Midnight for Charlie Bone: The Children of the Red King #1

Research the Gothic genre and write an essay analyzing how Jenny Nimmo draws on this. How does she adapt it for a child readership?

Do you think the novel portrays magical ability as a force for good or evil? Draw on examples from the text in your answer.

Midnight for Charlie Bone features a school with magical characteristics, a popular setting for children’s fantasy novels. Compare the school in Midnight for Charlie Bone with other fantasy schools in literature, drawing on at least three other authors. What does this comparison reveal about Nimmo’s choices?

Look closely at the figure of Uncle Paton. Make a close analysis of how his dialogue and perspective alter as his character changes through the book.

Charlie is a combination of Jones and Bone, or Yewbeam. Drawing on examples, consider which parts of Charlie’s character may be influenced by these different family strands.

Endowed characters in the book often struggle to control their powers. Consider how this functions as a useful allegory for the middle grade readership in navigating their own challenges.

What does the book have to say about missing parents and children? Why do you think this is so central to the story?

Write a piece that predicts what might happen in the subsequent novels of the series. Analyze what Midnight for Charlie Bone has done to make you expect, hope for, or fear this.