The Midnight Gang
{{short description|2017 children's book written by David Walliams and illustrated by Tony Ross}}
{{Infobox book|
| name = The Midnight Gang
| image = File:The_Midnight_Gang_cover_image.jpg
| author = David Walliams
| illustrator = Tony Ross
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| series =
| genre = Children's fiction
| publisher = HarperCollins
| pub_date = 3 November 2016
| isbn = 978-0-00-848759-1
| oclc =
| preceded_by = Grandpa's Great Escape
| followed_by = Bad Dad
}}{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
The Midnight Gang is a children's book written by David Walliams and illustrated by Tony Ross. It was released by HarperCollins on 3 November 2016. The story follows a boy called Thomas "Tom" Charper going to a cruel hospital and joining a "midnight gang" consisting of the facility's other children and staff.
Reception
Emily Bearn wrote in The Daily Telegraph, "it is a simple and touching story of children overcoming adversity with make-believe".{{cite news |last=Bearn |first=Emily |date=2016-12-03 |title=The Midnight Gang proves David Walliams just keeps getting better – review |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/midnight-gang-proves-david-walliams-just-keeps-getting-better/ |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |accessdate=2023-02-28 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228094449/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/midnight-gang-proves-david-walliams-just-keeps-getting-better/ |archivedate=2023-02-28 }} Common Sense Media's Mary Eisenhart said, "British author David Walliams is in top form with this imaginative, poignant, often crude, and frequently hilarious tale of kids stuck in a London hospital. ... it's a heartstring-tugging, thought-provoking tale with unforgettable characters, relatable issues, and a determination to do better than the bad people in your life."{{cite news |last=Eisenhart |first=Mary |date=2019-06-03 |title=The Midnight Gang. Book review by Mary Eisenhart, Common Sense Media. |url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/the-midnight-gang |website=Common Sense Media |accessdate=2023-02-28 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227183042/https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/the-midnight-gang |archivedate=2023-02-27 }}
In a positive review for the School Library Journal, Caitlin Augusta stated, "Ross's numerous black-and-white illustrations mirror Walliams's lawless, uncontained revelry. ... Irreverent as Roald Dahl, Walliams is a unique author who's created a memorable world and cast of characters."{{cite magazine |last=Augusta |first=Caitlin |date=2017-12-01 |title=The Midnight Gang |url=https://www.slj.com/review/the-midnight-gang |magazine=School Library Journal |accessdate=2023-02-28 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228094847/https://www.slj.com/review/the-midnight-gang |archivedate=2023-02-28 }} In a mixed review, Kirkus Reviews said, "An entertaining tale that will definitely find an audience, but fans of icky, vicious comedy deserve better."{{cite magazine |date=2017-11-13 |title=The Midnight Gang |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/david-walliams/the-midnight-gang/ |magazine=Kirkus Reviews |accessdate=2023-02-28 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228094912/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/david-walliams/the-midnight-gang/ |archivedate=2023-02-28 }}
Adaptations
The book was adapted for the theatre, {{cite news |last=Wiegand |first=Chris |date=2020-05-04 |title=The Midnight Gang review – escape to Walliams' wonderland |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2020/may/04/the-midnight-gang-review-chichester-festival-theatre-2018-david-walliams |newspaper=The Guardian |accessdate=2023-02-28 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228094643/https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2020/may/04/the-midnight-gang-review-chichester-festival-theatre-2018-david-walliams |archivedate=2023-02-28 }}{{cite news |last=Pollard |first=Alexandra |date=2018-12-26 |title=The Midnight Gang review: David Walliams channels Roald Dahl's zany imagination in delightful children's tale |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/the-midnight-gang-review-david-walliams-bbc-drama-childrens-book-a8697831.html |newspaper=The Independent |accessdate=2023-02-28 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228094642/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/the-midnight-gang-review-david-walliams-bbc-drama-childrens-book-a8697831.html |archivedate=2023-02-28 }}{{cite news |date=2021-04-01 |title=David Walliams' The Midnight Gang rolls into Her Majesty's |newspaper=The Courier |id={{ProQuest|2511070672}} }}{{cite news |last=Fargnoli |first=Dave |date=2017-07-24 |title=The Midnight Gang: "Fun david walliams' adaptation" |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/the-midnight-gang-review-at-chickenshed--fun-david-walliams-adaptation |newspaper=The Stage |id={{ProQuest|1927854761}} |accessdate=2023-02-28 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228094716/https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/the-midnight-gang-review-at-chickenshed--fun-david-walliams-adaptation |archivedate=2023-02-28 }}{{cite news |last=Todd |first=Bella |date=2018-10-24 |title=The Midnight Gang: "Wickedly funny" |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/the-midnight-gang-review-at-chichester-festival-theatre--wickedly-funny |newspaper=The Stage |id={{ProQuest|2131787428}} |accessdate=2023-02-28 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228094734/https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/the-midnight-gang-review-at-chichester-festival-theatre--wickedly-funny |archivedate=2023-02-28 }}{{cite news |last=Maxwell |first=Dominic |date=2018-10-24 |title=Theatre review: The Midnight Gang at the Chichester Festival Theatre |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/theatre-dance/article/theatre-review-the-midnight-gang-at-the-chichester-festival-theatre-hrj2tplg6 |newspaper=The Times |access-date=2023-02-28 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211002195642/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/theatre-review-the-midnight-gang-at-the-chichester-festival-theatre-hrj2tplg6 |archive-date=2021-10-02 }} and also for television, in 2018.
References
{{reflist}}
{{David Walliams}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Midnight Gang}}
Category:British children's novels
Category:British novels adapted into films
Category:Novels by David Walliams
{{2010s-child-novel-stub}}