The Midnight Club

by Shane Goth, Yong Ling Kang (Illustrator)

Overview

A cozy sibling conspiracy unfolds at midnight

At the stroke of midnight, Milly wakes up her big sister, Becca. It’s time for Milly’s first Midnight Club adventure! With Becca leading the way, the siblings explore the hidden wonders of their house in the dark. They dip into Dad’s jar of jelly beans, try on Mom’s coat, and make more mischief with the help of the Midnight Club president (their cat, Oliver!).

Exhausted from their midnight expedition, Milly is ready to head to bed, but not before she remembers the club’s most important rule: The Midnight Club must be a secret! The sisters quickly clean up before settling into bed. But they might have left a few clues behind …

This charming midnight romp celebrates the special bond between siblings with a mischievous but safe spirit. Playful details like The Midnight Club hand signal and the special club rules are sure to inspire readers to plan their own at-home adventures.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781771473941
Publisher:	Owlkids Books
Publication date:	10/15/2021
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	7.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.31(d)
Lexile:	AD480L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

SHANE GOTH is an MFA graduate from the University of British Columbia, whose short fiction has been published in several literary journals.The Midnight Club is his first picture book. Shane lives with his family in Vancouver, British Columbia.

YONG LING KANG is an illustrator who grew up in Singapore and is now based in Toronto, Ontario. She has illustrated several picture books, including This House Is Home, William's Getaway, and Tanna’s Owl.

Editorial Reviews

"The Midnight Club will charm many a young child to new perspectives on their own homes and spur on imaginative play, whether in the night or the day."

CanLit for Little Canadians

"The lyrical text captures the conversations between the siblings and the emotions they roll through, from the excitement of discovery to exhaustion as the hour grows late ... this book will inspire many similar midnight sojourns, in a secure setting laced with gentle thrills."

School Library Journal

"This quiet, experimental act of rebellion ends triumphantly ... Their adventure carries a satisfying whiff of the carefree as they take measures to keep their actions a thrilling sibling secret."

Publishers Weekly - STARRED REVIEW

"Watercolor and pencil artwork is filled with blues, purples and soft moonlight yellow for this midnight adventure ... A perfect bedtime read."

Sal's Fiction Addiction

"[Shane Goth's] prose is supported beautifully by Yong Ling Kang’s playful illustrations ... The Midnight Club is a lovingly illustrated bedtime story that will suit readers who want a gentle story about sibling bonding."

Quill & Quire

"A nice picture book that celebrates sibling friendship."

Kiss the Book

"The tender bond between sisters is evident ... This playfully mischievous ode to sibling solidarity is sure to inspire similar nocturnal escapades among readers."

Kirkus Reviews – STARRED REVIEW

"The well-worded text creates the story, while leaving space for the illustrations to work their magic ... A lively picture book that imagines the pleasures of staying up after hours."

Booklist

"An adorable story ... This book is relatable to anyone who has a sibling or cousin who likely have been honorary members of the midnight club themselves."

Canadian Review of Materials

"Captures the thrills of children sneaking around a house at night when the adults are sleeping ... Nuanced observations, ones that give personality and life to each character, fill the tale."

Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast

"An adorable story ... This book is relatable to anyone who has a sibling or cousin who likely have been honorary members of the midnight club themselves."

From the Publisher

★ 2021-09-15
The shadowy blanket of midnight provides the perfect cover for two sisters to enjoy a clandestine adventure.

Awake with anticipation, Milly is eager for her first nighttime jaunt with the Midnight Club. At exactly midnight, she wakes up her big sister, Becca, and the pair proceeds to slink, sneak, and creep through the darkened hallways and empty rooms of their home. The late hour transforms the house into an inky blue playground splashed with pools of candescent yellow light. Milly and Becca revel in the liberation that comes with sleeping parents as they indulge in Dad’s jelly beans and play dress-up in Mom’s raincoat. The tender bond between sisters is evident in their conspiratorial glee during their covert shenanigans and their reliance on each other during tenser moments. Satisfied and sleepy, they nestle together in bed, resting up for tomorrow’s Midnight Club meeting. This charming story perfectly balances the thrill of pushing boundaries with the comfort of having your best friend along for the ride. The succinct text is made for hushed whispers and conveys the intimacy of shared secrets. Watercolors perfectly capture the hazy, dreamlike atmosphere of the sleeping house, while a spectrum of deep indigo, dusky purples, and cozy yellows highlights the contrast between dark and light. Becca and Milly have olive skin and black hair.

This playfully mischievous ode to sibling solidarity is sure to inspire similar nocturnal escapades among readers. (Picture book. 3-8)

Kirkus Reviews