Midnight at the Electric

Midnight at the Electric is by Jodi Lynn Anderson.

Kansas, 2065. Adri has secured a slot as a Colonist—one of the lucky few handpicked to live on Mars. But weeks before launch, she discovers the journal of a girl who lived in her house over a hundred years ago, and is immediately drawn into the mystery surrounding her fate. While Adri knows she must focus on the mission ahead, she becomes captivated by a life that’s been lost in time…and how it might be inextricably tied to her own. 

Oklahoma, 1934. Amidst the fear and uncertainty of the Dust Bowl, Catherine fantasizes about her family’s farmhand, and longs for the immortality promised by a professor at a traveling show called the Electric. But as her family’s situation becomes more dire—and the suffocating dust threatens her sister’s life—Catherine must find the courage to sacrifice everything she loves in order to save the one person she loves most. 

England, 1919. In the recovery following the First World War, Lenore struggles with her grief for her brother, a fallen British soldier, and plans to sail to America in pursuit of a childhood friend. But even if she makes it that far, will her friend be the person she remembers, and the one who can bring her back to herself? 

While their stories spans thousands of miles and multiple generations, Lenore, Catherine, and Adri’s fates are entwined.

The Breakdown:
1. I was fascinated with the concept of this book.  Multiple generations of women linked together.  In the end the story fell a little short to me.  By time the book was finished, I felt that overall the Anderson was grasping to tie the characters fate together.

2.  I did like that each of the women was very distinct in their personality, and I liked each of their stories individually.  I think that I liked Lenore's story the best.  Plus, her tie to Catherine was much stronger than Catherine or her tie to Adri's. 

3.  I think my favorite part of Adri's story is her developing relationship with her long lost cousin, Lily.  Despite large age difference, they work out a nice relationship.  I like that Lily accepts Adri for who she is and does not try to change her, but still calls her out when she is being harsh.

4.  While I enjoyed the individual stories of the characters, I felt the overall tie between them was very weak.  When described as fates entwined, I want it to be a very strong connection.

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