Thirteen Days to Midnight
Grade 7–10—Jacob Fielding shouldn't have survived the car accident that killed his foster father, but he did. A week later, he writes "You are indestructible"—Mr. Fielding's last words to him—on the wrist cast of Ophelia, a new girl at school, and soon after, she comes through a devastating skateboard crash without a scratch. With his final words, Mr. Fielding had gifted Jacob the power to keep death at bay, and the boy, along with Oh and his friend Milo, begins to play with life and death. Jacob can pass his power to others, and he does: first to Oh, and then to anyone the three can find who is in a situation likely to be fatal. What they don't know, and only discover when Oh's behavior becomes violently erratic, is that death cannot be stopped entirely. For every life they save, someone else must die. This page-turner is a natural choice for reluctant readers and fans of both adventure stories and supernatural thrillers. While Jacob and his friends seek out and shun death, they also explore the bounds of friendship and first romance. The story behind Jacob's power, an intriguing tale involving Harry Houdini, may encourage readers to delve further into the magician's history. Despite a few underdeveloped plot points, this novel will engage many readers.—Karen E. Brooks-Reese, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA(c) Copyright 2010.  Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.  No redistribution permitted.