The Secret Hour (Midnighters #1)

Reader reviewed by looneytunez8

This book is original, very interesting, and a total cliff-hanger.

Jessica has just moved to Bixby, Oklahoma. She is noticed by a group of kids at her high school. That group of kids were born at midnight. They call themselves Midnighters. The Midnighters exist for 25 hours a day. The extra hour is called the blue time. During that time, nobody moves except for the Midnighters and creatures. When Jess arrives, this is no longer a peaceful time. All the creatures seem to hate Jessica. Also, while everyone else in this group has obvious powers, Jessica has not discovered her special talent.

Reader reviewed by Katie

I don't read anything but series, and these books are my favorite by far, adventure wise. This has got to be the most unique series besides the Underland Choronicles. It's like being a super hero, but in public, you're a gothic outsider. It really makes you think about what the gothic kids at your shcool really do at night.

Reader reviewed by Danielle

What if there was a 25th hour in the day that only some people had access to? When Jessica Day moves to Bixby, Oklahoma, she expects it to be a normal town school with normal people. But on her first night in Bixby, she enters the secret hour and her life changes forever.

Midnighters was incredible. The secret hour and the creatures in it were mysterious and interesting; this is one of my favorite books. It kept me hooked throughout the whole book. The sequels are just as good if not better.

Reader reviewed by Bettina

When Jessica Day moves to Bixby, Oklahoma her life changes dramatically. She finds out there is a 25th hour that everybody is frozen in except for people who were born at the stroke of midnight and creatures of the dark. For some reason the secret hour only happens in Bixby. She finds other "midnighters". Everyone of them, Rex, Melissa, Dess and Jonathan have a gift. All except for Jessica. Rex can see things that have been touched by the creatures of the dark (the darklings. Melissa can hear other peoples thoughts. Dess is a math genuis. Jonathan can fly but only in the secret hour. All of these gifts help them fight the darklings, but what is Jessicas's gift. She is defenseless except for the thirteen letter words Dess gives her and the new metal that darklings are afraid of. Things are even worse because the darlkings seem to have gotten even more active when she came and they keep on trying to attack her. Jessica must learn her gift quickly or she might even die.

I loved this book. It had such a great plot and the details were great. There was also a lot of action.

Reader reviewed by GreenAngel

Oksy, seriously not what I was expecting. This book and the added hour fascinates me. The whole fact about how the Midnight Hour exist is so intriguing and at times I myself wonder if it truly can exist and how cool would THAT be? All I know is that I can't wait for the nexto one.

Reader reviewed by Dominique

What if there were 25 hours in a day instead of 24?

After moving to Bixby, Oklahoma, Jessica Day discovers that strange things seems to happen at midnight. Time comes to a halt for one hour--the 25th hour of the day. Only midnighters are free to move in that time, as well as the darklings. The 25th hour passes in a flash for some people, but for midnighters, they live in it. Each has a gift: seerer, acrobat, polymath, or mindcaster. But when Jessica learns she's a midnighter, she can't figure her gift out. She meets other midnighters and they show her how the battle the darklings. But why do all the darklings seem to go after Jessica in particular? And does Jessica have a gift? And if she does, what is it?

I really enjoyed this book! It's unique and creative. I'd recommend it to all people who like fantasy books.

Reader reviewed by Kris

I would have to say Scott Westerfeld has started off the Midnighters series well. Though for the first few chapters, I had begun to lose interest, this feeling did not last for long.

Anyway, The Secret Hour is about a girl named Jessica who has just moved to Bixby, Oklahoma from Chicago. Right away, she is noticed by a group of fellow high school students. However, what makes them unique is the fact they were are born at midnight. This allows them to exist for an additional hour each day; a twenty-fifth hour, the blue time. When Jess arrives, this is no longer a peaceful time. Shes seemed to stir up the slithers and other creatures of the blue time. Also, while everyone else in this group has obvious powers, Jess has none. This book revolves around Jess learning and the discovery of her special talent.

So&my opinions on this book. Contrary to what a lot of other book divas have said, I really liked this. Maybe its because I could never say a fantasy or sci-fi book was bad. Yes, I believe it could have gone a little faster in the beginning and that it dragged on slightly. However, I was anxious enough to find out about Jess that I didnt seem to mind.

I think it was also interesting to read with the whole 13 thing. Now I find myself looking for thirteen letter words when reading. Sad, huh?

I also loved the cover. It was really neat looking, and draws you towards it. When I first looked at it, I didnt really understand some parts. However, after finishing the book, the cover actually links a lot of things together.

Overall, I would rate this 4-½ out of 5 stars. A couple parts confused me, and the beginning could have drawn me in more, but it was fascinating to read. It ends with such a cliffhanger, I wish the next in the series was already out. Guess Ill just have to wait.

Reprinted here with author's permission.