Shahnaz, Zeba. Midnight Strikes. Delacorte Press, 2023. 978-0-593-56755-5. 442 p. $19.99. Grades 9-12.

Midnight Strikes starts with Anais wishing this ball was over so she could stop pretending to like all the bachelors, one of whom her mother is hoping she will choose to marry. When the ball is attacked by bombs and she watches everyone die, Anais thinks this is the end. Imagine her shock when she wakes up the next day, to repeat the same thing over and over again with no one believing her and no way for her to stop this madness. However, in order to stop this from happening and so she can move on (for better or worse), she needs to figure out what is happening and stop this before midnight. Will Anais be able to find anyone who believes her?

THOUGHTS: This is an extremely unique plot twist that keeps the reader guessing what’s going to happen as well as feeling the main character’s frustration at no one believing her. There is some romance in this book; however, it doesn’t show up until the second half of the book.

Fantasy