Books For Keeps
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Articles
  • Past Issues
  • Latest Issue
  • Authors and Artists
  • Latest News
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
November 19, 2021/in Fiction 14+ Secondary/Adult /by Angie Hill
BfK Rating:
BfK 251 November 2021
Reviewer: Diana Barnes
ISBN: 978-0702301483
Price: £6.94
Publisher: Scholastic
Genre: Fiction
Age Range: 14+ Secondary/Adult
Length: 304pp
Buy the Book

The Midnight Thief

Author: Sylvia BishopIllustrator: Flavia Sorrentino

When Freya, who has had a rather unconventional upbringing with her father, an archaeologist, starts at Throgmorton’s School for Girls, she does not fit in well, and soon gets into a lot of trouble, not always of her own making, but the many Rules of the school are complicated and difficult.  She is in the Headmistress’s office being told off for being in the attic and releasing a bat, when the wildlife conservation expert arrives, with his twin children, to rescue the bat, and Freya soon finds that these two equally unconventional children are kindred spirits. They encourage her to break even more rules by meeting them out of the school at midnight, and together they discover a plot to steal seven priceless statues of dragons that belong to the school, and when the dragons do disappear, of course they manage to retrieve them and sort it out. Bats become very important, too…

This is a rather old-fashioned school story: all the teachers are Miss Something, and each has a special characteristic, e.g. Miss Featherly is always quoting poetry, but it’s a very exciting adventure that will keep readers wanting to know what happens next. Sylvia Bishop also wrote Erica’s Elephant, and The Bookshop Girl, which were variously described as ‘charmingly old-fashioned’ and ‘charmingly retro’ and that’s a good description of this book, too. That said, it’s a thoroughly enjoyable book, recommended for younger secondary students.

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bfklogo.png 0 0 Angie Hill http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bfklogo.png Angie Hill2021-11-19 08:00:132021-11-19 08:00:16The Midnight Thief

Search for a specific review

Author Search

Search







Generic filters




Filter by Member Types


Book Author

Download BfK Issue Bfk 274 September 2025
Skip to an Issue:

About Us

Launched in 1980, we’ve reviewed hundreds of new children’s books each year and published articles on every aspect of writing for children.

Read More

Follow Us

Latest News

New OUP research quizzes the AI-Native Generation on use and attitudes

October 15, 2025

Inclusive Books for Children publishes new Excluded Voices report

October 8, 2025

Margaret McDonald heads judges for 2026 Branford Boase Award

October 7, 2025

Contact Us

Books for Keeps,
30 Winton Avenue,
London,
N11 2AT

Telephone: 0780 789 3369

ISSN: 0143-909X (this is our International Standard Serial Number).

© Copyright 2025 - Books For Keeps | Proudly Built by Lemongrass Media - Web Design Buckinghamshire
Kissing Emma Following Frankenstein
Scroll to top