The Midnight Folk by John Masefield

The Midnight Folk was a recommendation from a book review community. I enjoy young adult books, and fantasy, and older works, so this seemed like it would be interesting. It's the story of a young boy named Kay who has a series of magical adventures while looking for a treasure that rumor says his great-grandfather stole. It was first published in the nineteen twenties, and has the feel of being written even earlier.

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This is remiscent of Water Babies, although with far fewer illustrations and much less moralizing. Fans of children's fantasy will enjoy the old toys come to life, the mermaids, and the talking animals. Modern sensibilities might find the governess punishing the little boy's "impudence" by starving him to be a bit upsetting, and the songs in the book to be a bit drivel-ish. But the villains (and some side characters) are unabashedly wicked, which is pleasing, and the book overall has a sweet dreamlike quality that will remind many of us of our childhoods. Three stars.