Title: Midnight at the electric
Author: Jodi Lynn Anderson
Hardcover
259 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN 0062393545
(ISBN13: 9780062393548)
Divided by time. Ignited by a spark. Kansas, 2065. Adri has secured a slot as a Colonist—one of the lucky few handpicked to live on Mars. But weeks before launch, she discovers the journal of a girl who lived in her house over a hundred years ago, and is immediately drawn into the mystery surrounding her fate. While Adri knows she must focus on the mission ahead, she becomes captivated by a life that’s been lost in time…and how it might be inextricably tied to her own. Oklahoma, 1934. Amidst the fear and uncertainty of the Dust Bowl, Catherine fantasizes about her family’s farmhand, and longs for the immortality promised by a professor at a traveling show called the Electric. But as her family’s situation becomes more dire—and the suffocating dust threatens her sister’s life—Catherine must find the courage to sacrifice everything she loves in order to save the one person she loves most. England, 1919. In the recovery following the First World War, Lenore struggles with her grief for her brother, a fallen British soldier, and plans to sail to America in pursuit of a childhood friend. But even if she makes it that far, will her friend be the person she remembers, and the one who can bring her back to herself? While their stories spans thousands of miles and multiple generations, Lenore, Catherine, and Adri’s fates are entwined.
"Sadness is only something that's part of you. Grief becomes you; it wraps you up and changes you and makes everything - every little thing - different than it was before."
First Thought
The cover design is what made me fall in love with the book even before reading the summary. The colours give you a sense of mystery and danger while a feeling of chic and calmness is among us because of the cursive writing. I was excited to finally have only 259 pages (since most YA these days are 400 or over). This was a great way to have a change in reading. I have never read a book by this author so I was intrigued to learn about the writing style and personality. With the cover of a tent and the word “electric”, I was expecting a carnival-themed book. This is not what I came upon either.
“I refuse to let the sadness sink me like it sunk them”
Strengths
A standalone masterpiece. The story builds up in a slow read but with the emotional & grace of the storyline it makes the read go on at a good pace and it’s simply breathtaking. It was incredible how the author made three different times unfold in one another while connecting each moment with one tortoise named Galapagos. I almost felt sad that the book ended the way it did leave me wondering but yet feeling hopeful all at the same time.
“now, she took in the view one last time: it wasn’t much, but she’d never see it again.”
Weakness
The book was very misleading with the mention of the carnival as there was no chapter on actually being mystical and happiness as a carnival should be. The book had a very slow passed but regain my focus with the fullness of emotion tied to the storyline. Even though Adri’s hate of liking other people was a big part of who she was it just didn’t work for me. I always rolled my eyes at the book when she was being mean or pushy and, of course, this threat**** of hers did not change over time.
"The longer I live, " she looked up at the ceiling, "the more I think our big mistakes are not about having bad intentions, but just not paying attention. Just bumbling along, a little self-absorbed."
Conclusion
I recommend anyone that is in a reading slump to pick up a copy and read it! It is a great little read to feel different kinds of emotions while being part of three different time zones. This book is getting a 5-star review because it just deserves it. This is a book that I feel it should have been read a long, long time ago.
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