For one secret hour each night, the town belongs to the dark creatures that haunt the shadows. Only a small group of teenagers know about the secret hour — only they are free to move about the midnight time. They call themselves Midnighters.

Then Jessica Day moves to town...and everything changes.

"Westerfeld (The Risen Empire) begins this inventive contemporary fantasy-first in a planned trilogy — as a new-kid-in-high-school story; he quickly introduces a few surreal bits and then begins revealing his secrets in careful increments. Jessica Day has moved to the odd town of Bixby, Okla., where the water tastes odd and, she is told, 'gives you funny dreams.' The misfits at school, Dess, Rex and Melissa, see a kindred spirit in Jessica: like them, she was born at nearly the exact stroke of midnight, giving her the ability to experience the 25th hour of each day, which is 'rolled up too tight' for the rest of humanity even to notice. This lost hour has its own breed of predators ('darklings') who don't exist at any other time and who are terrified of stainless steel and 13-letter words; but ever since Jessica arrived in town, darkling activity has been on the rise. The story moves quickly, and the structure is satisfying — the author answers all the questions he highlights in this initial volume while leaving room for the plot to develop in the sequels. A devilishly unraveled loose end on the last page will ensure an audience for the next installment. Ages 12-up." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

"A thrilling series starter....A satisfying conclusion to Jessica's mystery leaves open intriguing interpersonal questions and the potential for a possible conspiracy to lead into the next volume." Kirkus Reviews

"The story is exciting and the writing compelling. Gaps in the account will not bother readers, who will be totally absorbed by the paranormal elements as well as the intriguing characters, and who will be eagerly awaiting the next book." School Library Journal

"This novel presents a promising start to a series for Buffy book and television fans and more sophisticated readers of Stephen King or Margaret Mahy." VOYA

"In Westerfeld's first Midnighters tale, he concocts a unique and fresh fantasy setting just beyond the edge of our consciousness. Readers will certainly be pulled into the blue time and eagerly await the next volume." KLIATT

Now in paperback — the first volume in a mesmerizing new trilogy which introduces a group of teens, who call themselves Midnighters, living in a world that is frozen in time and inhabited by dark creatures that lurk in the shadows.

Scott Westerfeld has written five adult novels, including The Risen Empire and Evolution's Darling. He was born in Texas and has also designed children's software and composed electronic music. He alternates his summers between New York City and Sydney, Australia.