The Midnighters

Starred review from October 3, 2022
A daredevil’s heart beats at the center of a whimsically dark, adventurous mystery from Tooke (The Unadoptables), which is equal parts Tim Burton and Agatha Christie. Born in 19th-century Prague as the 12th child of ambitious scientist parents, Ema Vašková struggles to find her place within her clinically minded family. Naturally cautious Ema possesses keen stealth and an aptitude for reading people, as well as precognitive instincts that make her insides itch. The 12-year-old’s timidity is challenged when she befriends cavalier neighborhood girl Silvie, with whom she engages in clandestine, swashbuckling midnight meet-ups that cement the girls’ friendship. When Silvie suddenly disappears, Ema employs her budding moxie to find her friend, putting her at odds with the Midnight Guild, a secret collective that’s both responsible for an underground pseudoscience carnival and reeling from a recent murder. Balancing the comfort of an intricately plotted caper with death-defying action, this rollicking, shadowy thriller blurs the line between magic and science, maintaining a lightly creepy charm through every revelation. Black-and-white illustrations by Rubio introduce each chapter. Most characters cue as white; an author’s note discusses Ema’s characterization in terms of neurodivergence. Ages 8–12. Author’s agent: Jenny Savill, Andrew Nurnberg Assoc. (U.K.).