Scott Westerfeld's Midnighters Trilogy

Scott Westerfeld is no stranger to the young adult genre, and isn't afraid to branch out into sub-genres. He wrote the futuristic Uglies series and the steampunk book, Leviathan.

I just recently finished his Midnighters series. Set in a small town in Oklahoma, the book centers around the idea that there is really 25 hours in a day, the extra being a "secret hour" that only those born at exact midnight are aware of. The story's about a new-comer to the town who finds out that she is a midnighter, along with four other teens, Rex, the seer, Des, the polymath, Melissa, the mindcaster, and Jonathan, the flier. The new-comer, Jessica, must discover her own abilities while trying to survive in the secret hour when dark creatures called darklings and slithers are after her. But, why are they?

Unlike other authors (coughjamespattersoncough), Westerfeld not only does a great job of telling a story appealing to young adults, but he also captures the voice of that age. The five main characters in the book, Jessica, Jonathon, Rex, Des, and Melissa, are all distinct characters who have their own voices and personalities. The story itself, the idea of a 25th hour only a select few are aware of, is entertaining and fresh. I think what really impresses in this series is Westerfeld's use of numbers. The secret hour is the 13th hour, so the number 13 takes on great importance to those inside the secret hour. Westerfeld uses 13 in so many ways, it's mindboggling to think of the research into math that he had to have done.

The second and third books definitely take a turn towards the older teen in terms of language. Don't get me wrong, there's no F-bombs, but there is a bit of swearing that's absent in the first installment. Still, the story progresses nicely and the characters continue to develop and grow. There's nothing worse than stagnant characters.

Overall, the characters are fun and the story entertaining. Sprinkle in a fresh idea and you have yourself a good, easy read. If you're a fan of the young adult genre, definitely pick up these books.