Scan barcode
clairezoe's review
5.0
it was a delightful, funny book about an average girl, but with some non average events
pussreboots's review
4.0
The Middle Moffat is the sequel to The Moffats and is a Newberry Honor book. It follows Jane Moffat's attempts to make something of herself as she's tired of just being the middle child.
Each chapter is a different adventure of Jane Moffat: she plays basketball, gives an unusual organ recital, and confronts the local fixit man. Her main goal though in this book is making sure that her 99 year old neighbor (a Civil War vet) make it to his 100th birthday. Jane likes him because he calls her the "mysterious Moffat."
Although the overall tone of The Middle Moffat is upbeat the book does cover a number of tough subjects: poverty, death in the family and war. Although the book was published during WWII, Jane Moffat most likely living through WWI.
The Middle Moffat was illustrated by Louis Slobodkin and his drawings highlight a lot of the humor of the book much as William Steig's drawings do for Mr Blandings Builds His Dream House.
Each chapter is a different adventure of Jane Moffat: she plays basketball, gives an unusual organ recital, and confronts the local fixit man. Her main goal though in this book is making sure that her 99 year old neighbor (a Civil War vet) make it to his 100th birthday. Jane likes him because he calls her the "mysterious Moffat."
Although the overall tone of The Middle Moffat is upbeat the book does cover a number of tough subjects: poverty, death in the family and war. Although the book was published during WWII, Jane Moffat most likely living through WWI.
The Middle Moffat was illustrated by Louis Slobodkin and his drawings highlight a lot of the humor of the book much as William Steig's drawings do for Mr Blandings Builds His Dream House.
triscuit807's review
5.0
4.5 stars. A lovely story that lets the reader spend time as a child and see the world through a child's eyes. Janey is not the oldest or the youngest, she's the middle one, along with Joe, but Joe's the oldest boy. This is the story of a year in her childhood when 1) she worries about still being friends with her bestie, 2) she decides to protect and shepherd the town's oldest inhabitant, 3) she gives an organ recital without knowing how to play 4) she plays basketball for the first time, 5) she sees an eclipse, and 6) she waits up for Santa Claus and helps him explain to her younger brother Rufus why he's not getting a pony this year (as an adult I found the reason absolutely devastating). Estes has a way of conveying what a child is thinking and feeling. I read this for my 2019 Reading Challenge and for my Newbery Challenge (Honor Book, 1943).
insearchof_wonder_'s review
5.0
A book about a middle child always has a soft place in my middle-child-heart:)
imperfectcj's review against another edition
4.0
As usual, Estes does not disappoint.
The Middle Moffat passed the most important test: My kids loved it. Both the 8yo and the 4yo said several times a day, "Read more Moffats, Mommy!" I found myself wondering what my 21st-century children see in these World War I-era books.
I think what makes the Moffat books timeless is the way Estes portrays the children. The books seem very true to the way a child thinks. I really love Jane's perspective, and I enjoyed being in her head. Reading Jane's internal conflict when trying to make decisions really endeared her to me. It's lovely to read a character who is imperfect but trying so hard to do the right thing while receiving conflicting messages (like whether or not to take the last pork chop in a home with a maid).
Estes also incorporates some cultural critiques (and gentle ribbing) that help adult readers look at themselves less seriously. I especially loved the chapter where the women of the town hear a talk about Henry David Thoreau and then go through and declutter their homes. That really hit close to home. I had no idea people were decluttering in the early 20th century. And the means by which the organ---but not the piano bench---comes into the Moffat's home highlights the way that some people feel compelled to declutter without really internalizing the reasons for doing so.
The relationship between Jane and the oldest inhabitant of Cranbury was incredibly sweet, the way she cared for him, and he treated her as an equal. I found myself wishing our town would have a parade for every inhabitant who reached the century mark.
There are so many golden moments in this book. The only trouble I had with it is that the chapters are a tad long for a read-aloud. That didn't stop us, though.
The Middle Moffat passed the most important test: My kids loved it. Both the 8yo and the 4yo said several times a day, "Read more Moffats, Mommy!" I found myself wondering what my 21st-century children see in these World War I-era books.
I think what makes the Moffat books timeless is the way Estes portrays the children. The books seem very true to the way a child thinks. I really love Jane's perspective, and I enjoyed being in her head. Reading Jane's internal conflict when trying to make decisions really endeared her to me. It's lovely to read a character who is imperfect but trying so hard to do the right thing while receiving conflicting messages (like whether or not to take the last pork chop in a home with a maid).
Estes also incorporates some cultural critiques (and gentle ribbing) that help adult readers look at themselves less seriously. I especially loved the chapter where the women of the town hear a talk about Henry David Thoreau and then go through and declutter their homes. That really hit close to home. I had no idea people were decluttering in the early 20th century. And the means by which the organ---but not the piano bench---comes into the Moffat's home highlights the way that some people feel compelled to declutter without really internalizing the reasons for doing so.
The relationship between Jane and the oldest inhabitant of Cranbury was incredibly sweet, the way she cared for him, and he treated her as an equal. I found myself wishing our town would have a parade for every inhabitant who reached the century mark.
There are so many golden moments in this book. The only trouble I had with it is that the chapters are a tad long for a read-aloud. That didn't stop us, though.
mizmoffatt's review against another edition
3.0
Full review posted on Across the Litoverse
In truth, Jane is one of four Moffat children, meaning she shares her middle child status with an older brother; however, she coins her title after noticing her mother simply introduces her as just Jane. Sylvie is the eldest child; Rufus, the youngest; and Joey is the oldest son. But what about Jane? I would argue her stance in this matter exemplifies a middle-child mindset, so I'll let the the four-child status slide this time.
What follows in this second novel from The Moffats series is a collection of short stories profiling one year in the life of the feisty, fun-loving Jane after she and her family moves across town to a house on Ashbellows Place. In a new setting with a host of neighbours to meet, Jane wants to greet the world with a new persona—and the mysterious middle Moffat seems an excellent place to start. But being in the middle is a lot harder than it looks…
Jane's adventurous spirit and her endless search for fun leads her to befriend and secretly protect Mr. Buckle, Cranbury's oldest inhabitant, to hold her first disastrous organ recital, to help the girls' basketball team win their championship, to stand up to the frightful mechanical wizard Wallie Bangs, to learn about losing and finding best friends across town, and so much more. Throughout her travels, Jane dedicates herself to upholding the honour of the Moffats, and helps her mother and siblings as best as she can.
Overall, a lovely book about a fellow Moffat[t] child. In particular, the book lends itself well to classes studying children's lives during the Second World War and offers a nice, light read to middle readers in general.
Ideal for: Middle readers who like episodic, small-town adventures; Educators looking to capture a child's life in the Second World War for their classes; Older readers looking to reconnect with the classics of their childhood; Members of the Moffat clan.
In truth, Jane is one of four Moffat children, meaning she shares her middle child status with an older brother; however, she coins her title after noticing her mother simply introduces her as just Jane. Sylvie is the eldest child; Rufus, the youngest; and Joey is the oldest son. But what about Jane? I would argue her stance in this matter exemplifies a middle-child mindset, so I'll let the the four-child status slide this time.
What follows in this second novel from The Moffats series is a collection of short stories profiling one year in the life of the feisty, fun-loving Jane after she and her family moves across town to a house on Ashbellows Place. In a new setting with a host of neighbours to meet, Jane wants to greet the world with a new persona—and the mysterious middle Moffat seems an excellent place to start. But being in the middle is a lot harder than it looks…
Jane's adventurous spirit and her endless search for fun leads her to befriend and secretly protect Mr. Buckle, Cranbury's oldest inhabitant, to hold her first disastrous organ recital, to help the girls' basketball team win their championship, to stand up to the frightful mechanical wizard Wallie Bangs, to learn about losing and finding best friends across town, and so much more. Throughout her travels, Jane dedicates herself to upholding the honour of the Moffats, and helps her mother and siblings as best as she can.
Overall, a lovely book about a fellow Moffat[t] child. In particular, the book lends itself well to classes studying children's lives during the Second World War and offers a nice, light read to middle readers in general.
Ideal for: Middle readers who like episodic, small-town adventures; Educators looking to capture a child's life in the Second World War for their classes; Older readers looking to reconnect with the classics of their childhood; Members of the Moffat clan.
More...