The Night Children (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: cool kids shop, platinum mask, amusement plaza, Dark Hall, Amos Zozz, Burt Arno (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4–7—Jule's parents have been missing for 10 years and, most recently, the girl's aunt has disappeared. Then Jule finds herself left behind after the MegaMall closes for the day. She is absorbed into one of the competing tribes of children who live there, scavenging for their subsistence needs. Jule soon learns that virtually all of their parents have disappeared. As the plot unfolds, readers are introduced to the mastermind of the mall. A man whose face was so disfigured by his peers as a child that he keeps it hidden, he has pledged revenge on all children. This futuristic book has a great premise, but fails in its execution. The characters are two-dimensional, with the villain drawn as almost a cartoon caricature. The repetition of "Ohhh, nooooooo," although intended to reveal the shallow, controlled thoughts of adults in custody, instead comes off as tedious and uninspired. The rotation of character perspectives through the different chapters is difficult to follow. This book cannot hold a candle to Jeanne DuPrau's "Books of Ember" (Random) or Anthony Horowitz's "The Gatekeepers" series (Scholastic).—Leah Krippner, Harlem High School, Machesney Park, IL
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From Booklist

Reed, an Alex Award winner for Thinner than Thou (2006), now comes with her first novel for young readers. Various groups of kids who have been abandoned by their parents live on the fringes of the gigantic Megamall, owned by the mysterious billionaire Amos Zozz. What starts out as a turf war between two such gangs escalates into much more, as the kids uncover what might have really happened to their parents—and what the clearly insane Zozz has in store for them. The kids in this thriller have some solid dimension, but the adults almost none. (Zozz has exactly two character traits: an insatiable lust for power and an insatiable hatred for children, making him an ideal villain). The condemnation of greedy corporations might not quite hit its mark, and by the end, the premise becomes too preposterous to take seriously, but readers will get caught up by the fast pace and plucky group of kids sticking it to the Man. The ending satisfies and also leaves things ripe for a sequel. Grades 4-7. --Ian Chipman

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Starscape (September 30, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076532038X
• ISBN-13: 978-0765320384
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,260,210 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Congrats for "The Night Children", October 13, 2008

By	Dennis at Holy Apostles (Connecticut, USA) - See all my reviews

Late yesterday I finished reading Kit Reed's new book "The Night Children." It is a classic page-turner and I enjoyed the story. Without divulging too much, I feel that Lance is an important character like the Lone Ranger, who appears on the scene right when you need him, and then disappears just as quickly when the job is done.

Opposing what Lance stands for is the main villain, Amos Zozz, a cross between the Phantom of the Opera and Darth Vader, and equally as sinister. Isabella, his daughter, is also a powerful character and represents Zozzco and its reclusive founder to a "T." Between them, they wreak havoc on Castertown through their giant Megamall.

Caught in the middle are the Night Children, who rise above their personal tragedies to make a difference. They include the main characters, Jule and Tick, as well as others like Mag and Doakie, whom the author fleshes out very well. They show surprising unity when the chips are down and create a microcosm that most adults would do well to imitate.

With all the mysterious disappearances and other strange happenings at the Megamall, I wondered why an investigative reporter hadn't snooped around, but then this is a children's novel and some complexities are best left alone. Plus the fact that the people of Castertown were being drugged, as well as being paid very high wages, helps one to understand their greedy complacency. The novel's language is target age appropriate and its plot is well developed. I look forward to a sequel. Rev. Dennis J. Mercieri

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars exciting middle school thriller, October 12, 2008

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

People come from around the world to spend time at the Castertown MegaMall. Rich and poor they all flock to this premier wonder of the modern world. When last call occurs, zillions of people vacate the premises heading mostly to nearby hotels so they can easily return to shop until they drop.

However, at closing not everyone leaves. Tonight sitting in a car at the top of the internationally acclaimed WhirlyFunride is local junior high school student Jule Deveraux following a fight with her guardian Aunt Christy over misplacing her cell phone; the next morning her only known living relative was gone without leaving a note. Knowing what happens to unsupervised teen orphans, the feisty thirteen years old hides in the mall for now. However, she is not alone as the Castertown MegaMall contains residents of the night. Two rival gangs consisting of abandoned and runaway teens, tweeners and even younger children battle for mall supremacy. The Castertown Crazies headed by Tick Stiles fight with the Dingos led by Burt Arno. Neither chieftain nor the newcomer they each want to join their side understands the real war is to begin. Castertown MegaMall owner Amos Zozz resents these young rats living and abusing his facility; extermination and youthful cleansing are coming military style to THE NIGHT CHILDREN; there hope to survive depends on a loner who belongs to no one.

This is an exciting middle school thriller that hooks the audience from the moment the confused Jule meets the two rival gang leaders and learns the eyes of the kids are upon the unaware visitors. The story line is fast-paced from the onset yet provides moral insight into the social issue of what to do about unsupervised young that is summed up by a key secondary character who says: "Because you can't treat people like that". Kit Reed provides a strong parable of the richest society being so indifferent that they ignore the plights of the poor unless it negatively affects the bottom line.

Harriet Klausner