The Midnight Gang: A book by David Walliams

I've read each one of David Walliams' novels for children, and this is now probably in my top three (after 'Boy in the Dress' and 'Billionaire Boy'). Walliams sets his tale (almost) entirely within the confines of a hospital, one with shortages and cut-backs, and the children's equivalent of Nurse Ratched from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. It feels a little like Matilda, which I'm sure the author would be happy to hear, and is just full of heart. He concentrates more on story in this and his last book, and lets his natural humour take the reigns, ditching the over-the-top jokes that made Ratburger and Awful Auntie more forced. Tom is our protagonist, brought disoriented into Lord Funt Hospital after a nasty bang to the head by a cricket ball at his boarding school. After meeting a naive doctor and s a scary-looking porter, he ends up on the children's ward with a collection of long-term residents, some in plaster, some very ill. But he soon notices there is something strange going on. The children sneak out from the ward at night, past the controlling and Trunchbull-like Matron. Just where are they going? What are they doing? And what is the... Midnight Gang?? One of the simplest stories Walliams has come up with, it's also one of the more effective. A simple us-vs-them story, much like Matilda, it encompasses some powerful themes. Tom is the best-characterised of the children, the others in the ward are fairly sketchily drawn, apart from Sally (whose poor health means she is stuck in bed when the others sneak out). Tom hates his school and misses the parents he feels don't love him or want him around. None of the children in fact seem to have family to visit, hence their bonding together as a unit. They do find a father-figure of sorts though, one who incites prejudice of his own and has his own sad backstory, and gives the reader something to think about on judging by appearances. The Midnight Gang itself is lovely, an inspired if not altogether unique idea, but it is what it means that is really wonderful - at the heart of the book is the idea of doing things for others, being there for your friends, a message embedded nicely by Walliams throughout the story. In case anyone is wondering about my old favourite Raj, yes, even Raj has got himself into the story as usual, as a patient who is decidedly not happy with the hospital food! Though the dinner lady Tootsie, could be straight out of a Walliams TV sketch, most amusing scenes. And the author also manages to get a little dig aimed at Britain's Got Talent in there, mentioning TV talent shows. And a very funny sequence ending up with a Twit-like balloon scene (can't wait to see THAT one aired on Christmas Day, David?!). It is one of Walliams' longer books, but I think readers will find the short chapter, plentiful Ross illustrations and lots of font changes and text-sparse pages mean it races by. It would also make a good class read in KS2 and KS3 schools, especially with its themes and messages. There's a truly ghastly Headteacher to hate as well as the Matron, and Tom is a very appealing hero. I was quite moved in the concluding chapters as it all comes together for Tom and his new friends, and really enjoyed the constant gentle humour and simple story. Bravo, David - I hope this does well. It will be a lovely Christmas Day adaptation as well. Will you be playing Tootsie this time? Suitable for over 7s (and I might read it aloud to my 5 year old!).

Just as described

It comes as no surprise to me that I found this to be yet another hilarious and moving classic from David Walliams – the greatest living children’s Writer! A boy finds himself in hospital after being hit on the head with a cricket ball. Here he gets to meet several other children on a children’s ward in an old and very badly run hospital. The kids form a gang and get up to all sorts during the night after they drug Matron. The porter’s an ally, but the Matron’s a real witch! I will never forget the bit where she wakes after having been drugged with spiked Quality Street – the ones with a purple wrapper being her favourite of all, and with one such wrapper stuck to her forehead upon waking, dreary-eyed with a pool of chocolate spittle beneath her! LOL! This is what I find most fascinating with Waliams’ books; you neither forget the stories - or the characters! Can’t wait to hear the Audiobook - I always purchase those too. I always get excited at the prospect of a new book from David Walliams – let’s hope his ‘World’s Worst Children’ Volume Two comes out next summer to keep us going until his next new full-blown novel! Recommended as always to EVERYONE – and not just kids! Keep ‘em coming Mr. Walliams! : -)

This is a book with a hard cover ..a beautiful book ..My Grandson carnt wait for these books to come .. must say I enjoy them as well .. David Williams is soo intouch with children’s imagination and humour .Illustrated by Quentin Blake is absolutely amazing . We used to get the soft covered books ,but have now moved onto hard cover as I’m sure these will be timeless books for children .. And my grandson one day will be able to laugh at them with his own children ..The books although for children and are a “story” I find surprisingly that they do have a theme running through these books with meanings for children .. to learn from 👌.. I would say once you ( parent /grandparent/Carer..) Have read these books yourself .. you will be hooked ..although my grandson is 9 he has been reading these books over the last 2years ..

In David Walliams new novel, Midnight Gang, join Tom, George, Sally and Amber in their epic adventure to the new world, in the children’s ward of Lord Funt Hospital hospital! In this new novel, Tom has an accident in the cricket pitch and wakes up in hospital. He meets a doctor called Dr Lupers, who asks many questions and Tom finds out he can’t even remember his own name! Once Tom has been admitted to the children’s ward, he meets Porter, who helps the Midnight Gang to go on adventures at night. For example: They go to the Antarctic, also known as the freezer, where there is an igloo in which they hide. Suddenly, they hear a knock on the door; Tom opens the door and then he sees a polar bear. This is just one of the many exciting, breath-taking and thrilling adventures that the children go on to distract themselves from their illnesses. David Walliams, who has often been compared to Roald Dahl, creates many characters in a humorous way using stereotypes. So the nurse is scary and powerful, bossing people around, making her the villain. Then there is the Porter, who is as friendly as a loyal puppy, even though he looks scary. There are also many old familiar characters, such as Raj. What would a Walliams story be without Raj in it? Simply nothing! Finally, among the children, there is a girl named Sally who makes the novel a bit more serious because she has cancer. The language is full of humour, using often jokes and some personification, such as, “he pushed the doors open and was swallowed up by the night”. This creates an atmosphere of tension and suspense which makes the reader imagine the experience that Tom has at that moment. Overall, the novel is very hilarious and I recommend it to children over the age of 10, so they can understand some of the more serious sides to the book. An amazing adventure!

Great book to be read to or read by a boy age 9

Great for Grandchildren, they loved them.

Great classic by David

Awesome book! Loved the characters. Loved the fun and love the ending! 👍💯💯💯. Have another one to read. Can't wait to get started! Thank you!

Great fun amazing recommend love fun David Walliams is the best person in the world other than you 😍🙂 I absolutely cannot stop reading I would totally recommend this book to everyone