| Revision as of 10:57, 19 June 2009 edit208.103.153.233 (talk) →Plot summary← Previous edit | Revision as of 14:32, 19 June 2009 edit undoDoctorfluffy (talk | contribs)8,695 edits Undid revision 297338832 by 208.103.153.233 (talk)Next edit → | ||
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| When they reach their destination, they find Midnight, an extremely intelligent badger who can speak many languages. She reveals to them that Twolegs are going to destroy the forest to make Thunderpaths (roads) and more nests (houses). She tells them that the cats must either leave the forest or starve with no prey, and that a dying warrior will lead them to their new home. The book ends with a short epilogue back in the forest, where Firestar and Graystripe witness the Twolegs beginning to destroy ThunderClan's territory. | When they reach their destination, they find Midnight, an extremely intelligent badger who can speak many languages. She reveals to them that Twolegs are going to destroy the forest to make Thunderpaths (roads) and more nests (houses). She tells them that the cats must either leave the forest or starve with no prey, and that a dying warrior will lead them to their new home. The book ends with a short epilogue back in the forest, where Firestar and Graystripe witness the Twolegs beginning to destroy ThunderClan's territory. | ||
| The cover features Tawnypelt. Some say its Brambleclaw but it is mentioned that Brambleclaw has amber eyes. | |||
| ==Publication history== | ==Publication history== | ||
Revision as of 14:32, 19 June 2009
 First edition cover, illustrating Brambleclaw | |
| Author | Erin Hunter |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Wayne McLoughlin |
| Language | English |
| Series | Warriors: The New Prophecy |
| Genre | Fantasy novel |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
| Publication date | May 10, 2005 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 336 pp |
| ISBN | 978-0060744519 |
| Preceded by | Firestar's Quest |
| Followed by | Moonrise |
Midnight is the first book in Erin Hunter's Warriors: The New Prophecy series. Following Firestar's Quest and preceding Moonrise, it was released May 10, 2005. The novel centers around a group of feral cats living in four Clans, ThunderClan, RiverClan, WindClan, and ShadowClan.
Plot summary
Midnight is the first novel in Warriors: The New Prophecy. It opens a year after The Darkest Hour, with StarClan choosing four cats to go on a journey. The book centers around the prophecy: Darkness, Air, Water, and Sky, will come together, and shake the forest to its roots. This is the prophecy that Midnight and the next two novels - Moonrise and Dawn - revolve around.
New cats of all Clans, particularly of ThunderClan, are introduced. Bramblepaw, Tigerstar's son, has become Brambleclaw. Firestar has had two kits with Sandstorm, named Squirrelpaw and Leafpaw.
StarClan, the spirits of the cats who have died, come to Brambleclaw in a dream to ask for help, and he is unnerved by their warning that a time of trouble is coming to the forest. Bluestar, a StarClan cat and former leader of ThunderClan, also tells him that he has been chosen to meet with three other cats, and that he must listen to what midnight tells him. After Brambleclaw discovers that his sister, Tawnypelt of ShadowClan, also had the dream, he decides to meet at the new moon with the other chosen cats, Feathertail of RiverClan and Crowpaw of WindClan. Squirrelpaw, who tracks Brambleclaw from camp, and Stormfur, who accompanies his sister Feathertail, also attend the meeting and find out about the prophecy. The meeting ends abruptly when Crowpaw leaves, convinced that all the dreams have been a mistake. Later, StarClan sends Cinderpelt an omen, which she interprets to mean that fire and tiger will destroy the forest. Leafpaw concludes that the warning must mean Squirrelpaw and Brambleclaw, the daughter of Firestar and the son of Tigerstar, respectively. Firestar is determined to keep Squirrelpaw and Brambleclaw apart to stop the prophecy from happening.
Later on, Brambleclaw has another dream of a large body of salty water with the sun seeming to drown into it, but doesn't believe it's a prophecy until Ravenpaw, a loner (stray cat) tells him that it is a real place. Brambleclaw determines that it means StarClan want him to go to the sun-drown place with the other chosen cats. He informs the other chosen cats of his idea, and they all agree to leave. Squirrelpaw and Stormfur decide to go with them.
The six cats steal away from their Clans and begin their journey to the sun-drown place. They get lost when they get to a town and get an old cat named Purdy to guide them. Purdy leads them through the Twoleg nests and Thunderpaths (roads) and then leaves them. From there they continue on their way. Along their journey StarClan sends the chosen cats each their own saltwater sign to tell them they're going the right way. Throughout the journey Stormfur appears to grow attached to Squirrelpaw, and it seems to become love as the book progresses, making Brambleclaw who is also secretly in love with her feel slightly jealous when Stormfur stands up for her. There is also another romance in the book of Feathertail and Crowpaw falling in love.
When they reach their destination, they find Midnight, an extremely intelligent badger who can speak many languages. She reveals to them that Twolegs are going to destroy the forest to make Thunderpaths (roads) and more nests (houses). She tells them that the cats must either leave the forest or starve with no prey, and that a dying warrior will lead them to their new home. The book ends with a short epilogue back in the forest, where Firestar and Graystripe witness the Twolegs beginning to destroy ThunderClan's territory.
Publication history
Midnight was first released in the US and Canada in hardcover on May 10, 2005. It was released in the UK on October 25 2006. It was released for paperback on April 4, 2006. It was also released for the Amazon Kindle on November 6, 2007.
Critical reception
The reception of Midnight was mixed. Children's Literature gave a negative review. Points raised in the review include the demotion of Firestar to a simple spokesman, the huge volume of characters, and the "wimpy" group of traveling cats. However, the review did praise the character of Squirrelpaw. On the other hand, Kirkus Reviews said the novel was "structurally solid". BookLoons calls the new generation "engaging",.
Inspiration and influences
The forest depicted in the book is based on New Forest, a forest in southern England. The herbs that the cats use for healing is based on information found in Culpeper's Herbal by Nicholas Culpeper.
References
- ^ "Midnight (Warriors: The New Prophecy, Book 1) (Hardcover)". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
- "Amazon.ca Midnight". Amazon.ca. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
- "Amazon UK midnight". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
- "Amazon.com, Midnight paperback". Amazon.con. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
- "Midnight: Kindle version". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
- "Midnight (Warriors, The New Prophecy Series #1)". Barnes & Noble.com. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
- "Warriors: The New Prophecy Series: Midnight (#01)". Powell's Books. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
- "Midnight: Warriors, The New Prophecy by Erin Hunter". BookLoons Reviews. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
- "First erin hunter chat". Wands and worlds community. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
- "Transcript of the fourth Erin Hunter chat". Wands and Worlds community. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
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