The Fitter, Happier UnLibrarian's Blog of Young Adult Books

by Megan DeTour
LIBR 265-10 Materials for Young Adults
Spring 2009, Professor Wrenn-Estes
Master of Library & Information Science
San Jose State University, California

Secret Hour by Scott Westerfeld

Secret Hour by Scott Westerfeld

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Publish Date: March 2005
Page#: 304pp
Reading Level: Young Adult
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Science Fiction/Supernatural

Series: The Midnighters Series
Secret Hour (Midnighters Series #1) (2005)
Touching Darkness (Midnighters Series #2) (2006)
Blue Moon (Midnighters Series #3) (2007)

Subjects: Adventure, Courage, Magic.

Annotation:

When the clock strikes midnight in Bixby, Oklahoma the time freezes, becoming a secret hour in which no one can move, no one except for a particular group of people called Midnighters who hunt the dark creatures that haunt the shadows.

Summary:

Jessica Day and her family have just moved to Bixby, Oklahoma from Chicago. Just as she settles into school she is sought out by the Midnighters: Dess, Melissa, and Rex who seem to see something about her, something Jessica hadn’t really been aware of before. Apparently she is a Midnighter. Those born exactly at midnight each day in Bixby have a twenty-fifth hour tinged in blue where time stands still for everyone else, apart from them. Each Midnighter has a distinct strength or power unique to them. They are not alone during this extra hour at midnight. In fact, they share this hour with the dark creatures that loom and haunt the shadows. Both groups have co-existed by staying away from each other, that is until Jess arrives. For some reason there is something different about Jess that the dark creatures do not like and the Midnighters are soon under pressure to discover why Jess is so different.

Megan says:

I love anything Scott Westerfeld does. After reading the Uglies series I decided to read the Midnighters Series, in which left me feeling even more praise to Mr. Westerfeld. The first book to the Midnighters Series, Secret Hour, was thrilling. Anyone who loves Westerfeld’s work will enjoy this series as well as any paranormal/horror-fiction fans. Just be prepared to start the second book, as Secret Hour leaves the reader wanting more.

Stars: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★