Published: 2020
Series: The Midnight World
Author: Matt Haig
Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, Contemporary, Magical Realism, Science Fiction, Mental Health, Adult, Adult Fiction
Audience (Grade Levels): Grades 10-12; Adult
Number of Stars: 4-Stars
Goodreads Link: The Midnight Library
Triggers: Suicide, cancer, death, drugs, alcohol, depression
Review By: Sarah Williams
Publisher’s Summary:
Between life and death there is a library. When Nora Seed finds herself in the Midnight Library, she has a chance to make things right. Up until now, her life has been full of misery and regret. She feels she has let everyone down, including herself. But things are about to change. The books in the Midnight Library enable Nora to live as if she had done things differently. With the help of an old friend, she can now undo every one of her regrets as she tries to work out her perfect life. But things aren’t always what she imagined they’d be, and soon her choices place the library and herself in extreme danger. Before time runs out, she must answer the ultimate question: what is the best way to live?
Review:
This book was intriguing from the first page. I do not normally enjoy fantasy fiction, but this was rooted in enough reality that I did find it intriguing. The many lives that Nora leads in the book are diverse and interesting. The narration is fast but understandable, and her character’s voice is true throughout. I also enjoyed her interactions with Mrs. Elm, a librarian who helps her navigate her many lives. Many of the scenes made me think about life and the purpose of our lives, and I easily connected with Nora and her struggles given recent events in my own life.
Classroom & Curricular Connections:
- Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) / Mental Health: The narrative provides a profound springboard for discussing mental health, depression, regrets, and self-acceptance. It serves as a strong text for helping older students navigate complex feelings about the paths they choose and the inherent value of life.
- ELA / Creative Writing: The unique “what if” structure of the multi-verse timeline offers an excellent case study in pacing, character voice, and analyzing how a protagonist’s internal growth anchors fantastical or sci-fi plot devices.
Readalikes
- The Versions of Us by Laura Barnett
- The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
- Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
- Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore
- The Comfort Book by Matt Haig
