An unusual and interesting take on the Second World War, seen through children’s eyes. The story is a fantasy woven around a young evacuee, Col, who loses touch with his sister and searches for her through the worst of the Blitz, and his imaginary friends, who take on a life of their own. The boy has to confront evil through his fantasy adventures which intertwine with the reality of the 1940 bombing of London. It is likely to appeal to those children most comfortable with a blend of fantasy and reality and who are untroubled by the dissonance between the two worlds. At times, the story is dark and menacing, which will appeal to some, but not all young readers. This book wasn’t immediately to the taste of my eleven year old grandson, but that probably reflects his personal tastes.

A great middle grade read set during the Blitz.

The protagonist, Col, is evacuated out of London to live with his aunt in the Lake District. His sister, Rose, stays behind to help with the war effort. When he gets to his aunt's house, he finds out that, despite his hopes, Rose will not be joining them for Christmas. Upset by this he runs away to the house where his family used to stay at Christmas. Revisiting this house, where he imagined so many games when he was younger, reminds him of his imaginary friends, the Guardians. They return to him in the darkness of that cold. lonely house.

The guardians and the reader then join Col on a mission to get back to London to save Rose from the air raids of 1940 encountering many dangers, real and magic, on their way.

This was a great adventure reminiscent of the Narnia books and would be an excellent read for the run up to Christmas.

DNF @ 20%

I feel bad DNFing this as it's a MG book and I'm hardly the intended audience but something about this just didn't work for me. I felt like Col's age was a little all over the place. He's supposed to be 10 or 12 (text wasn't totally clear) but at points he felt like he was 7 or 8 and at times he seemed older. It was a strange kind of inconsistency that made it hard to get to know his character as he felt a bit unpredictable. I also felt like everything was a bit simplistic. Every challenge they faced was immediately overcome, there wasn't much lasting difficulty.

However this book handled the emotional side of being evacuated very well, and Col's emotional responses to everything felt very authentic and well written. There were also lots of positive reviews so perhaps this was a case of the book and myself being incompatible more than anything else.

Col has been evacuated from London to Buxton in the midst of WWII to live with his Aunt Claire. He has left his older sister behind in London and after recently losing his Dad, Col is feeling rather lonely. He starts hearing voices telling him they need his help and one stormy night, he follows the sound of the voices out to Darkwell End, the house the family normally stay at for Christmas. There, he discovers his imaginary friends that he hasn’t thought about for some time: Mr Noakes (a badger in a waistcoat), Pendlebury (a tiger who can change size), and King of the Rogues (a rather short knight). They accompany Col on his race to London to save his sister before she is caught in a raid, but it isn’t long before they are pursued by the Midwinter King and find themselves caught in a different war entirely.

‘The Midnight Guardians’ manages to mix the very real setting of WWII beautifully with magical and mythical creatures. The relationship between the characters is wonderful with a fantastic sense of realism. They don’t always get on and don’t always agree about what they should do next on their journey, but pull together when it matters. This book has it all; I laughed at Pendlebury’s terrible jokes, I hid behind a cushion when the Midwinter King arrived, and I cried at the end. A truly wonderful story of hope even in the darkest of times. I will definitely be recommending this book to my Year 6 class this year - and anyone else I speak to!

This seems destined to become a classic, with flavours of Narnia and The Children of Green Knowe. During WWII, Col is living in the countryside and not looking forward to his first Christmas without his father. Disappointed to find out that his sister is staying in London, he travels back to his childhood home and discovers that his toys/ imaginary friends of a tiger, badger and a knight can speak to him. They show him the devastation that is going to occur during the bombing raids over London, and the mission is clear - to go and rescue his sister. The guardians have a warning for Col though - he is going to have to battle the Midwinter King. I really enjoyed the mixture of real historical facts about the Blitz, and the stories based in English folklore.
Imaginative, adventurous and beautifully written, I would recommend for any keen readers aged 8 and up.

This was the most stunning and captivating book. Every moment there was some new magic to discover, all set against the backdrop of Britain during the Blitz. The opening chapter leaves a sense of wonder and mystery lingering, before flinging us straight into the action and introducing us to Col. With all the feels of classics such as The Chronicles of Narnia, this is sure to become a real favourite with children and adults alike.

Col's merry band of travellers were amazing and completely unique. There's the King of Rogues, a smaller than average knight with a lot of attitude and bucketloads of bravery. I loved that he was strong, fierce some and loyal, but still managed to retain a sense of humility. Next, Mr Noakes, a badger in a waistcoat. Oh how I adored Mr Noakes, I mean he's a badger in a waistcoat so OF COURSE I was going to adore him! His unending focus on food and ensuring the correct seasoning is present at all times was admirable. Pendlebury the Tiger was utterly magnificent, I just adore the idea of a tiger able to change shape and size at will, she was so magical and caring. Last but not least, Ruth, a mysterious German girl they meet along the road. Ruth has a heartbreaking story to share, I loved her intelligence and how she so often was the one to get them out of a sticky situation.

The journey the Guardian's and their charges find themselves on was relentless. You never really knew what to expect next, as they stumble against obstacle after obstacle, both from magical and human kind. The story is absolutely jammed packed with wonder and so very many new creatures to discover. There is a real sense of peril lurking throughout the pages, with the news cuttings constantly reminding you that the country is at war and the ever present threat of The Midwinter King. The king himself is a truly terrifying foe, and can easily sit himself amongst the ranks of the most wicked of villains.

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.

The book is beautiful and whimsical, and sometimes terrifying, it made me laugh and it made me cry. It truly has everything that I love in a book, and I cannot recommend it enough. I can't wait to get my hands on a finished copy, and it will definitely sit amongst the more special books on my shelves.

When Col, an evacuee living with his cold Aunt Claire in the North during WWII, discovers his Guardians - imaginary friends who maybe aren't so imaginary anymore - need his help to save the world from the an evil spirit, the four of them embark on a journey of epic proportions. Not only must Col save his sister, but he and his Guardians (a tiger who can grow or shrink at will, a kindly old badger with a waistcoat, and a Knight prone to arguing) must stop the Midwinter King from taking over everything and filling the world with his darkness.

From the get go, Ross Montgomery has built a story you can really get stuck into. You find yourself immediately rooting for Col and his Guardians, cheering their successes and lamenting their struggles right along with them. There is real heart to this story, and its setting during the worst raids of WWII give it a realism and depth that any other story of imaginary friends coming to life may lack. There is humour and emotion in equal measure, a particular specialty of Montgomery's. The Midnight Guardians proves that we don't have to have sophisticated weapons or be the biggest person in the room to have courage and fight for what we believe in, so long as we do these things with love and with the support of those who love us. A brilliant read, sure to become a modern classic.

I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Midnight Guardians is a historical fantasy adventure. Set during WW2 at the height of the blitz, Col is a 10 or 12 year old boy (my arc had both these ages so I'm not sure which is correct) who has been evacuated from London to live in the safety of the countryside with an aunt he only vaguely knows. Col's older sister remains in the capital surrounded by danger.

When Col was younger he had dreamed up three imaginary friends: The King of Rogues, a brave but slightly petty knight; Mr Noakes a kind, waistcoat-wearing badger and Pendlebury, a wise, size-changing tiger. The story follows Col's adventures with these three companions as they try to save lives and prevent the world from falling into the hands of evil.

There was lots to like about this book. I felt that it handled the WW2 setting and the emotions a child would experience being separated from their family and sent to unfamiliar relatives very well. I loved the newspaper headlines and public information notices that were included at the start of certain chapters. These would be facinating discussion points in themselves and tied in really well with the overall story giving it an authentic feel that this really could have happened during WW2. The relationships between the main characters and others that they met along the way developed well and I did tear up at several points because of how much I was invested in the characters. I also thought the main villain was well portrayed conveying just the right amount of power and menace.

The main critisms I have of this book are that it was a little too simplistic for my taste. Whilst Col and his friends do come up against many problems, each one is very quickly overcome and then they are on to the next. I could have done with several of this issues being a bit harder to tackle or having slightly longer lasting consequences. The ending though, was very well done. I also found Col a bit of an unbelieable character. Maybe it's just a reflection of the time it is set in, but he didn't come across to me as a 12 or even a 10-year-old boy. He seems far to naive and accepting of the strange things that happen to him and a lot of his mannerisms just make him seem younger so I would put him more at around 7 or 8. However, some of the decisions he makes seem more mature than even a 12-year-old would make so I'm rather confused about him.

I definitely got Jenny Nimmo and Robin Jarvis vibes while reading this book so if you enjoy the way that those books explore magic and mythology I would recommend you try this one. This book would be suitable for readers aged 8+ who enjoy reading books about adventure, growing friendships and a little bit of magic.

It’s Christmas 1940 and Col, an evacuee from London, has already suffered the tragic loss of his father, and been sent to stay with his cold Aunt Claire. Leaving behind his sister Rose to help the war effort in London, he has endured the cold and the boredom of Buxton, all the while looking forward to Christmas as a family, but when Christmas Eve arrives, and there is no sign of Rose, Col decides to take matters into his own hands and runs away. Fleeing to a nearby cottage which holds precious memories of his father, Col expects to be all alone, but is confronted by his imaginary childhood friends and thrust into a quest to save not only Rose, but all of London and the Spirit World from the grasps of The Midwinter King. Together, they are unlikely band of heroes: Col, Pendlebury (a Bengal tiger who can grow and shrink at will, but has questionable comic timing), Mr Noakes (a dusty waistcoat-clad badger, with an incredible nose to sniff out food) and the King of Rogues (a brave and fearless, but rather argumentative knight in shining armour). On their way, they meet Ruth, a mysterious loner with an unfamiliar accent who wants to join them on their journey. Despite the doubts of his guardians, Col is powerless to resist Ruth’s feisty and stubborn demands. Despite having different motives and missions, they make a formidable team and set about righting the wrongs of the Midwinter King.

Their race across the country is fast-paced and full of imaginative and original characters, some of whom are a help in their quest, and some of whom intend to hand them over to the ruthless Midwinter King in order to win his favour. I particularly enjoyed their stay with Leonard and the triumph of Gog! The guardians themselves are beautiful creations, and as the story progresses, I loved learning about their creation and where each of their quirks and qualities came from. The wartime backdrop adds danger and detail to the story, and is almost a character itself. There are poignant descriptions of London, the war effort, evacuation, and even a war hospital, perfect for those with an interest in this period, or those who are studying World War II in greater depth. But despite the deep roots of real-life events, the plot is so strong, and the writing is so good that the reader doesn’t feel like they are reading a list of facts at any point.

I have absolutely no doubt that this enchanting tale of determination, imagination and friendship will become a future classic. It is magic itself, gift-wrapped in imagination and fantasy. The perfect blend of fantasy and reality in a classic yet original tale of light vs darkness, where hope is the beacon that shines through the night.

The Midnight Guardians is a book that's going to stay with me for a long time. I loved the characters, the setting, the advance in plot. The description was absolutely brilliant but the story was never bogged down in too much detail or too much speech. In some ways, it reminded me of Narnia. The overarching themes of the book are beautiful; at times it made me laugh while at others, I was on the verge of tears. Everything about this was perfect!

Definitely one I will be recommending to children upon its release in September 2020.

This is a story where imagination helps to get a boy through the terrors of war, of isolation and evacuation.
Col has been evacuated to his Aunt Claire's house and his sister Rose has stayed behind in London. He had Hope's Rose would join him for Christmas, but when she writes to tell him she won't be coming he finds himself surrounded by his old imaginary friends, his midnight guardians, who have come to life to protect him , and warn him of a major air raid that will happen in London at the next new moon.
Taken on an adventure by his guardians against the Midwinter King and to save his sister Rose we see the power of friendship, resilience and survival. The Midwinter King is as feared by his guardians as the Nazis, and they need to work together to defeat him.

Montgomery has done it again, with another absolutely spectacular tale. Such an important message of hope, with amazing characters and thrilling adventure.

Absolutely wonderful - amazing writing (I was absolutely weeping towards the end), wonderful characters, and without shying away from some of the realities of war either. I'm so glad I read this.

I loved this book. There are lots of ideas that seem familiar from other novels that I have enjoyed. The chapters describing London in the Blitz are amazing and I look forward to using them in class just to give an idea of how it might have felt to be there. This will be a great class read and I have already recommended it to several children who I know will love it when it comes out.

A perfect mix of fact interlaced with imagination; a proper adventure.
This book has many layers, it has the perfect balance of the shocking facts and way of life during World War 2 and the light hearted imagination and adventure of a boy living through those times. The guardians are what makes this book stand out from the crowd. A perfect book to read with year 5/6 which gives children a snapshot of what it was like during these times but is also not all doom and gloom and will appeal to those children who enjoy adventure.

Wow, what an adventure. So many cliff hangers and so
much emotion. This book is so engaging and would be perfect as a class read (particularly if you are looking for a new tie in for a World War II topic). Every school should have a copy

If you, or your children, love adventure this would be a perfect bedtime story, either to be shared together or read under the covers with a torch!

Lots of great nods to mythology and some wonderful characters that you will feel like you have known for ages. It was one of those books that I didn’t want to end but was desperate to find out how it ended.

A stunning, action packed, timeless story.

Hope is powerful thing to cling to and it can sometimes come from where you least expect it, even from your imaginary friends. Especially when they are even more majestic in real life. Col had thought his life as an evacuee was unpredictable but now he is on a quest that may be the ultimate struggle over darkness itself. Avoiding the minions of the Midwinter King during the blitz is a perilous task but they must succeed, the alternative is too dire.

Col’s guardians are stupendous, even as an alleged grown-up, I would love to go on adventures with them. Who wouldn’t want to be friends with a tender tiger, a charming badger and a brave knight? They are noble and enchanting characters who at different times in the book became my favourite guardian. They are set to become legendary in the hearts & minds of young readers. I loved the addition of Ruth to their merry band of heroes as she adds an extra dimension to the historical elements.

I thoroughly enjoyed this reading experience and would be frantically handselling this book if I was still a bookseller.

In wartime Derbyshire, Col, evacuated to stay with his aunt, is looking forward to seeing his sister Rose for Christmas who is working in London. In a cottage in the countryside, some very unusual friends are stirring, willing him to find them.
When Col’s hopes for Christmas are dashed, he flees to Darkwell End, where his dad grew up and where he has happy memories of past holidays. Here is reunited with his imaginary friends, the Guardians, who have broken through from the spirit world to enlist his help to defeat an unseen enemy whose power is growing, plunging the world into darkness and the harshest of winters. When he needs some persuasion, they are forced to show him a terrifying vision of something he cannot ignore, and he and his Guardians embark on a desperate quest to save Rose from the chaos and destruction of the London Blitz.
On one level this is a thrilling adventure story that blends the myths and legends of Britain with a vivid depiction of a real historical event, in which the heroes encounter help and hindrance from characters both human and magical. It is also a poignant tale of the power of memory and familial love, and the important contribution they make to the process of grieving. Danger and sadness are however alleviated by a good measure of humour arising from the relationships between the characters. A great read!

Love, loss and London during the Blitz...

What a book...I loved it! A magical mix of action, adventure, and a moral tale about love and memories conquering darkness and evil. I cannot wait to use this in my classroom - it will have the children hanging on every word - I was!

The main character, Col, and his Guardians (3 imaginary friends: a badger, a tiger and a knight - conjured up by his late father to help him chase the 'Bogies under the bed' away in his younger years, and continuing to protect him from evil even now) run away from his cold, seemingly heartless Aunt Claire with whom he's been billeted as a refugee, in a desperate race across time to save his sister from a German bombing raid foreseen in an apocalyptic vision conjured for him by the evil Midwinter King who is seeking to rule the spirit realm, cross over and defeat The Green Man, and bring eternal winter to the world....PHEW!

Confused? It does seem like a mixture of genres - an evacuee story a la 'Goodnight Mr Tom', and more recently 'The Skylark's War' and 'Letters from the Lighthouse'; a giant big-cat Guardian, fighting knights and other-worldly battles with creatures a la 'Narnia' and the 'Lord of the Ring' adventures, and a Midwinter King reminiscent of Game of Thrones 'Night King', complete with his own skeleton horse, army of giants and dark-metal sword, and the threat of bringing winter, death and destruction to the human realm...

In short, it has all elements of the classic quest, and utilises these to great effect as we join the characters and get to know their own back-stories as the journey progresses and the inevitable face-to-face climatic confrontation between good and evil occurs...

There is laugh out loud humour - Gog and Magog the arguing giants are great - I can't wait to read their parts aloud in class - and there is tragedy and loss - Col's mum and dad, and the missing family of Ruth, a Jewish girl who joins his runaway team, to add into the mix of talking animals and size-changing tigers, and it works, making you feel the desperation in their urgent race to London. I particularly enjoyed the extracts from wartime newspapers that preceded many chapters, the tension heightened by the warnings of blackouts, incendiary devices and collapsing buildings, and adding a touch of historical fact and reality to the otherwise fantastical tale. The added nastiness of an incident in the Underground after the final battle, with an ugly character and his sadly-still held views shows Ross Montgomery not afraid to address and highlight challenging issues, and provides a welcome opportunity to use this text as a prompt for discussion of serious and challenging issues, sadly as current today as they were back then, as well as using it as simply a great classroom reader in it’s own right.

There has been a lot of hype around this novel, prior to its September release, with praise and online adulation from reviewers such as myself alongside other children's literature luminaries such as Katherine Rundell, Piers Torday and Sophie Anderson amongst others - none of them shy of a tall tale themselves! This tall tale deserves it all though - I absolutely loved it and can't wait to share in school...it's going to be a classroom favourite!

Thanks to Walker Books and NetGalley for the advance e-copy - I'm so glad I didn't have to wait until September!

I am unable to access this on my device. However, I cannot wait to read the book when it is available to purchase.