“Wars never end. They just change location.”
When It’s Your Turn For Midnight is a YA novel about women in Zimbabwe who forge unbreakable bonds and an exploration into the importance of bloodlines.
Chiante’s world is turned upside down when she discovers her Baba is not a blood relative. Running away to her grandmothers she seeks solace with her and her friends.
This book is extraordinarily well written, exploring what ‘family’ really means and the importance of home.

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book especially as it's a short read. The author was definitely good at including a lot of different themes whilst keeping the plot compact. Family dynamics is a major theme in this story and it was interesting to follow how Chanti navigated through it. Loved the grandmothers in this story as they brought humour and I liked how strongly they were portrayed. The elements of secrets within a family was really explored and revealed the damage it causes or could potentially cause. Would definitely recommend this book!

Chianti's parents are constantly arguing and when Chianti's mother reveals that her father is not her father during a fit of rage, Chianti's world falls apart. She runs away to her grandmother, Ambuya, to seek respite and comfort. While there, she learns much more about her grandmother and her close knit group of friends. The friends were involved in the fight for freedom as young people and this time has left its mark on them.
This is a coming of age story set in Zimbabwe with all its history. Although it is not a long read, the complex characters give plenty of food for thought as Chianti's eyes are opened to a bigger world than she has previously inhabited.

I found the setting a bit of a challenge as Zimbabwe is not a place I know but it was definitely worth persevering through the strangeness as it is a charming and very human story of people trying to do the best they can in the circumstances they find themselves in.

A wonderful novel about what 'family' really means. Musariri explores complexities of familial relationships, particularly those between mothers and daughters, and sisters, with humour and heart. The writing flows easily and the characters are likable. The inclusion of the Gogos and their past as Zimbabwean freedom fighters added an extra layer to the story that prompted me to discover more about the transition from Rhodesia to Zimbabwe.

Although marketed as a YA, I think this book will find more adult readers. I'm not sure I know many teens who would truly appreciate the more mature themes Musariri explores. It's a coming-of-age novel, but very much written in retrospect with adult eyes. A worthwhile read and one that could be suggested to A Level literature students, or GCSE students who need a bit more stretch and challenge.

Character: this novella is full of wonderful, compassionate portraits that dance off the page.
Setting: interesting and vibrant, although could do with more development.
Plot: more a collection of loosely connected sub-plots.
Prose: moments of luminosity obscured by some lack of clarity and a lot of confused tenses.

It was an interesting short read. I found Gogo Ropa to be an interesting character however I felt the family conflict resolution fell a bit flat. I think it could have been expanded on a bit more.

Fifteen year old Chianti ends up hiding out at her maternal grandmother's house after a big row at home following her mum sharing a secret that's blown the family apart. Her little sisters are trying to get hold of her but she's not really keen to have them around her at the moment.

Ambuya and her friends are fit and active, running a clothes upcycling business based on buying bales of second-hand clothing that's come in ultimately from abroad - the Zimbabwean Government has banned this so they're trying to find alternative suppliers, while combatting the people who are stealing the bales for themselves, and this gives them a cheeky chance to put into practice their old skills learned in the anti-colonial wars of the late 1970s / early 1980s (this makes the grandmothers a bit older than me, but not much, five years or so). Each, plus Mr Kingsley Pfupajena (you must always use his full name) has their own demons to forget but they've been together since they bought a plot of land and built a cul-de-sac of houses on it.

Chianti, overwhelmed by their noisy get-togethers and reeling from her mum's revelations, starts looking through a storage room of old photos and documents, trying to piece together the elders' stories from this and the older generation themselves. Soon further revelations will rock her, but they'll also all work together to bind the family's unity back into place and to beat the thieves. Although there are some serious issues here about war and death, it's all done with a light touch and nothing horrible.

A quick read as it really is for a younger reader, but very well done and taught me a lot about Zimbabwean life and history.

Blog review will come out on 24 October at https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2024/10/24/book-review-blessing-musariri-when-its-your-turn-for-midnight/

The novel follows Chiante, a teenager from Zimbabwe, in her journey after discovering a family secret. Family is more than blood: all the elders in Chiante's life have been supporting her since she was born. And even now that her whole world has been turned upside down, they are there to comfort her, to talk with her, to give her a hug or teach her a lesson. While she tries figuring out her place in the world and in the family, she is never alone, her sisters are right right next to her. Wonderfully written, When It's Your Turn For Midnight explores the trauma of war as well as the search for sisterhood. Good one!

When It’s Your Turn for Midnight tells the poignant story of fifteen-year-old Chiante, whose life is turned upside down following a devastating accident that prompts her mother to make a shocking and life-altering statement. Overwhelmed by confusion and hurt, Chiante makes the difficult decision to leave her family home in Harare. With a small bag in tow, she travels to Mutare to spend the school holidays with her beloved grandmother, Ankara.

As she arrives at Ankara's home, Chiante seeks solace in the warmth of her grandmother's close-knit community, a space filled with the laughter and resilience of women who have faced their hardships. Her grandmother and her sisters, who once fought a war as mere children, are now living vibrant lives, embracing the joy they’ve earned through their struggles. Despite the comfort of her surroundings, Chiante grapples with her inability to accept her mother’s words, which has created a rift between them. She isolates herself, trying to avoid confronting the painful emotions swirling within her.

Throughout her time with Ankara, Chiante begins to uncover the layers of her grandmother's history. She realizes that the past is never entirely erased; it shapes who we are and influences our relationships. As she delves deeper into her grandmother's life, Chiante gains a new perspective on her family's struggles and triumphs. The narrative reveals how the bonds of family, regardless of their complexity, hold immense significance in the face of adversity.

As the story unfolds, Chiante learns the importance of reconciliation and the courage required to mend familial ties. With the support of her sisters and parents, she understands that they must confront their collective past to rebuild their family and embrace the fullness of life together. The journey toward healing becomes a shared endeavor, as Chiante and her loved ones navigate the intricacies of forgiveness and connection.

Through Chiante's emotional journey, the narrative emphasizes that while the past may linger, it is the strength of familial love that empowers us to move forward and live fully. As Chiante finds her way back to her family, she discovers that healing is possible when we open our hearts and face our truths together.

http://thesecretbookreview.co.uk

Chiante is fifteen when an unfortunate accident results in her Mama making an earth-shattering, life altering statement. Upset and confused, she packs a small bag, leaves the family home in Harare, and heads to her Ankara's home to spend the school holidays with her grandmother. Unable to accept what she heard, Chiante shuts herself off from her Mama and Baba, instead spending time in a small, close-knit community in Mutare. Having fought a war together as no more than children, her grandmother and her sisters are living their best lives, knowing they have earned it.

Chiante begins to realise that no one's past disappears completely and, as she tries to come to terms with her own turmoil, her Ankara's history begins to take on a different hue. As the importance of family, however it is formed, becomes clearer to Chiante, she, her sisters and parents know they too have to try to find the courage to put their family back together so they can live their lives to the full.

This is my second book by an author who has a real talent for showing how the life experiences that define us aren't ever unique, even though we may be. 'Wars never end. They just change location' is the tagline for this beautifully written young adult novel, and its message becomes clearer the further into the book you travel.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Head of Zeus/Zephyr, but the opinions expressed are my own. This is a positive, powerful, and compassionate story that gets its message of hope and understanding across clearly and concisely. Highly recommended.

Mati’s family has been devasted by the death of Mati’s mother. Her Baba has withdrawn, her sister Chichi is rebelling, and her young brother Tana is lost without someone there for him.
Then Baba decided they need a change in scenery so takes the family from their home in England for an extended camping holiday in his native Zimbabwe.
Accompanying Mati is Meticais, with whom only Mati can see and converse. Meticais’ role is of mentor, dispensing observations and wisdom.
With plot twists this is aimed at acceptance of grief, love, and family.

When It’s Your Turn For Midnight is a YA novel about girls and women in Zimbabwe who forge unbreakable bonds which make them an unstoppable force.

Chiante’s world is turned upside down when she finds out her Baba is not who she thought he was. She runs away to her grandmother and seeks solace with her and her friends. These elders were brought together by bonds of war and have stayed together due to the sisterhood they created. They sing, dance, drink and run a fashion up-cycling business. Chiante learns how they work, trying to delve into the secrets and puzzle of her family’s past.

This book is extraordinarily well written and it is an important representation of found family, and how this can be just as (and sometimes more) important than blood relations.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.