I don't know whether I've ever read a more poignant coming
of age or more tender urban love story.
At the tender age of seven, Midnight, an Islamic African,
is sent to American with his mother and younger sister,
leaving behind a privileged life in Sudan for the streets
of Brooklyn. He assumes responsibility for his family, as
the man his father and his culture raised him to be. By
the time, he reaches fourteen, Midnight has a handle on
American culture and what it takes to survive on the mean
streets. When he meets Akemi, a young but already
renowned Japanese artist, he has found his soul mate. As
they fall in love, Midnight must fight to preserve the
love they share, completing his transition from boyhood to
manhood.
MIDNIGHT was all hard edges—the BedStuy neighborhood,
navigating the urban land mines of gangs, drugs, and turf,
difficult for any boy, much less one without the presence
and guidance of his father.
At the same time, MIDNIGHT was soft and downy as cotton—
the tentative and tender developing love between the two
cultures, the love and respect of a son for his mother,
the caring and protecting of a brother for his sister, the
honor and respect for cultural traditions that put
Midnight at odds with his friends and neighbors but
matured him.
I loved everything about MIDNIGHT except for two things.
First, the story was too sexually explicit for my thirteen
year old to read, even as I knew it was a story that he
could relate to and would enjoy, and I'm not sure it had
to be in order to be as satisfying a read as it was. Yet,
the scenes with high sexual content fit perfectly into the
story and were expertly crafted. Nothing salacious or
gratuitous here.
Last, the ending comes completely out of left field—at
least for me—and therefore left me with the cold, metallic
taste of disappointment. Up to that point, the story was
so enjoyable that it wasn't ruined for me but the
unexpected finish tarnished an otherwise gem.
Sister Souljah, the hip-hop generation's number one author
and most compelling storyteller, delivers a powerful story
about love and loyalty, strength and family. In her
bestselling novel, The Coldest Winter Ever, Sister Souljah
introduced the world to Midnight, a brave but humble
lieutenant to a prominent underworld businessman. Now, in a
highly anticipated follow-up to her million-selling
masterpiece, she brings readers into the life and
dangerously close to the heart of this silent, fearless
young man.
Raised in a wealthy, influential, Islamic African family,
Midnight enjoys a life of comfort, confidence, and
protection. Midnight's father provides him with a veil of
privilege and deep, devoted love, but he never hides the
truth about the fierce challenges of the world outside of
his estate. So when Midnight's father's empire is attacked,
he sends Midnight with his mother to the United States.
In the streets of Brooklyn, a young Midnight uses his
Islamic mind-set and African intelligence to protect the
ones he loves, build a business, reclaim his wealth and
status, and remain true to his beliefs.
Midnight, a handsome and passionate young man, attracts many
women. How he interacts and deals with them is a unique
adventure. This is a highly sensual and tremendous love
story about what a man is willing to risk and give to the
women he loves most. Midnight will remain in your mind and
beat in your heart for a lifetime.
Her "raw and true voice" (Publishers Weekly) will both
soothe and arouse you. In a beautifully written and
masterfully woven story, Sister Souljah has given us
Midnight, and solidified her presence as the mother of all
contemporary urban literature.
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