Midnight's Choice

Switchers #2

by Kate Thompson

After her friend, Kevin, is transformed into a phoenix, he is captured and brought to live at a zoo, but when Tess seeks the help of another Switcher to set him free, she discovers a devious plot brewing against her imprisoned friend.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Vampires, Urban Fantasy, Shapeshifters, Paranormal, Fiction

236 pages, Paperback

First published May 7, 1998

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Kate Thompson is an award-winning writer for children and adults.She has lived in Ireland, where many of her books are set, since 1981. She is the youngest child of the social historians and peace activists E. P. Thompson and Dorothy Towers. She worked with horses and travelled in India before settling in the west of Ireland with her partner Conor. They have two daughters, Cliodhna and Dearbhla. She is an accomplished fiddler with an interest in Irish traditional music, reflected in The New Policeman.

While Kate Thompson's children's fiction is primarily fantasy, several of her books also deal with the consequences of genetic engineering.

She has won the Bisto Children's Book of the Year Award four times, for The Beguilers, The Alchemist's Apprentice, Annan Water and The New Policeman. The New Policeman was also awarded the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, the Whitbread Children's Book Award and the Dublin Airport Authority Children's Book of the Year Award for 2005.

Reviews

[Barbara ★ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is book 2 of the Switchers series (book 1 is Switchers). Tess is fourteen and only has one year to decide what she wants to be forever. At the age of 15, she can no longer switch shape at will. Her old switcher friend, Kevin reappears as a phoenix and Tess thinks it would be cool to be a phoenix forever, as well. Then she meets another switcher, Martin, who is a vampire and she's conflicted.

In a juvenile way this is an interesting series. Definitely something the younger generations would enjoy - 11-16 year olds. It's entertaining but not very stimulating.

[Hailey Sawyer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well this novel managed to surprise me. But not in a good way.

(After her friend, Kevin, is transformed into a phoenix, he is captured and brought to live at a zoo, but when Tess seeks the help of another Switcher to set him free, she discovers a devious plot brewing against her imprisoned friend.) ~ Blurb from Goodreads

There's a moment I really liked in chapter six. So Tess is running through a list of forms she can use to sneak through the zoo that Kevin is being held at and eventually settles on a pine marten. Not only does it give the reader some insight into Tess's backstory about how her family took care of a pine marten like a pet at her old place, but is also a clever choice given its speed, small size, superb climbing abilities, and so on and it's something that I would've never thought of.

I was split on the whole "Phoenix or Vampire" thing. So one of the major conflicts of this novel involves Tess trying to decide if she wants her final form to be a phoenix or a vampire. On the one hand, I love how the novel really dives into the pros and cons of each form and, thus, allows the reader to feel just as conflicted as Tess does about it. The novel could've had the phoenix form be the best choice hands down without giving the other a fair shake, but I'm glad it went that extra mile. On the other hand, this whole conflict is undermined by the fact that there's no reason why Tess just can't choose a form that can shapeshift. As far as I know, she still has that mythology book from the last entry, so if that the case, why can't she just look in there for inspiration for her final form?

Chapter nine almost made me blow a gasket. In this chapter, Tess visits the home of a boy named Martin, whom she suspects is a switcher and responsible for rallying the rats of Dublin earlier in the novel, and tries to recruit him into helping her bail Kevin out of the zoo. He agrees on one condition. That she see his switching power in action. He deliberately brings her close to a group of sketchy boys and scares the group off by turning into a vampire. A short while later, he basically leads her against her will to a darker, more secluded area of the city, threatens her into joining him, and tries to kill her via blood sucking when she doesn't answer within two seconds. Tess switches into a vampire, believing it's the only form to use to protect herself from another vampire, and just lets Martin link his arm with hers and lead her somewhere.

Oh boy. Where to start?

For one thing, in this novel (and the first one to some extent), Tess is shown to be a street smart character and in chapter six of this novel was shown to be capable of being creative and clever with her switching. Not only does Tess know next to nothing about Martin at this point, but Martin has also done everything possible to prove that he's not to be trusted, so given what the reader knows about Tess, it would've been way more believable and made way more sense if Tess had turned into a Saltwater Crocodile. Hear me out. It's got an absurdly high bite force of 3,700 PSI. For context, a hyena is capable of crushing bone no sweat and its bite force doesn't even crack 2,000 PSI. The Saltwater Crocodile also has scaly armor that can make the vampire's bites next to useless, can grow up to twenty-three feet in length, and has a tail so strong, it can propel its entire body out of water. So with that in mind, having her become a Saltwater Crocodile would tie into Tess becoming more creative and clever with her switching, but also provide her a good way to do enough damage to cripple Martin long enough for her to escape. Now in chapter fourteen, it is revealed that he's been struggling with his feelings towards his deceased dad and the car accident they were both involved in, but Tess and the reader don't get this information until a little over sixty percent into the novel and it does not and should not excuse his behavior in the slightest. One could also say that Tess was acting out of sorts because she was under the influence of Martin's vampire powers, but that argument holds no water when you consider that, before she got unwillingly lead away to somewhere more secluded, she legitimately ran away and tried to get help from a couple in a car and also became a vampire to protect herself all on her own.

Also, this entire thing with Martin is completely pointless because if Tess had put in at least five seconds of thought, she could've just soloed her entire mission to rescue Kevin. Heck, I did this and actually came up with a plan.

1) In an aerial form like an owl or hawk, fly over the zoo and find the area that generates the zoo's power.

2) Using a squirrel, chipmunk, or even pine marten, cut the power in order to disable security measures like cameras and whatnot and create a distraction for the security guards.

3) Using a large form like a rhino or elephant, destroy one of the barriers to Kevin's enclosure.

4) Entice Kevin to follow in order to get him to a safer place like Lizzie's.

In chapter ten, it's established that nothing harms vampires outside of the daylight hours giving them horrible dreams, yet later in that same chapter, it's also established that they're weak to a stake through the heart (which someone could very much do at night). Like, really? Why? Honestly, if this novel had gone with either the former or the latter, it would've actually been more effective at clearly conveying just how much of a threat vampires are in this universe. But, as is, not only does it paint a very confusing picture of vampires in this universe, but it also comes off as lazy because it would've been a very easy thing to fix.

So in chapter eighteen, there's a scene that's just... well... Let me explain as best I can. So after Tess bails out Kevin from the zoo with the accidental help of the rats and after a long fight between Kevin the phoenix and Martin the bat, the three end up in a random part of this park. Martin soon transforms into his vampire form and tries to convince Tess to become a vampire. Tess almost accepts until she is face to face with Kevin the phoenix and gets sobered up. After going back and forth trying to decide between choosing the vampire and phoenix as her final form, she grabs Martin's hand and Kevin's phoenix foot just as they're about to collide into one another for another possible fight and armies of good and evil fight inside her mind. In a very predictable twist, she realizes that she doesn't have to choose either, releases her grip, shouts, "I just want to be human!", and Kevin and Martin involuntary revert to their human forms. The novel tries to flimsily justify this in chapter twenty by having Kevin say to Tess, who later corroborates, "I didn't get it to begin with, either, but I think I do now. I think I could only exist as a phoenix as long as Martin existed as a vampire. We counterbalanced each other in some way."

No Kevin. No Tess. That is not it at all. Not even close. Kevin got permanently trapped as a phoenix because that's the form he chose on his fifteenth birthday (as per the pretty well established rule of "lose your switching power at age fifteen") in order to save himself from dying from the napalm and fire related injuries he got in the last novel. What makes even less sense about this is that their adventure from the last novel where this occurred is mentioned several times throughout this novel. In other words, everything about these two moments craps all over the continuity and what little consistency the Switcher system had. Some might argue that I'm being over dramatic about the inconsistencies of this novel and the last novel, but I assure you, I am not. If everything keeps changing on a whim for no good reason, then nothing matters and the reader has no reason to care.

Overall, Midnight's Choice is the worst entry in the Switchers trilogy by far and considering that the first novel wasn't even that good, that's saying a lot.

Overall Grade: F

[Magda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really hate that this book equates good with disinterested. I couldn't get past that, and then, to hammer in the blurb on the back's "young people are going to enjoy every bit as much as The Golden Compass," on page 138, "There was a certain arrogance about the bird's demeanor as he hung there above them all, passing his benevolent eyes from one to another, as distant as a priest handing out communion."

There are too many places to begin attacking that analogy. My husband is a priest, and he takes the time to prepare himself, body and spirit, to celebrate (not officiate at) the Liturgy, and to pray for each person whom he names as they partake of the Divine Gifts. He does not "hand out communion." I know, there may be some priests of whatever background, but this felt like a slap across the face. Another factor was that I recently asked him whether he ever thought about the baby we lost through miscarriage, and he said he prays for the child each time he celebrates the Liturgy.

I remember my father talking about how it wasn't enough to be pro-life, that you couldn't value human life for the sake of human life. You can value human life because it is a gift from God. This book distorts the truth beyond anything I'd care to read, and I can't maintain the suspension of disbelief for this kind of writing.

I hurt for Ms. Thompson, too. What kind of awful view of Christianity must this writing come from?

[Fenko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unfamiliar with the first part, I read this one standalone. Not the intended age group, I expected a childish urban novel, but was actually pleasantly surprised.

Thompson's writing style flows smoothly from one page to the next, introducing us to Tess who can shape change into any animal she likes. She however keeps this power a secret, especially from her parents, who worry over her absences and increasingly erratic behaviour.

Now I can't say how this story reads to a child (yet - was testing this book to give to my youngest in a year or so), but as a parent I saw this story as an allegory for puberty. Do we choose the life of an optimist or a pessimist? As Tess' old mentor at one point hints, so much depends fully on how we look at things.

[Sasha Wolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay, but to my mind not as strong as the first in the series. It took too long for the stakes to become apparent, and when they did, I didn't find them entirely believable. One of the twists felt a little lazy and unnecessary, the antagonist a little caricaturish, and the experience of switching was less vividly described. On the plus side, the audio narration was much better than before.

[Aelvana · Rating 1 out of 5]

The second book in the Switchers trilogy, this book begins a few months after the first one ended. Tess is glad Kevin survived by turning himself into a phoenix, but she's having second thoughts about his new form when he's captured by the zoo and sold to a private collector. With only a week before he's shipped to America, she has to think of a way to save him, fast. But Martin, a new Switcher she's discovered, is complicating her life. Martin wants her to become a vampire like him, or he'll make her his minion. The light of the phoenix battles with the allure of the vampire in Kate's mind, and the choice she makes will change all three.

More than anything, this book felt rushed and jumbled. Although the plot lines were fairly clear, events played out oddly. Tess finds out about vampire minions when Martin is taunting her about becoming one, not before. It was very hard to know what was true about vampires, as the author appears to have taken the shortcut of "every regular myth counts; don't ask me why."

It also irritated me that Tess continues to be so braindead about her choices as a Switcher. She can become anything, and she can't think of a way to escape a vampire except becoming one? How about a werewolf? How about an angel? How about something she makes up with anti-vampire properties?

And the choice at the end of the book had me spluttering with disbelief. Tess basically decides evil isn't her thing, but neither is good because it's too holy or somesuch. Because apparently it's better to be stuck in the middle. Though I will grant her that good as it was presented in this book was even less attractive than evil, as our poor phoenix Kevin seemed perfectly daft and happy that way. And the result of her choice annoyed me even more. The rule is, no switching after you turn 15... unless the author thinks it's a good idea. And having started the next book, I do realize what Martin ultimately chose, but it really, really should've been in here instead.

This is one of those cases where the first book was okay, but the sequels are making me regret my desire to complete any series I own. Read it if you want, but you'll likely be screaming at the pages in frustration. Not Recommended.

[SBC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic read. Martin's changeover was another interesting step into the fantastic and unexpected. It was chilling how taking on the vampire shape changed her personality and made her so awful to her parents, so cold and inhuman. It was also sad how Kevin wasn't Kevin anymore as the phoenix. A higher level of being is also an absence of humanity, human feeling.

I liked her pet rat, Algernon, with his baby babble, then discovering independence, then coming back a better rat but himself again. I never really understood how it was that Martin could command the rats - perhaps all Switchers can command animals but they just don't or perhaps it is a vampire element I'd never heard of? I had never heard of the idea that anyone whose blood is drunk becomes a vampire after the vampire dies, and one under their control.

I thought it was really clever how the extreme good (phoenix/Kevin) and extreme evil (vampire/Martin) levelled each other out, and one could only exist with the other, so both were able to be returned back to normal humanity. Also interesting, I think perhaps Martin turned away from Switcher-animals because of his love for the donkey and because of the cow on the road when his Dad died and this caused him to almost hate animals and humans and turn away from both. Very good read.

[Kelsie Beaudoin (The Bookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series, and I have to admit I did not like it as much as the first one. But it was good all the same.

It follows the story of Tess as she tries to decide which animal she will choose forever, because at 15 you lose the ability to shift into any animal, you have to choose just one. Kevin chooses a phoenix, which Tess considers, but then she meets Martin, whose forever shape is a vampire. And she has a hard time deciding what she will choose when her time comes.

This whole series is shaping as a “growing up and finding oneself” theme, which I absolutely adore. I love Tess, and I cannot wait to read the next book.

This is absolutely a 4 star book. And just look at that striking cover! Who would think that mustard yellow and Christmas red could go together?!

[Relyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just love libraries! I really wanted to read this hard-to-find book, so I did an interlibrary loan request. My library borrowed it from a library 5 hours away and had it sent to me. For free! God bless public libraries!

SPOILER ALERT
Anyway. I read the first book in this series called Switchers many years ago. I recently read it again and enjoyed it just as much. I looked to see what else Kate Thompson had written and found this sequel. To be honest, I found myself enjoying the book and then annoyed when there was a vampire in the story. I kept thinking, Enough already with the vampires! Then I remembered that this book predated all the Twilight books and their followers. That makes this book even cooler. And it means that Kate Thomspon really is imaginative as I thought and not simply a band-wagon follower. Yup. I liked it.

[Madi Schoenecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the sequal to "Switchers". Tess meets another switcher named Martin. He talks Tess into becoming something that is specifically designed for evil. In this book, Tess has to choose between the light and the dark. It's harder than she would've thought. Find out if she picks good or evil!!!

[Becca Gibbs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book for young readers who like fantasy/paranormal that want something other than vampires or werewolves. There are few shape shifter books out there for children. Its short but does not feel like it was rushed in any way

[Natasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting and had a much better sense of time than the previous. I definitely like this book more than the first one.

[Vern · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. Good story. Looking forward to #3. Vampyrs in this one!

[Oanh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Less compelling and engrossing and (dare I say it w.r.t YA fantasy ...) credible than the first Switchers, but still very enjoyable. I read it in a single sitting, so I must have liked it!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful female main character that has to make some difficult decisions. Interesting read, introduction of vampire element, but only just

[Angelina]

it was fun to read and exsting

[Hayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

;);)

[Emily Porcupine · Rating 4 out of 5]

good. a little cheesy but good:-) :-) :-) quick and fun