Sofia is a 13-year-old brilliant reader who aspires to be a book reviewer. Since she was 8 years old, on select weeks, Sofia shares her favorite books with other young people her age! She is one of the most well-read youth that we know, so she is highly qualified for this role!
Dear readers,
Please let me introduce The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, a mind-bending novel about time paradoxes and the meaning of life. In this impactful book, Nora Seed overdoses on antidepressants, but instead of dying, she is transported to a magical library that allows you to experience all of your possible lives if you were to make different decisions. Nora discovers lives where she is married to the man she left at the altar, is an Olympic swimmer, or pursues her childhood dream job, all while learning valuable lessons along the way. Nora’s intense emotional journey is an interesting one to follow, and the unique plot makes it very intriguing!
Goodreads Summary
Between life and death there is a library. When Nora Seed finds herself in the Midnight Library, she has a chance to make things right. Up until now, her life has been full of misery and regret. She feels she has let everyone down, including herself. But things are about to change. The books in the Midnight Library enable Nora to live as if she had done things differently. With the help of an old friend, she can now undo every one of her regrets as she tries to work out her perfect life. But things aren’t always what she imagined they’d be, and soon her choices place the library and herself in extreme danger. Before time runs out, she must answer the ultimate question: what is the best way to live?
My Thoughts
The Midnight Library challenges the ideas of regret and living one’s life to the fullest. Many decisions lead Nora to take her own life, but as she journeys through the library and the possible lives she could’ve had, she realizes that not one of them is perfect. When faced with all of the things that went wrong, but also right in her “root life,” she sees that life is worth living no matter what happens. I love the overarching theme of trying to live life without regrets, taking opportunities as they come and not mourning past decisions as they might not’ve turned out the way you would’ve liked. This novel has shown me the power decisions hold, while also teaching me not to spend time regretting decisions I’ve already made. As Nora searches through all her lives, one can’t help but wonder if she will end up finding her true self?
The Midnight Library is an adult novel, categorized by its mentions of suicide, death, drugs, and depression, though it would be appropriate for most high school audiences. The deep exploration into the meaning of death reveals a powerful message that rings true from YA readers to adults.
**Thanks so much, Sofia!**
