Midnight for Charlie Bone

The success of the 'Harry Potter' novels has created a market for and a resulting supply of children's books concerned with magic. Thus it is difficult to read Charlie Bone without a mental reference to Potter, to which, unfortunately, it does not measure up. To make such a comparison is not really fair to Nimmo who was an accomplished and well-regarded author of 'magic' stories long before J K Rowling hit the headlines. However, the similarities are there. Charlie Bone is a boy leading a relatively ordinary life who discovers he is 'endowed' with supernatural powers: he can hear people in photographs talking. This means that he is to become a boarder at Bloor's Academy, a school for others who are 'endowed' and for the very talented. The action is divided between Bloor's and Charlie's home and environs, and there is a large number of characters which I found confusing at times. The book begins with a prologue set in a mythical past where events have reprecussions for those living in the present, especially Charlie Bone. These are reflected in the number of plots and sub-plots in the narrative, and while some of these are resolved, there is still much to be told and the closing page says 'To be continued'. Despite the above caveats, Midnight for Charlie Bone is likely to be enjoyed by many young readers.