themselves and learn about this terrible part of history. Funny, thrilling, moving ... everything that is brilliant about children's literature. A triumph.\" Sophie Anderson My reason for reading this one is twofold. Firstly, it was shortlisted for the Costa Children's Book Awards 2021. Secondly, it has a very pretty front cover. This amazing planning guide was created by BAY3 student Lauren Green, linking SPACE TORTOISE to a variety of different subjects. Thanks Laura!Glorious! I think this is Ross Montgomery's best book yet: an adventure across WWII wintry Britain with a Kindertransportee, a boy dressed in shorts and his three imaginary friends. A joy of a joy of a thing." Katherine Rundell Brilliant! The Midnight Guardians is the perfect blend of humour, adventure and emotion. Simply beautiful.\" Lisa Thompson I inhaled this wonderful book in one sitting ... humour, beautiful writing, heartbreak, hope, and a fat badger in a waistcoat. I'll be recommending it to everyone.\" Katya Balen My favourite characters are Col and Ruth. They are both really confident and they don’t let the different situations that they have been in change them. They never gave up, even when it seemed impossible to save Rose from the blitz. This lovely adventure story has the feel of a classic children's book." Book of the Week, The Week Junior

I really liked this book, and it was a pleasure to read. The plot was amazing, and I couldn’t put down the book once I started reading it.Beautiful. A magical, big-hearted adventure full of wit and warmth. One of the best children's books I've read for ages.\" Anna James A tale of enchantment and friendship … a ll the warmth of a timeless story, told between friends round a winter fire … funny and true in the way all good stories are.\" Thomas Taylor But there are darker forces at work, even than the Nazi bombings. Soon Col is pursued by the terrifying Midwinter King, who is determined to bring an eternal darkness down over everything. The book is like two plots that interweave themselves into one story. You have the friends and their travels to London and the adventures that happen along the way. Then there is the nasty Mid-Winter King who wants power no matter how he gets it or what pain and mayhem he causes to get it, including banishing The Green Man so that he can rule all year round. I would heavily recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading as it is very interesting and has many high speed moments with a historical theme behind it.

Great resources to help link HURLY BURLY with Shakespeare and Macbeth in class, plus book review sheets and games!

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Thirdly, even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, you’d still enjoy this book still because Christmas is not the main focus. It’s rather a setting for time and more of like a culture rather than a religious matter.

I think that this fantasy novel will help children aged 9+ to greater value their own ‘Guardians’ and creativity, whilst also teaching them about the history and consequences of War - both factually, and emotionally. Alongside death, this story does cover quite sensitive topics, and so feels best suited to pupils in Year 5/6. British folklore rebooted ... in an edge-of-your-seat, heart-filled search for hope in the darkest hour." Piers Torday"Embark on a mythic, comic, classic adventure with the finest fellowship since Frodo set a hairy foot beyond the Shire." David Solomons"Glorious!

About Ross Montgomery

One of the best children's books I've read for ages." Anna James"A tale of enchantment and friendship ... all the warmth of a timeless story, told between friends round a winter fire ... funny and true in the way all good stories are." Thomas Taylor"The adventure whisks you through wartime trouble and mythical danger like riding a giant tiger through falling snow ... Rather than learn anything new from this book, it confirmed what I knew already about the war, but I did love that nearly every chapter there would be a small news article. I loved that it was in the era of WW2 because that made Rose’s Rescue and the plot and setting of the whole book comprehendible, yet amazing. When Col’s childhood imaginary friends come to life, he discovers a world where myths and legends are real. Accompanied by his guardians – a six-foot tiger, a badger in a waistcoat and a miniature knight – Col must race to Blitz-bombed London to save his sister. But there are darker forces at work, even than the Nazi bombings. Soon Col is pursued by the terrifying Midwinter King, who is determined to bring an eternal darkness down over everything. The Midnight Guardians by Ross Montgomery – eBook Details With the spirit of Narnia, but a heart of its own. The Midnight Guardians is totally enchanting . I gobbled up every word.” Aisha Bushby Funny, thrilling, moving ... everything that is brilliant about children's literature . A triumph." Sophie Anderson