About the Author

Paul Stewart is the author of a number of previous Children's titles including The Midnight Hand and The Wakening. He lives in Brighton. Chris Riddell is an award-winning graphic artist and also the acclaimed cartoonist for The Guardian and The Observer. He lives in Brighton.

Reviews

'For children who've read the Harry Potter books and want another world to explore...wonderful!' Mail on Sunday. 'Stunningly original' Guardian. 'Fabulously illustrated' Sunday Times. 'Richly inventive' Literary Review.

'For children who've read the Harry Potter books and want another world to explore...wonderful!' Mail on Sunday. 'Stunningly original' Guardian. 'Fabulously illustrated' Sunday Times. 'Richly inventive' Literary Review.

Gr 5-9-The young sky-pirate Captain Twig has been sent on a quest by his father Cloud Wolf. To save his world, he must sever the Anchor Chain of the floating city Sanctaphrax-home to academics and alchemists-before the Mother Storm arrives to reseed Riverrise with her rain. Unfortunately, Twig's memory of his father's instructions is gone, and his crew is scattered. Accompanied by Cowlquape, a Sanctaphrax apprentice, he scours the lands below for his crew and clues to the memories he has lost. Midnight is peopled with complex characters like woodelves, who can read minds; and wigwigs, fuzzy, Tribblelike creatures that happen to be carnivorous. Riddell's illustrations perfectly complement Stewart's text, but could mistakenly lead those perusing the book to assume it is for younger readers. It is not. Violence occurs, and characters die, some deservedly, others not. Stewart tackles issues of slavery and class structure while still maintaining a good adventure story with a very Hobbit-like feel to it. Readers unfamiliar with the series will have no trouble following this story, but expect a demand for Beyond the Deepwoods and Stormchaser (both Random, 2004).-Lisa Prolman, Greenfield Public Library, MA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.