The Midnight Children - by Dan Gemeinhart

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

Distinctive narration and heart-pounding suspense will carry this kids-outwit-grownups tale deep into your heart to the place where courage is born. --Rosanne Parry, bestselling author of A Wolf Called Wander

The Midnight Children has a touch of Roald Dahl, a dash of the Boxcar children, and a whole lot of honesty and heart . . . I laughed with the characters, was delighted by the brilliance of the storytelling voice, and unexpectedly moved as this tale about friendship, home, family and courage drew to an end. Told in a riveting voice, this is Dan Gemeinhart's best yet and that's saying something. --Padma Venkatraman, Walter Award-winning author of The Bridge Home

Somewhere swirled up in all magic, adventure and breath-catching suspense, there's a message here about true heart-connections. And about the joy of belonging even in a place where you never quite fit. The midnight children might sneak into town quietly, but there's nothing quiet about this sparkling story. It felt like fireworks in my heart. --New York Times-bestselling author Natalie Lloyd

Praise for The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise

A 2020 ILA Teachers' Choice
A 2019 Parents' Choice Award Gold Medal Winner
Winner of the 2019 CYBILS Award for Middle Grade Fiction
An Amazon Top 20 Children's Book of 2019
A Junior Library Guild Selection
A Bank Street Books' Best Books of the Year
A Bookriot 25 Of The Best Middle School Books For Today's Readers Pick
A School Library Journal Best Book of 2019
A 2020 Lone Star Reading List Selection

Sometimes a story comes along that just plain makes you want to hug the world. The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise is Dan Gemeinhart's finest book yet--and that's saying something. Your heart needs this joyful miracle of a book. --Katherine Applegate, acclaimed author of The One and Only Ivan and Wishtree

"Coyote's bold, engaging voice pops off the page . . . Gemeinhart infuses the story with moments of lyrical writing and folksy wisdom served up with a dollop of girl power." -The New York Times

About the Author

Dan Gemeinhart is a former elementary teacher-librarian and lifelong book nerd. He lives with his wife and three daughters in a small town in Washington state. He's the author of The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise, The Honest Truth, Some Kind of Courage, Scar Island, and Good Dog. If he ever meets you, he'd love to talk about books with you.