Review: The Midnight Gate

Author: Helen Stringer
Publication Date: May 10, 2011
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Copy provided by: Blue Slip Media
Summary (via Goodreads): It’s been two months since Belladonna Johnson discovered she was the Spellbinder, and she’s full of questions about her powers. When a ghost finds Belladonna and her classmate, Steve, and gives them a mysterious map, the friends don’t know if they should be looking for or hiding from the one person who holds the answers to Belladonna’s powers: the Queen of the Abyss. Throw into the mix that Belladonna’s parents, who are ghosts, have disappeared and that her brand-new and maybe even sinister foster family seems to know more than they’ll let on, and you have a sequel made of high adventure and intrigue, seasoned with affecting characters and topped with a dollop of wit.

2nd in series. Check out my review for Spellbinder.

Why I read this: I really enjoyed reading Spellbinder and was happy to read on into the second novel.

Plot: Another intriguing plot, where Belladonna and Steve once again have to save the world from the evil powers. I really enjoyed these tales, with all of its supernatural awesome mixed with witty British humor. They go on quite the adventure with tests involved and are almost killed, quite a few times actually. And I definitely laughed when they met the Queen of the Abyss because it was completely unexpected. Most definitely unexpected. These are definitely great books that I will be putting in my elementary library for my students that love supernatural and adventure stories.

Characters: I absolutely love Belladonna and Steve and their chemistry is very funny. Steve reminds me a lot of my next door neighbor who I grew up with and liked to be around me, but when his friends were around, he'd totally ignore me. Maybe I see a bit of Belladonna in myself as well. Definitely a book full of great supporting characters and interesting villians.

Relatability: Fans of funny, spooky and adventurous stories will really dig into this series.

Cover Commentary: I like this one a lot more than the first book. It's got a perilous edge to it that I think kids will be drawn to.

Rating: 5/5 Roses

Find it on Goodreads