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Shadows of the Past #11
Max's Midnight Adventure
Max the talking Tonkinese cat has a third solo adventure in this seasonal short story.
What happens when the feline hero is trapped in the attic one night?
Will he escape the clutches of the Christmas fairy, a regiment of soldiers and three obstreperous French hens in time to enjoy a holiday with his family?
One thing’s for sure, the Twelve Days of Christmas will never seem quite the same again …
What happens when the feline hero is trapped in the attic one night?
Will he escape the clutches of the Christmas fairy, a regiment of soldiers and three obstreperous French hens in time to enjoy a holiday with his family?
One thing’s for sure, the Twelve Days of Christmas will never seem quite the same again …
75 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 28, 2015
1 person is currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Leighton-Porter
24 books469 followersFacebook:www.facebook.com/pages/Wendy-Leighton...
After spending 20 years as a teacher of French, Latin and Classical studies, Wendy's career took a new direction when she turned her hand to writing Middle Grade fiction.
"The Shadow of Atlantis" is the first in a series of time-travel adventures, featuring 3 children and a remarkable feline hero, Maximus Lancelot. She has recently completed the 18th book, "The Shadow of the Sifting Sands".
As she takes her young readers on a magical mystery tour through the past, she's hoping that her love of history, myth and legend will rub off on them too.
After spending 20 years as a teacher of French, Latin and Classical studies, Wendy's career took a new direction when she turned her hand to writing Middle Grade fiction.
"The Shadow of Atlantis" is the first in a series of time-travel adventures, featuring 3 children and a remarkable feline hero, Maximus Lancelot. She has recently completed the 18th book, "The Shadow of the Sifting Sands".
As she takes her young readers on a magical mystery tour through the past, she's hoping that her love of history, myth and legend will rub off on them too.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 2, 2016
Max’s Midnight Adventure by Wendy Leighton-Porter is a short, delightful story starring Max himself. Anyone who has been following the Shadows From the Past series will, by now, know a lot about Max. A lilac-coloured Tonkinese cat, big boned (definitely not fat), with aquamarine eyes, Max belongs to Jemima and Joe, the twins who’ve been staying with their Uncle Richard after their parents stepped into a magic book and disappeared. They’re not dead, and the twins know this because during their adventures back in time, using the magic book that belonged to their dad, they’ve either caught glimpses of their parents or heard news that they’re alive but have moved on in time. Uncle Richard, a professor of Archaeology and a bachelor, is at a loss as to how to entertain his niece and nephew, but he does his best. Uncle Richard suggests a holiday away down at the coast, in Devon, for a few days and the kids are very excited about the idea, as long as Max can come with.
A holiday means suitcases and they’re in the attic, along with a whole bunch of old boxes, filled with the stuff one usually finds in attics – old toys, Christmas decorations, favourite stuffed animals that no one has the heart to throw out. Max, although short on courage, is long on curiosity and several close shaves during their time travel adventures have done little to diminish his nosiness. He follows Uncle Richard into the attic and does his own poking around. He’s astounded to see the twin’s uncle clutching a shabby old teddy bear and weeping over the loss of his brother, and realises that just because adults don’t say much doesn’t mean they don’t feel sadness. It’s all a bit much for Max who thinks a quick snoozette, while Uncle Richard is pottering about, is in order. As you can imagine, Uncle Richard finishes up in the attic and goes back downstairs, leaving Max curled up inside a box, but there’s someone else in the box as well… How is Max going to get out of the attic? Will he be left there while the kids and their uncle go on holiday?
I love author Wendy Leighton-Porter’s style. In just a few lines of dialogue we meet and get to know a variety of characters, from Colonel Nutcracker (a pompous regimental sort) to Tinkerbell (aka Stinkerbell) who is particularly nasty and sarcastic to poor old Max just because he broke her wand by accident (which could have happened to anyone!), to Action Man who can’t stop flexing his muscles and showing off, to the entire cast of The Twelve Days of Christmas … with the French hens going on strike, the nine ladies getting into a huddle with the football team, to absolute chaos and mayhem. This is a wonderful peep into Max’s life that affords lots of laughs, largely due to inventiveness of the author, the hilarious interactions between the various characters, and the ultimate charm of Max, the big-hearted (albeit slightly cowardly) hero of the series.
A holiday means suitcases and they’re in the attic, along with a whole bunch of old boxes, filled with the stuff one usually finds in attics – old toys, Christmas decorations, favourite stuffed animals that no one has the heart to throw out. Max, although short on courage, is long on curiosity and several close shaves during their time travel adventures have done little to diminish his nosiness. He follows Uncle Richard into the attic and does his own poking around. He’s astounded to see the twin’s uncle clutching a shabby old teddy bear and weeping over the loss of his brother, and realises that just because adults don’t say much doesn’t mean they don’t feel sadness. It’s all a bit much for Max who thinks a quick snoozette, while Uncle Richard is pottering about, is in order. As you can imagine, Uncle Richard finishes up in the attic and goes back downstairs, leaving Max curled up inside a box, but there’s someone else in the box as well… How is Max going to get out of the attic? Will he be left there while the kids and their uncle go on holiday?
I love author Wendy Leighton-Porter’s style. In just a few lines of dialogue we meet and get to know a variety of characters, from Colonel Nutcracker (a pompous regimental sort) to Tinkerbell (aka Stinkerbell) who is particularly nasty and sarcastic to poor old Max just because he broke her wand by accident (which could have happened to anyone!), to Action Man who can’t stop flexing his muscles and showing off, to the entire cast of The Twelve Days of Christmas … with the French hens going on strike, the nine ladies getting into a huddle with the football team, to absolute chaos and mayhem. This is a wonderful peep into Max’s life that affords lots of laughs, largely due to inventiveness of the author, the hilarious interactions between the various characters, and the ultimate charm of Max, the big-hearted (albeit slightly cowardly) hero of the series.
August 6, 2021
Uncle Richard was planning a trip to the seaside and the twins were excited. The cottage he had rented in Devon allowed pets, and Jemima was happy they could take Max, their Tonkinese cat. Readers who have read the previous books in the Shadows from the Past series will be familiar with Max, the twins, and their Uncle Richard with whom they were living after the mysterious disappearance of their parents. Thanks to their time-travel adventures, the twins knew their parents were alive. After Jemima and Joe had gone to bed, Max followed Uncle Richard up to the attic to get the suitcases. As Max inspected some of the boxes in the attic, he saw Uncle Richard holding an old teddy bear that had belonged to his brother, James, the twins' father, and he was crying because, unlike the twins, Uncle Richard believed his brother was dead. Uncle Richard started going through their childhood treasures, reminiscing. Thinking he would be there for a long time, Max quietly slipped into a large cardboard box for a short snooze.
Awoken by a bad dream, Max jumped out of the cardboard box and realized Uncle Richard was no longer there… and the loft hatch was shut. Max was worried that he would be stuck in there for days as the family was going on their holiday the next day. Would he be able to get out of the attic in time before the family left for their holiday?
'Max's Midnight Adventure' by Wendy Leighton-Porter will take Middle-Grade readers on a whimsical adventure with Max to the world of Tinkerbell, Colonel Nutcracker, Action Man, and other enchanting toys that come to life at midnight and make enough noise to wake up the whole house. Uncle Richard clutching the teddy bear that belonged to James, the twins' father, and wiping a tear reveals the softer side of Uncle Richard who hides his own grief from the twins as he helps them to face the loss of their parents.
In contrast, the interactions between the toys provide light relief, bringing fun moments to the tale – watching Max and his actions will make young readers smile. Max breaking Tinkerbell's wand by lying on top of it, Tinkerbell explaining to him what a shooting star was, and getting to know Ricky was Richard's pet name from the Action Man are all adorable moments in this story. Wendy's imagination and creativity are at their best in this short story.
Awoken by a bad dream, Max jumped out of the cardboard box and realized Uncle Richard was no longer there… and the loft hatch was shut. Max was worried that he would be stuck in there for days as the family was going on their holiday the next day. Would he be able to get out of the attic in time before the family left for their holiday?
'Max's Midnight Adventure' by Wendy Leighton-Porter will take Middle-Grade readers on a whimsical adventure with Max to the world of Tinkerbell, Colonel Nutcracker, Action Man, and other enchanting toys that come to life at midnight and make enough noise to wake up the whole house. Uncle Richard clutching the teddy bear that belonged to James, the twins' father, and wiping a tear reveals the softer side of Uncle Richard who hides his own grief from the twins as he helps them to face the loss of their parents.
In contrast, the interactions between the toys provide light relief, bringing fun moments to the tale – watching Max and his actions will make young readers smile. Max breaking Tinkerbell's wand by lying on top of it, Tinkerbell explaining to him what a shooting star was, and getting to know Ricky was Richard's pet name from the Action Man are all adorable moments in this story. Wendy's imagination and creativity are at their best in this short story.
March 2, 2020
In this adventure, Max gets to experience every child's dream, or is it a dream that turns into a nightmare?
After investigating a light in the attic, Max crawls into a cardboard box to sleep. When he wakes up, he is locked in. Darn, that means he is going to miss the vacation with Uncle Richard, the twins, Charlie, and his mom. He is desperate to find a way out. The only problem: only old toys and Christmas decorations are in the attic.
Suffice it to say, the author tells an enchanting tale of toys that come alive, a fairy called Tinks who is mad at Max, and a host of classic Christmas decorations including the entire cast of the Twelve Days of Christmas!
Will Max be saved by accidentally wishing on a plane? You'll have to read this one to find out!!
After investigating a light in the attic, Max crawls into a cardboard box to sleep. When he wakes up, he is locked in. Darn, that means he is going to miss the vacation with Uncle Richard, the twins, Charlie, and his mom. He is desperate to find a way out. The only problem: only old toys and Christmas decorations are in the attic.
Suffice it to say, the author tells an enchanting tale of toys that come alive, a fairy called Tinks who is mad at Max, and a host of classic Christmas decorations including the entire cast of the Twelve Days of Christmas!
Will Max be saved by accidentally wishing on a plane? You'll have to read this one to find out!!
January 16, 2020
Max’s Midnight Adventure takes us into the third of the solo adventures written for Max the Tonkinese cat, Wendy Leighton-Porter’s breakout star from the Shadows from the Past series, and I am HERE for it. Toy Story meets the Nutcracker in this gem of a mini tale, which for once does not feature any time travel or historical references. Instead, the nosy and adorable Max gets trapped in the attic when he follows Uncle Richard up the stairs in his quest for holiday suitcases. Max gets more than he bargains for as he meets a charming and varied array of personalities from the Christmas fair to an actual Action Man.
This was a hoot and a half. I love Max’s cowardly ways, and after the events of Shadow of the Two Princes, I felt like it was very necessary for readers to slip off with Max for a mini adventure that relieves some of the tension and his experiences in that book. As always Wendy Leighton-Porter weaves her magic in the atmosphere and storytelling, but the real star of this novella is in the artistry of her character development. Where the author is usually working with figures from real history and adapting them to her story needs, here she’s set free with total invention from the toys in the attic and it showcases a wide variety of personalities an fantastic inventions of idiosyncrasy and temperament. Where kids will absolutely fall over laughing at the antics of Tinks, the Colonel and those darned hens, adult readers can truly marvel at the sophistication and ease with which these larger than life figures are brought into being. A fantastic tale for one and all, and a perfect winter read.
This was a hoot and a half. I love Max’s cowardly ways, and after the events of Shadow of the Two Princes, I felt like it was very necessary for readers to slip off with Max for a mini adventure that relieves some of the tension and his experiences in that book. As always Wendy Leighton-Porter weaves her magic in the atmosphere and storytelling, but the real star of this novella is in the artistry of her character development. Where the author is usually working with figures from real history and adapting them to her story needs, here she’s set free with total invention from the toys in the attic and it showcases a wide variety of personalities an fantastic inventions of idiosyncrasy and temperament. Where kids will absolutely fall over laughing at the antics of Tinks, the Colonel and those darned hens, adult readers can truly marvel at the sophistication and ease with which these larger than life figures are brought into being. A fantastic tale for one and all, and a perfect winter read.
March 9, 2022
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Max’s Midnight Adventure
Author: Wendy Leighton-Porter
Star Rating: 3.5 Stars
Number of Readers: 16
Stats
Editing: 8/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Content: 6/10
Cover: 2/5
Of the 16 readers:
12 would read another book by this author.
6 thought the cover was good or excellent.
16 felt it was easy to follow.
12 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 7 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
10 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
12 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“I did think this story was good, but I sort of guessed the ending. I like to be surprised. I think the author’s good at coming up with fun toy characters. She’s also good at making the reader laugh. I laughed anyway.” Girl, aged 9
“Max is the best character although he’s a bit of a coward. I liked all the characters he met in the attic. I thought the author is best with characters, but not so good with plot, as it could have been more exciting. Overall, I thought it was a cut story, a bit too short, and with funny, super-cool toy characters.” Boy, aged 10
“This story reminded me a bit of Toy Story as the toys are alive! I liked that a lot. I also liked how they worked together (sort of) to help Max get out of the attic. The author’s brill with characters. She can be funny too when the characters talk. I loved that all the toys were different and acted differently.” Girl, aged 11
“I liked that there was speech, and not just describing everything. I thought the pacing was slow, then got much better in the second half.” Girl, aged 10
To Sum It Up:
‘A comical Christmas tale with a Toy Story feel to it!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: Max’s Midnight Adventure
Author: Wendy Leighton-Porter
Star Rating: 3.5 Stars
Number of Readers: 16
Stats
Editing: 8/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Content: 6/10
Cover: 2/5
Of the 16 readers:
12 would read another book by this author.
6 thought the cover was good or excellent.
16 felt it was easy to follow.
12 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 7 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
10 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
12 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“I did think this story was good, but I sort of guessed the ending. I like to be surprised. I think the author’s good at coming up with fun toy characters. She’s also good at making the reader laugh. I laughed anyway.” Girl, aged 9
“Max is the best character although he’s a bit of a coward. I liked all the characters he met in the attic. I thought the author is best with characters, but not so good with plot, as it could have been more exciting. Overall, I thought it was a cut story, a bit too short, and with funny, super-cool toy characters.” Boy, aged 10
“This story reminded me a bit of Toy Story as the toys are alive! I liked that a lot. I also liked how they worked together (sort of) to help Max get out of the attic. The author’s brill with characters. She can be funny too when the characters talk. I loved that all the toys were different and acted differently.” Girl, aged 11
“I liked that there was speech, and not just describing everything. I thought the pacing was slow, then got much better in the second half.” Girl, aged 10
To Sum It Up:
‘A comical Christmas tale with a Toy Story feel to it!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
October 13, 2019
Max accidentally gets trapped in the attic when he falls asleep in a box of Christmas decorations after following the twins' Uncle Richard up the ladder to the "loft." How will he let the twins know where he is? Fortunately, he has help.
As anyone who has watched Toy Story knows, toys come to life when Humans aren't around. So, between the Christmas ornaments and a box of old, mostly forgotten, toys, Max and his new friends manage to make enough noise to rouse the house, and Max is rescued!
Just a few editing oversights found in the Kindle text of Max's Midnight Adventure:
Location 80, But can Max come too? / But can Max come, too? ; 84, That's all right then / That's all right, then ; 182, He'd be stuck up here for days, for ever maybe / He'd be stuck up here for days, FOREVER maybe ; 460, It woke us up too. / It woke us up, too.
As anyone who has watched Toy Story knows, toys come to life when Humans aren't around. So, between the Christmas ornaments and a box of old, mostly forgotten, toys, Max and his new friends manage to make enough noise to rouse the house, and Max is rescued!
Just a few editing oversights found in the Kindle text of Max's Midnight Adventure:
Location 80, But can Max come too? / But can Max come, too? ; 84, That's all right then / That's all right, then ; 182, He'd be stuck up here for days, for ever maybe / He'd be stuck up here for days, FOREVER maybe ; 460, It woke us up too. / It woke us up, too.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews