Midnight Reynolds and the Spectral Transformer

Midnight Reynolds #1

by Catherine Holt

When twelve year-old misfit Midnight Reynolds takes a job helping out eccentric Miss Appleby in the mansion down the street, she never imagined her work would involve battling ghosts. But as it turns out, Midnight and her new employer have quite a bit in common―they were both born on Halloween and have the power to see spirits of the dead. But when Midnight learns more about the history of her town, she starts to wonder if she's fighting on the right side.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Ghosts, Paranormal, Supernatural, Science Fiction, Childrens

272 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2017

About the author

Catherine Holt is a middle grade author and librarian who was born in Australia but now lives in New Zealand. Because she is mysterious, she also writes under the name Amanda Ashby and her books have been nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award, and listed by the New York Public Libraryʼs Stuff for the Teen Age.

Reviews

[Schizanthus Nerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twelve year old Midnight is a colour-coded spreadsheet kind of girl. She lives with her mother and sister, Taylor, who is three years older tham Midnight. She’s dreading her mother’s wedding to fiancé, Phil, whose involvement in a Viking group is super embarrassing.

Midnight is keen to fit in at all costs with her new popular friends, Lucy and Sav, even if that means she has to wear uncomfortably tight clothes and find a job so she can save up to go on a ski trip with them.

Something strange happened to Midnight when her family moved to Berry; she began to see flickering white lights and hears buzzing that no one else seemed to notice. When Midnight meets one of her neighbours, Miss Appleby, she couldn’t imagine that it would lead to her joining Miss Appleby in hunting ghosts. Oh, pardon me, spectral energy.

“When someone dies, they leave behind an essence. In theory, their essence is meant to pass across to the Afterglow, but something different happens in Berry. There’s a phenomenon called a Black Stream - a huge ripple of electromagnetic currents that encircles our entire town and sucks spectral energy into inanimate objects. People’s energy gets stuck here, and when spectral energy stays in an inanimate object for too long, it festers and turns into something evil and endangers our whole town.”

Between trying to keep up with her popular friends, working with Miss Appleby, working on a history assignment with Tabitha and trying to avoid anything related to her mother’s upcoming wedding (which will no doubt be Viking themed), Midnight is exhausted.

I despised Midnight’s popular friends and wanted to hiss at them each time they opened their mouths. It pained me to see Midnight trying to be someone she isn’t in order to fit in. In contrast, I adored Tabitha, who likes visiting cemeteries, doesn’t care what people think of her and wears black, who has wonderful lines including:

“You’re welcome to send me an invitation to your pity party once this is all over, but right now we need to get to work.”

I also liked the boy crush that wanders through the pages. I hope he’s in the next book because he seems like a sweetheart. I enjoyed the introduction to the paranormal in this book and am really keen to read the next book. This feels like cheating but Midnight summed up my feelings about this book a lot better than I could.

“It is a little bit weird,” Midnight corrected, smiling. “But then again, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

[Dev · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute book although I think I kind of screwed myself over by reading the second one first. Fortunately it had been awhile since I'd read it so I actually didn't remember how the plot turned out until most of the way through. I do think I still like the second book better as most of this book is focused on Midnight trying to decide between being popular and being more true to herself. As an adult this plot line is kind of tired to me, but I think it's definitely a very important message for younger kids to hear and definitely wish I had spent less time trying to 'fit in' during my younger years. Overall the book is a bit simplistic, but for younger middle grade readers I think it would be a very fun read since it features supernatural elements but isn't really scary.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holt, Catherine Midnight Reynolds and the Spectral Transformer, 255 pages. Albert Whitman and Company, 2017. $10. Language:G (5 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G ; Violence: G

Midnight is always the new kid, they move around a lot, but this most recent move lands her in the cool group. She desperately wants to stay put in it, but when there is talk of a fancy ski trip she knows she had better get a job. Her job is helping Miss Appleby as a ghost buster! The money is great but the work is odd. It turns out things are not as they seem and Midnight learns to not judge people too early or too harshly.

Do not judge this book by its cover. The cover looks more like Scooby Doo than Nancy Drew (this generation deserves their own Nancy Drew!). This is a clever book and the characters are well developed. I am looking forward to the next one due in October 2018

EL, MS - ADVISABLE Reviewer: Lisa Moeller English Teacher/ Librarian
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018/...

[Sandra Porter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle School protagonist, slightly scary
MSers are always asking for "scary" books and this would qualify as scary, but not too. This book is a wonderful book for grades 3-6. (All the main characters are girls) Midnight, born at midnight on Halloween, is in a new town, again, and amazingly has been befriended by two of the most popular girls in school. She doesn't want to do anything to screw that up. So when she is asked to go along on a skiing trip, she needs to get a job to raise money so she can go along. I know this don't sound very exciting, but hold on. Halloween gets a job working with Mrs. Appleby protecting the town from sinister spirits. (This part sort of sounds like Ghostbusters) As her regular life goes on Midnight gets closer to Tabitha, a girl with a cemetery fixation. At this point (spoiler alert sort of) Midnight starts questioning her friendship with the popular girls and finds that Mrs. Appleby isn't quite want she seems either. Fun book, satisfying ending and it is a series, so more fun books coming. Satisfying in the fact that Midnight slowly realizes who her friends are really are and acts to be a good person.

[Liz Friend · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story: Midnight Reynolds doesn't realize it, but she has a special, if somewhat freaky, ability: she can see the spectral energy released when someone's ghost is passing from life into the Afterworld. She's also about to find out just what keeps that energy from escaping...but it's going to take a lot of work, and a lot of luck, for her to do anything about it. Good thing she has a Goth sidekick and some mean spreadsheet skills to keep her company...

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult PG; GLBT content G; adult themes (creepy old lady consuming others' spectral energy) PG; overall rating PG. Fine for 4th grade and up.

Liz's comments: A "mean girls" story infused with Ghostbusters. I think 4-7th grade girls would like this, as long as they like just a little scary and just a little social commentary about the value of being yourself.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun ghostly middle grade mystery! Twelve year old Midnight has moved to a new town with her family and the two most popular girls in her school, Sav and Lucy, have befriended her. Having always been left out, she tries her best to fit in and that means having spending money. Luckily, she gets a job working for a neighbor, Miss Appleby, who was also born at midnight on Halloween. Miss Appleby tells Midnight that they both have the ability to see spectral energy. Because Miss Appleby has hurt her ankle, she hires Midnight to capture the spectral energy. Eventually, however, Midnight realizes that Miss Appleby is hiding secrets. Tabitha, who Midnight's partner for a school project, helps her to investigate Miss Appleby and to see the truth about Sav and Lucy. I think that middle grade kids will enjoy this ghostly mystery!

[Eleni Konstantine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous middle grade story featuring Midnight Reynolds, a 12 year old girl who just wants to fit in. Too bad for her she has an unusual ability to see spectral energy.

Well written and flows really well. My 12 year old self
would have loved it. Looking forward to book two.

Disclaimer: While I know the author personally, this doesn’t affect the star rating.

[Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good book with a new and interesting topic (not to mention a couple of twists at the end that made the ending that much better!). I can't wait to see what happens with Midnight as the series continues.

[Sunsettowers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this middle grade book at ALA, and it was a great read for the month of Halloween. It's got two strong female protagonists, a spooky storyline, and a surprising twist at the end.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Will probably seek out the next book in the series.

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing middle grade mystery fiction series starter! Getting the second and third from the library today, so I can power through them over the weekend and book talk them all on Monday!

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[aem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable paranormal middle grade mystery, with themes of friendship.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this spooky fun book!! Will read more of the series!!

[Sharon Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Midnight Reynolds and the Spectral Transformer by Catherine Holt is the first book in a new middle grade series. When twelve year-old misfit Midnight Reynolds takes a job helping out eccentric Miss Appleby in the mansion down the street, she never imagined her work would involve battling ghosts. But as it turns out, Midnight and her new employer have quite a bit in common—they were both born on Halloween and have the power to see spirits of the dead. But when Midnight learns more about the history of her town, she starts to wonder if she’s fighting on the right side.

Midnight Reynolds and the Spectral Transformer is a wonderful middle grade novel. I will admit that it started a little slow for me, but once I got a good understanding of the characters, and Midnight's insecurities, I was fully engaged in the read. Midnight is tired of feeling different and wants to fit in more than just about anything. Unfortunately the popular girls that she wants to fit in are far from perfect. In her strides to appear cool she needs money, which leads her to working for Miss Appleby and embarking on a new adventure. I like Midnight's determination, even though she is not always working toward the best or healthiest goal. I really enjoyed Midnight's journey and how much she grew as a friend, daughter, and person in general. She found her place, her special skill set, and her bravery and learned how to use all of them for good. There were moments that had me cringinging, mainly because the middle school drama was right on point with what I remember, and what I worry about in the future for my kids. I really enjoyed the read and am disappointed in myself for letting it languish in my TBR pile for as long as I did. I have already gotten my hands on the sequel, and plan to get to that one much quicker.

Midnight Reynolds and the Spectral Transformer is a highly entertaining and relatable adventure. While readers might not have the ability to see ghostly energy, but at some point we have all felt like an outside or have been in search for our own special niche or place.