The Midnight Children

By: Dan Gemeinhart

Narrated by: André Santana

Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

From Dan Gemeinhart, the acclaimed author of The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise, comes an extraordinary story about a family of runaways who take up residence in a small town, and the outcast boy who finds his voice and his people—perfect for fans of Katherine Applegate and Kate DiCamillo.

In the dead of night, a truck arrives in Slaughterville, a small town curiously named after its windowless slaughterhouse. Seven mysterious kids with suitcases step out of the vehicle and into an abandoned home on a dead-end street, looking over their shoulders to make sure they aren't noticed.

But Ravani Foster covertly witnesses their arrival from his bedroom window. Timid and lonely, Ravani is eager to learn everything he can about his new neighbors: What secrets are they hiding? And most mysterious of all...where are the adults?

Yet amid this shadowy group of children, Ravani finds an unexpected friend in the warm and gutsy Virginia. But with this friendship comes secrets revealed—and danger. When Ravani learns of a threat to his new friends, he must fight to keep them safe, or lose the only person who has ever understood him.

Full of wonder, friendship, and mystery, The Midnight Children explores the meaning of "home," what makes a family, and what it takes to find the courage to believe in yourself.

A Macmillan Audio production from Henry Holt & Company Books for Young Readers

©2022 Dan Gemeinhart (P)2022 Macmillan Audio

spooky adorableness

I adored this story! quirky and surprising, it's a great story about friendship, found family, and bullies.

Entertaining and worth every minute

His best book yet, and I liked all the others. Read this to your kids.

Is it a YA book?

This book is really emotionally vibrant. It’s a roller coaster of hope and disappointment mixed with the agony of awkward moments and humiliation thrown in. The ending makes up for the emotional abuse and bleak out look leaving room for a bit of hope that our world might just get better.

just beautiful

Every adolescent an adult should read this. It’s so good. Great life lesson. Will read again for sure.

sweet, suspenseful and heartwarming

absolutely loved this book and so did my kids from age 9-13. one of our favorite reads in a long time!

AMAZING STORY

There were so many adventures, plot twist and heart healing moments, and I love how every time someone made a choice he made it clear that when you make a choice, your story can change the whole entire plot eyes loved it. It was so amazing. 5 stars

Easy read

I don’t like to read or books in general but OMGGG it is so so f ing good

Beautiful and Riveting

Some books combine sweet and sinister events into luscious confections. Like the Flaming Fudge in this story, Dan Gemeinhart's incredible tale of eight souls finding each other is a delicious melding of darkness and light Ravani Foster is an endearing protagonist; a boy battling Loneliness and feelings of inadequacy. However, souls sometimes find out that they are worth more than they might realize. With the help of seven mysterious children, quirky townspeople and his own inner strength, Ravani might learn that he is truly a hero.
Gemeinhart writes with wisdom, humor and poignancy. The many plot strands are woven into a gorgeous tapestry with some laugh-out-loud moments, tear-jerking ones and elements of pure poignancy. I loved the pearls of wisdom sprinkled throughout the text. My favorite one was: "When two souls find each other in the darkness, the darkness goes away".

Andre Santana is an incredible narrator, and he imbues each character with life. My particular favorite portrayals were of the stoic Hunter, the gutsy Virginia and the cafe owner, Freddy.

Please give this extraordinary novel a chance. A pure pleasure of a read with incredible depth, this is not a book you want to miss.
Happy listening, and God bless you all.

A Must Read

My 9 year old son and I enjoyed this story, character development and performance immensely!

Excellent book!

Excellent book and excellent narrator. Some narrators can get on my nerves, but Andre was perfect. Loved it.