When It's Your Turn For Midnight

By Author / Illustrator

Blessing Musariri

Genre

Representation & Inclusion

Age range(s)

14+

Publisher

Zephyr

ISBN

9781035902538

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

07-11-2024

Synopsis

'Wars never end, they just change location.' An exceptional, thought-provoking YA novel about sisterhood, trauma and the fighting spirit of women, from Zimbabwean author, Blessing Musariri.

When her Mama drops a bombshell, Chiante's world shatters. In Zimbabwe, bloodlines matter, so when Chiante discovers her Baba is not the man she thought he was, she flees. Seeking refuge in a secluded corner of Mutare with her feisty, stylish grandmother, Chiante finds solace in a sisterhood forged by bonds of war.

This close-knit community of elders and ex-combatants are living their best lives: singing, dancing, drinking and running a successful fashion-upcycling business. But at the heart of their carefully-built world are secrets no one can give voice to.

As Chiante pieces together the puzzle of her family's past, she wrestles with how sorrow seeps down the generations, and how hope survives all, obliging us to step up and live life to the full.

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Reviews

Ruth

When It's Your Turn For Midnight by award-winning author Blessing Musariri is a real life novel about a family based in Zimbabwe. After the shock of discovering a life-changing family secret, Chianti, the eldest daughter, leaves her home and heads for a community of wise elder women in Mutare for sanctuary and solace. Chianti discovers all sorts of secret lives, inspirational stories, and profound truths amongst this welcoming sisterhood.

The narrative is a beautifully written balance between lyrical descriptions of the countryside and community and raw descriptions of the hidden historical conflict of the civil war (the Zimbabwean War of Liberation). Gradually we discover the impact of relationships within the family. As Chianti negotiates growing up with a new understanding of her family and her community, the story draws to both a conclusion and a new beginning.

When It's Your Turn for Midnight is an inspirational tale for readers that offers a richly observed story, focused on a central character whose life is affected in both challenging and positive ways by the other characters, making it a warm yet thoughtful read for secondary school aged students.

192 pages / Reviewed by Ruth Cornish, school librarian