The Magic of Midnight in YA Novels

Midnight is the moment when one day ends and another day starts.  It is often used symbolically to describe a major change in our life's experiences.  Three YA authors have used midnight in the titles of their new books to express just that. Bring Me Your Midnight by Rachel Griffin takes place on the island of Witchery where two factions of witches reside.  One coven practices tourist friendly low magic and attempts to get along with non-magical mainlanders. The second coven is hidden and practices the more powerful dark or high magic. Teen witch Tana Fairchild struggles to decide her destiny, and possibly make peace between the two covens. In What Happens After Midnight by K.L. Walther the daughter of a faculty member at Ames Boarding School is tapped to help the "Jester" pull off the epic annual senior class prank. When she discovers the Jester is her former boyfriend, she wonders if getting involved with him again will break her heart. On a much more serious note, The Fight for Midnight by Dan Solomon, reimagines the 2013 filibuster of the Texas abortion bill HB2. Alex Collins, who has never thought much about the issue, attends the event at the State Capitol and is torn between the pro-life and pro-choice arguments.  

In Bring Me Your Midnight teen witch Tana Fairchild, the coven-leader's daughter on the island of Witchery, is expected to marry Landon Yates, the non-magical son of the mainland's governor.  Her coven has given up high magic in favor of the tourist-friendly low magic to assuage the fears of the mainlanders.  Although she doesn't love Landon, he is a kind man, and she knows he will assure her coven's protection. She is willing to make this sacrifice until Wolfe Hawthorne, who practices high magic and lives with a hidden coven on the island, appears to her at midnight during her coven's annual ritual where they release their magical powers into the ocean.  Missing the annual purge, Tana seeks out Wolfe to help her drain the potentially deadly excess magic from her body. Wolfe complies and they begin a clandestine relationship which evolves into a passionate love. Wolfe tries to convince Tana to embrace her magic.  The purging ritual is disturbing the ocean currents and threatening the island's fragile environment.  Tana is torn between her obligation to her coven and her love for Wolfe, and the exhilaration she experiences when she practices high magic. Their midnight meetings help Tana begin to embrace a major change in her destiny. 

What Happens After Midnight introduces Lily Hopper, who attends an upscale boarding school in Rhode Island, because her mother is a faculty member. Each year the student body taps a "Jester," who masterminds an elaborate prank.  This year Lily is mysteriously invited to join the Jester's pranksters to steal and hide the annual yearbooks, which are scheduled to be handed out by class president Daniel Rivera, Lily's prom date.  When she finds out the Jester is Tag Swell, her ex-boyfriend, whom she still loves, she almost backs out. Tag has planned a complicated scavenger hunt for Daniel to complete in order to find the yearbooks.  Hiding the clues requires the use of her mother's keys, which Lily reluctantly steals. Of course, the pranksters set out at midnight to steal the yearbooks and hide the clues.  As Lily and Tag work together, they revisit their two-year relationship via flashbacks.  They dodge school security, faculty members and fellow students who are also out after midnight. Tag's Type 1 diabetes is woven into the story, creating complications in completing the prank. Old feelings resurface and Lily realizes that the biggest obstacle to their happiness was Lily's insecurity about other girls vying for Tag's attention, and that he was only marking time until he could convince her to give him a second chance.  Swift action and near misses in getting caught, as well as the "will they, won't they get back together" question, make this a real page turner.

The Fight for Midnight focuses on Alex Collins, who is facing a lonely summer after the death of his best friend, Jesse.  He fills his time doing community service at an adult day care center, reading Game of Thrones to an 85-year-old man, Mr. Monahan.  When Cassie Ramirez, a girl Alex has had a crush on since elementary school, calls him to come to the Texas Capitol building to protest Wendy Davis's historic filibuster of the abortion bill HB2, Alex goes, despite having no opinion on abortions.  Wendy must talk nonstop until midnight to keep the bill from passing.  At the Capitol Alex finds himself in the middle of a tense scene full of pro-choice "orange shirts," and pro-life "blue shirts," and hypocritical politicians playing political games. At first, he has no problem siding with Cassie, but then he runs into Shireen, Jesse's former girlfriend, who is adamantly pro-choice, and he begins to search his soul about how he feels about the issue.  The backstory of Jesse's death and Alex's crime which led to his community service, is woven into present-day events.  Once again midnight figures significantly in the changes the protagonist goes through to become an adult.  There is an author's note about his personal experience at the protest in 2013. 

Teen Rom/Coms

 Why do readers and filmgoers enjoy romantic comedies or Rom/Coms so much? According to movie web, pleasantries felt while enjoying Rom/Coms elicit dopamine and serotonin, aka "happy hormones." Different from a straight romance, the central romantic relationship in a Rom/Com creates comedic tension. In Jessica Q. Sutanto's Didn't See that Coming, an outspoken gamer girl, poses online as "DudeBro" to avoid harassment. When she transfers to a new school, she realizes her online best friend "Sourdawg" goes there and is either her crush or her nemesis who are both gamers.  Eric Smith's With or Without You pits two teens whose parents own rival cheesesteak trucks against each other, even though they are secretly in love. Mindy Kaling's book club pick this month, Amy Lea's Woke Up Like This, is an adult/YA crossover about two battling teens who are transported 13 years into the future where they are engaged to be married. Unaware of what happened in the last 13 years to change their feelings for each other, they struggle desperately to get back to their teenage years and high school prom.

In Didn't See that Coming, Kiki Siregar, who lives in South Jakarta, Indonesia, games under the name "DudeBro" to avoid being objectified by guys in the gaming universe. Worrying that Kiki is too liberal, her parents transfer her to a traditionally Chinese school, where she immediately draws negative attention when she stands up to a bully, Jonas Arifin, and is branded on TikTok as #Crazy Kiki. She confides in her online best friend "Sourdawg," but later finds out he goes to her new school.  She wonders if he is her sweet sensitive lab partner Liam, or Jonas, whose delusional attraction to her is making her life miserable.  She enlists the help of the Li'l Auntie's dating service to solve the mystery. Although serious subjects of gender bias and STEM related topics are explored, they are dealt with in humorous ways.  As Kiki struggles to stand up to aggressors and be true to herself, she also recognizes that she doesn't want to alienate her crush Liam. Readers will find Kiki's entertaining hijinks a fun romp that of course, leads to a happy ending. 

In With or Without You the legendary rivalry between cheesesteak trucks Plaza Steaks and Ortiz Steaks is fueled by high schoolers Jordan Plaza and Cindy Ortiz, whose escalating insults go viral. What spectating customers don't realize is the bickering is a marketing ploy.  Jordan and Cindy have been secretly in love for years.  Hoping to put the antics behind them when they graduate, they are conflicted when TV executives propose a reality show based on the rivalry. The two families are scheduled to compete in a "Truck Off!" food fair and as competition heats up, real grievances begin to arise.  Jordan wants to buy his own food truck and set off across the country with Cindy, whereas she would rather attend college to study the television industry The story is told in alternating perspectives with reality TV-style confessionals.  Will Cindy and Jordan find a way to make their relationship work, yet keep their families and TV executives happy, especially when their dreams are diverging?

Woke Up Like This introduces high school senior Charlotte Wu, who has despised golden boy J.T. Renner since he stood her up for Freshman Homecoming. Adding insult to injury, he runs against her for student council president and wins effortlessly, after she has devoted four years to student service and clearly deserves the job. During a prom decorating accident, Char falls off a ladder into Renner, and they slip through a wormhole to 2037 where they wake up in bed together a week before their wedding.  They now work at their former high school (She is a counselor, and he is a gym teacher.) and must keep up appearances as they try to figure out how to get back to 2024.  As they spend time together, trying to unravel the mysteries of the past, they learn more about each other. Char, who narrates the story, becomes desperate to get back to the past and make changes in decisions she made.  Their chemistry and witty bickering, as they evolve from enemies to lovers, make this a widely appealing rom/com. 

Teens Dealing with Grief

 Coping with the death of a friend or family member is not easy for people of any age.   Reading about how main characters  in novels deal with death in their lives may inform readers about coping mechanisms and support systems that enable young adults to move on from the devastating experience.  This month I will recommend three new YA novels about teens dealing with grief. In A Pretty Implausible Premise by Karen Rivers (You are the Everything) two teen athletes find comfort in each other after experiencing tragedies that derail their Olympic dreams.  Someone You Loved by Robin Constantine (The Season of You and Me) finds Sarah and Jakes navigating the death of her boyfriend/his best friend Alex, who died in a horrific fall off a cliff. They feel guilty about finding solace in each other through their shared grief. I Loved You in Another Life by David Arnold (The Electric Kingdom) is a speculative love story where two teens are brought together across their present, past and future lives by shared music only they can hear. 

 A Pretty Implausible Premise introduces Hattie and Presley, two teen athletes whose Olympic dreams are dashed by tragedy. Hattie, whose mother took off when she was six, hopes they will be reunited when Hattie swims in the Olympics.  But when 7-year-old Elijah dies while Hattie is lifeguarding, she begins experiencing panic attacks whenever she tries to swim.  Presley, an ice-skating phenom, loses his twin brother in a car accident that leaves him with injuries that end his competitive career.  When Presley transfers to Hattie's high school, he immediately recognizes her "haunted shimmer." Their relationship quickly progresses in ways that are uncannily similar to the romance novel that has been Hattie's lifeline since Elijah's death. When wildfires threaten their town, an evacuation and impromptu road trip gives them an opportunity to bond over shared losses and feelings of guilt. Through encouragement from Presley's therapist and Hattie's coach, as well as the novel that is an integral part of Hattie's recovery, their healing journey ultimately leads to love and hope for the future.  

When Alex dies in a 130 foot fall off a cliff in Someone You Loved, he leaves behind a grieving girlfriend Sarah, his sister Ashley, and his best friend Jake, who witnessed the accident. Sarah and Ashley are best friends. Two months before his death, Alex and Sarah's relationship evolves from friendship into a romance.  Following the accident, Sarah is not only dealing with her own grief, but Ashley's as well.  After running into each other at a cafe, Sarah and Jake begin nightly phone calls that soon become more than sharing their mutual grief.  Jake, who constantly hears Alex's voice in his head, is wracked with survivor's guilt and the feeling that he is taking over Alex's former life.  The only happiness he feels is when he talks to Sarah, which his therapist encourages.  As they grow closer, they worry about what Alex would think and how Ashley will handle their relationship.  Although they try to get involved with other people, finding solace in each other is something they desperately need. 

In I Loved You in Another Life two teens experience tragedies that hinder their plans for the future.  Shosh Bell, an aspiring actress, loses all ambition and turns to alcohol when her beloved sister is killed.  Evan Taft has dreamed of a wilderness program in Alaska for his gap year when his father leaves and his mother is diagnosed with breast cancer. He feels responsible for the well-being of her and his neurodivergent 7-year-old brother. They both begin hearing a song in their head that ultimately leads them to each other.  When they finally meet, they feel like they've met before, and indeed they have.  Their alternating points of view are interspersed with stories from their different lifetimes together - Paris 1832, Tokyo 1953, Oslo 2109. When they hear a performer, Neon Imposter, singing the songs they thought only they could hear, they realize the connection is larger than themselves.  Together these troubled characters find healing in each other.  The author writes and records songs as Neon Imposter, including ones from this book that can be found online.

Cultural Comparisons

 Having students do a cultural comparison between their own culture and one represented in a book they are reading is an efficient way to combine reading and writing skills.  Three books that lend themselves to this exercise explore Chinese, Korean and Indian traditions. The Boy You Always Wanted by Michelle Quach finds Francine Zhang enlisting the help of Ollie Tran to stand in as her dying grandfather's male heir.  In the Chinese culture only a male can ceremonially honor ancestors. The Name Drop by Susan Lee enlists K-drama tropes to tells the story of two Korean teens who switch identities for a summer internship.  He is the son of the corporation's CEO and she is the daughter of an employee who worked to create the internship program. Sleepless in Dubai by Sajni Patel follows two feuding teens to Dubai where they are celebrating Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights with their families. Copious details about Dubai and Diwali make this an informative, as well as entertaining read. In all three books the struggles females face to achieve in their culture are explored. 

In The Boy You Always Wanted Francine Zhang's dying grandfather, A Gung, regrets having no male descendants to honor their ancestors, so she comes up with a plan.  She ask Ollie Tran, who like Francine is a Chinese/Vietnamese American, to become A Gung's honorary heir.  Although Ollie is at first opposed, he realizes their families have know each other since before they came to the U.S., and A Gung provided for Ollie when his father died and left his family destitute. In return Francine will help Ollie beef up his extracurriculars for college applications. They join the multicultural club where he's responsible for a booth at their annual fundraising event, showcasing his family history, about which he knows little.  As he researches and pours over old pictures Francine has provided, he discovers an alarming secret.  Told from alternating perspectives, the story highlights two teens growing romantically involved as they investigate their heritage and the ties that bind.

Switched identity, ala The Prince and The Pauper, is explored in The Name Drop. Jessica Lee is a top southern California high school student who earns a summer internship in New York with her father's employer, the Korean tech company Haneul Corporation.  Elijah Ri is the son of Haneul's Seoul-based CEO and will reluctantly be spending the summer as an executive trainee there. Because their Korean names Yoo-Jin Lee are the same, the airlines confuses them and puts Jessica in first class and Elijah in coach.  When they arrive, Jessica is whisked off to a townhouse and Elijah ends up in a cramped apartment with the interns.  By the time the two figure out what happened, Elijah, who has been yearning to live a less sheltered life, proposes they continue with the switch, and Jessica, who turns out to be an excellent leader, agrees.  The two bond while working together on a company event, but differing perspectives on life threaten their budding romance.  Told in Jess and Eli's alternating perspectives, peppered with classic K-drama tropes (demanding parents, an elite male attracted to a low status female, a Cinderella makeover) this humorous and romantic tale is filled with rapid-fire banter and a relatable emotional connection where the lovers give each other the strength to follow their hearts.

Sleepless in Dubai introduces former best friends, Nikki, an aspiring photographer, and Yash, a graphic artist, who are neighbors whose parents are also best friends. The kids had a falling out when, confronted by her parents, Yash confirms Nikki had been sneaking out with friends to go clubbing.   She is furious and gives him the silent treatment for most of the school year. To complicate matters he accidentally drives over her most prized possession, a camera gifted to her by her dad.  When their parents plan a trip to Dubai for Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, Nikki realizes that her parents are hoping she will let go of her grudge and make up with Yash.  Arriving in Dubai, Nikki attempts to mend fences, especially since her parents will not allow her to go out alone.  When Yash presents her with a new camera, they begin taking excursions and Nikki realizes she's developing romantic feelings for him.  Nikki confesses her crush, but Yash reveals a secret that has her reeling.  The elaborate descriptions of Dubai and the constant smorgasbord of Indian delicacies delightfully illustrates a culture that readers will devour. This book comes out October 24, 2023.

New LGBTQIA Young Adult Novels

  Young Adult books that includes characters that are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer/questioning or asexual (LGBTQIA) are becoming ubiquitous in YA literature. Of note, the focus is not their coming out or disapproval from family and friends. They are merely characters in a story whose romantic involvements are not heterosexual. Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee takes the fake-dating rom/com trope and spins it into a tale of a gay aspiring chef entering a Mooncake-making contest in the hopes of winning and saving his aunt's Chinese takeout restaurant. Stars Hide Your Fires by Jessica Best is a sci-fi murder mystery set in outer space. Cass, a con artist who attends a galactic ball, hoping to steal enough jewels to retire, teams up with Amaris, a beautiful rebel leader who is trying to expose a political conspiracy. Unexpecting by Jen Bailey introduces a gay teen who finds himself an expectant father. In none of these books does the character's sexuality significantly impact the outcome of the conflict.

In Fake Dates and Mooncakes aspiring chef Dylan Tang hopes to save his Auntie Jade's Singaporean Chinese takeout, the Wok Warriors, from eviction by entering a mooncake-making contest.  The prize is exposure on a famous Malaysian chef's cooking show.  While he is preparing for the contest, Dylan meet the wealthy charming Theo Sommers whose friend is rude to Dylan during a food delivery. Theo shows up at Wok Warriors and raves over their xiao long bao and flirts with Dylan.  When he finds out about the restaurant's financial woes, he sends $5,000 to Auntie Jade from a fake grant program.  Dylan confronts him and Theo says he can repay him by being his fake date to a wedding in the Hamptons. The familiar fake-dating rom/com trope is developed in a delightfully unique setting as Dylan navigates first-love and family issues.  Witty dialogue, Chinese cultural references and delicious cuisine make this a sweet read. 

Stars Hide Your Fires, an intergalactic sci-fi murder mystery introduces Cass, a petty thief who lives on Sarn, an arid minor moon of the planet Danae.  When she hears of the Ascension Ball, where the emperor's successor will be announced, she figures she can steal enough jewelry to support her ailing father and her crew for life.  Things go suspiciously well when a prince gives her a ticket to the ball, and she meets the alluring rebel leader Amaris who enlists her aide in uncovering political conspiracy.  Then the emperor is murdered, and Cass is the primary suspect.  She and Amaris pose as a married lesbian couple as they search for the real culprit, all set in a world with clones, marital discord and political intrigue.  The intricate plot in this fast-paced thriller will keep the reader enthralled until the satisfying ending, complete with a romantic denouement.

In Unexpecting Ben Morrison, who has come out as gay, finds himself an expectant father, after he and his good friend Maxie experiment to confirm his sexuality.  Maxie's strict parents are determined to put the baby up for a closed adoption, but Ben, who has never had a stable father figure in his life, wants custody.  His mother and Stepdad #3 support him, but also try to expose the challenges he will face.  He has SATS, robotics team competitions, a job and an invitation to a summer internship to juggle, as well as a blossoming romance with a former stepbrother.  As his grades and responsibilities start to suffer, Ben begins to realize that fatherhood will come with a lot of sacrifices.  When the fetus appears to be in danger, Ben recognizes that he must do what's best for the baby. Refreshingly, this poignant portrait of family dynamics focuses on the difficulty of teen parenting rather than Ben's sexuality. 

New YA Intrusion Fantasies

 Last year I introduced the concept of intrusion fantasy, a subgenre of fantasy fiction in which fanciful events intrude on an otherwise normal world.   Once again I am recommending three intrusion fantasy novels that I enjoyed. The Prince and the Apocalypse by Kara McDowell finds a high school senior, who meets a runaway prince, enlisting his help to return home before a comet hits the earth. I'll Stop the World by Lauren Thoman is a time travel mystery where a young teen tries to prevent his grandparents' deaths and thus change the trajectory of his life. Always Isn't Forever by J.C. Cervantes introduces Ruby and Hart, teens whose future is derailed when he is killed in a boating accident. When his soul is reinstated in another dying boy's body, it is up to Hart to win Ruby back without telling her who he really is. 

In The Prince and the Apocalypse Wren Wheeler is on her senior-year trip to London.  The much anticipated trip is turning out to be a disaster.  Hoping to end on a high note, she goes to The World's End restaurant, only to find it closed. But there she meets Prince Theo, who is on the run from the palace and his mother. When Wren helps him escape, he gives her his number and offers to return the favor, which she uses when her flight home is cancelled.  A comet is heading toward earth, and the world is ending in eight days.  Prince Theo offers to take her to Santorini and send her home on the family's private jet.  Traveling through Europe by boat, train and an accidentally stolen automobile, trying to avoid the paparazzi,  Wren and Theo develop a bond that only seems threatened by the apocalypse. The undeniable chemistry and amusing banter make this a fun read, albeit the dire consequences. 

I'll Stop the World, a genre-bending mystery, introduces Justin Warren, whose life has always been overshadowed by his grandparents' deaths.  His orphaned mother is now an alcoholic, who had him out of wedlock. Stan, her live-in boyfriend is obsessed with the murders. When Justin drives off a bridge and lands in 1985, he has an opportunity to redirect his future. He meets Rose Yin, a do-gooder who becomes his ally, and together they attempt to solve the murders before it's too late. The story unfolds over the course of one week in a world 38 years before the present. Solving the mysteries of his complicated family history, as well as his time travel, make for an entertaining read with a satisfying ending. 

In Always Isn't Forever soul mates Hart Augusto and Ruby Amanté are planning a future together when he dies trying to save a child in a boating accident  As Ruby is struggling with her grief, Hart finds himself negotiating with Lourdes, an angel who mistakenly took him before he was actually dead.  She offers to bring him back to life in another body, and he requests to be near Ruby. Bad boy Jameson Romanelli, Ruby's nemesis, is near death after a motorcycle accident and Lourdes places Hart's soul in his body.  Now it is up to Hart, who is forbidden from telling anyone who he really is, to win Ruby back. Ruby is confused as to why she is suddenly drawn to Jameson and why he reminds her so much of Hart.  Will their love be strong enough to bridge the distance and give them a new chance at a future together?

New YA Novels: While You Were Dreaming, Good As Gold, and Ride or Die

Much has been written about there only being a few basic story plots, so it's no wonder books we read remind us of stories with which we are already familiar.  It's fun to think about ways in which books we are reading compare to books or films we know. This year's Pulitzer Prize winner Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver is basically a retelling of David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. Although the protagonist is a young boy, it would be difficult to categorize the book as young adult because it is so gritty.  Instead, I will recommend several new YA books appropriate for younger readers. While You Were Dreaming by Alisha Rai is reminiscent of the Sandra Bullock film While You Were Sleeping. An Indian American girl dressed in a Comic Con outfit rescues a boy who is drowning in a canal. Although she tries to remain anonymous, she ends up falling for his brother.  Good As Gold by Candace Buford will remind readers of the TV show Outer Banks. An African American girl whose family is down on its luck decides to search for the legendary treasure for which her tourist town is famous. Ride or Die by Gail Agnes Musikavanhu gives a nod to the film Baby Driver starring Ansel Elgort. Thrill seeker Loli Crawford gets involved in a daredevil contest with an anonymous guy, taking greater and greater risks with each dangerous dare she undertakes. 

While You Were Dreaming introduces Sonia Patil, whose mother originally came to the US seeking treatment for her daughter Kareena's leukemia.  When her mother is deported, Sonia, who was born in the US, is terrified her undocumented sister will be deported as well.  During a local Comic-Con, Sonia, who is dressed as a superhero, rescues James Cooper, who falls in a canal.  A picture of the rescue goes viral, and Sonia struggles to remain under the radar.  When she visits James' family restaurant to check on him, his family mistakes her for his girlfriend.  She finds herself not only drawn to the close-knit Black/Indian American family, but his older brother as well.  This homage to the 1990s film While You Were Sleeping explores the topics of undocumented immigration, health care and the toxic use of social media with a blend of reality and romance.

In Gold As Gold Casey Whitlock's family has fallen from grace with her father's bankruptcy.  Once a part of the "charmies," the rich kids in Langston, Georgia, she is now a "downstreamer," living in her grandmother's tiny house on the wrong side of town.  Threatened with losing that house as well, Casey reaches out to Tanner for help in selling her family's last valuables in his stepdad's pawn shop.  A rust-colored coin she's trying to sell is actually part of Langston's buried treasure that tourists and locals are seeking.  Tanner, Casey and his friends, Squid and B decide to look for the treasure and end up finding out the original town Toulouse, a black community now underwater, holds the clues they need to find the treasure.  Echoing the popular TV series Outer Banks, the treasure may be the key saving Casey's family and her future.  

High schoolers Loli Crawford and her best friends Ryan Pope and Cairo Dahmani live for thrill seeking adventure and reckless car chases in Ride or Die.  Although she is the ringleader, they enable her high jinks.  When Loli throws a "rager" at her ex-boyfriend's mansion to create a diversion so she can steal back a necklace Ryan gave her from her ex's new girlfriend, she gets trapped in a closet with an unidentified boy she calls Mysterious Voice or MV.  He challenges her to a game of risky undertakings that she can't resist.  They communicate via letters and anonymous chats challenging each other to increasingly dangerous dares. Ryan and Cairo have her back but are more and more critical of what she is doing. Loli selfishly puts the dares before her safety and friendships.  When she ultimately discovers MV's identity and he challengers her to disappear with him, she must decide where her loyalties lie.  Reminiscent of the film Baby Driver, including Ryan's prized blue Mustang called "Baby," as well as his passion for music, highlighted by a predictive track at the beginning of each chapter, this high octane thrill ride will keep readers turning pages to see what is coming next.