Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Protagonist archetypes
Synopsis
Midnight's Children is a 1981 novel by author Salman Rushdie. It portrays India's transition from British colonial rule to independence and the partition of India. It is considered an example of postcolonial, postmodern, and magical realist literature. The story is told by its chief protagonist, Saleem Sinai, and is set in the context of actual historical events. The style of preserving history with fictional accounts is self-reflexive. Midnight's Children won both the Booker Prize and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize in 1981. It was awarded the "Booker of Bookers" Prize and the best all-time prize winners in 1993 and 2008 to celebrate the Booker Prize 25th and 40th anniversary.In 2003, the novel was listed on the BBC's The Big Read poll of the UK's "best-loved novels". It was also added to the list of Great Books of the 20th Century, published by Penguin Books.
Is Midnight's Children appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 16 and up.
This literary novel contains mature themes including partition violence, political upheaval, and sexual content. Complex narrative structure and magical realist elements blend historical events with fantastical storytelling.
What to know going in
This book has strong violence, moderate sexual content, and moderate language. Content notes include genocide, death, and violence (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Mature teens interested in literary fiction will find a sweeping story about identity and history intertwined with magical elements.