Judith Rossell

High on a cliff above the gloomy coastal town of Withering-by-Sea stands the Hotel Majestic. Inside the walls of the damp, dull hotel, eleven-year-old orphan Stella Montgomery leads a miserable life with her three dreadful Aunts. But one night, Stella sees something she shouldn't have... Something that will set in motion and adventure more terrifying and more wonderful than she could ever have hoped for...

For fans of The Swifts and A Series of Unfortunate Events comes the story of a young orphan at the edge of society who finds herself at the center of a city’s secretsMaggie Fishbone is not expecting much when she’s sent to the Midwatch Institute for Orphans, Runaways, and Wayward Girls—the last resort after causing a ruckus at the orphanage where she was living. Except . . . the Institute isn’t some dreadful, dreary place like she thought.Instead it’s full of curious girls training to solve mysteries, fight bad guys, and keep the city safe. In between fencing lessons and discovering all the shortcuts in the building, Maggie finds herself making friends at the Midwatch and finally feeling like she’s home. And when a woman goes missing, Maggie’s off on her first assignment, with each step leading her deeper into the secrets of the city.With gorgeous black-and-white illustrations and pages of “Useful Things Every Girl Should Know” (like how send messages in morse code and how to shout extremely loudly), The Midwatch is a whimsical, adventure-filled mystery from internationally bestselling author-illustrator Judith Rossell.

When Stella Montgomery returned to the Hotel Majestic cold and wet but exhilarated by adventure, the Aunts were furious. Now they are sending Stella away to the old family home at Wormwood Mire, where she must live with two strange cousins and their governess. But within the overgrown grounds of the mouldering house, dark secrets slither and skulk, and soon Stella must be brave once more if she's to find out who - or what - she really is ... From bestselling writer-illustrator Judith Rossell comes the thrilling and magical sequel to her multi-award-winning novel, Withering-by-Sea.

THE MAGICAL CONCLUSION TO STELLA'S AWARD-WINNING STORY Stella Montgomery is in disgrace. The Aunts have sent her to Wakestone Hall, a grim boarding school where the disobedient are tamed and the wilful are made meek. But when a friend disappears, Stella is determined to find her - no matter the danger ... Soon Stella is thrown deeper into the mysteries of Wakestone ... and her own past. Will Stella save her friend in time? And will she discover - at long last - where she truly belongs?

The biggest children's book of the year! The Midwatch is the long-awaited new middle-grade novel from internationally bestselling author–illustrator Judith Rossell, creator of the multi-award-winning novel Withering-by-Sea.‘The city was stuffed full of wickedness, everyone knew that …’ Banished to the Midwatch Institute for Orphans, Runaways and Unwanted Girls, Maggie Fishbone is sure she’s in for a life of drudgery. But she quickly discovers there’s more to the Midwatch than meets the eye … The city shimmers with jewels and secrets, and soon Maggie is thrust into an adventure that takes her deep underground, high above the clouds and face to face with danger itself.Turn the page and prepare to be drawn into a lavishly illustrated world, brimming with mystery, unlikely heroines and an adventure as big as the sky. PRAISE FOR THE MIDWATCH Shortlisted for the 2025 Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Children’s Literature Shortlisted for the 2025 Indie Book Awards Shortlisted for the 2025 Australian Book Industry Awards Shortlisted for the 2025 Australian Book Design Awards Shortlisted for the 2025 BookPeople Children's Book of the Year Award Finalist in the 2024 Aurealis Awards‘Gasp-out-loud brilliant! An absolute treasure of a book.’ — KATRINA NANNESTAD, bestselling author of We Are Wolves  ‘I was hooked from the beginning ... Move over Lemony Snicket!’ — KAREN FOXLEE, award-winning author of Lenny’s Book of Everything‘Welcome all treasure-hunters and mystery-solvers to the Midwatch Institute … [where] disobedient girls are not to be underestimated!'  — AMELIA MELLOR, award-winning author of The Grandest Bookshop in the World  ‘A cracking concept, sensational characters and absolutely smashing The Midwatch is the cat’s pyjamas!’ — JACLYN MORIARTY, award-winning author of the Kingdoms and Empires series‘Cinematic, amusing, and a slightly subversive, delightfully empowering, all-around winner.’ – Kirkus Reviews (starred review)‘Absolutely winning adventure tale brimming with awe-inspiring characters.’ – The Sydney Morning Herald '[A] subversive and captivating examination of adventure, lifelong learning, and sisterhood ... Action and adventure abound.' – Publishers Weekly (starred review)