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Cover of The Midnight Zoo

The Midnight Zoo

Sonya Hartnett (2010)

SubgenreDark Fantasy
Age groupMiddle Grade 8-12
Content ratingPG-13
Pages (Quick Read (<250))
Setting
CSM age11
Goodreads3.53
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Content levels

ViolenceModerate
Sexual contentNone
LanguageNone

Trigger warnings

WarDeathGriefChild HarmAnimal CaptivityDisplacementEthnic ViolenceDeath of Parent

Positive tags

Found FamilyHealing ArcSelf-DiscoveryHopeful EndingFriendship

Hero archetypes

OrphanComing-of-Age Hero

Protagonist archetypes

Multiple POVsComing-of-Age Protagonist

Tropes

Coming of AgeFish out of WaterFound FamilyQuestWarMagical RealismSentient Animals

Themes

Freedom and CaptivityWar and DisplacementLoss of InnocenceIdentitySurvivalHopeStorytelling as Healing

Synopsis

Twelve-year-old Andrej, nine-year-old Tomas, and their baby sister Wilma flee their Romany encampment when it is attacked by Germans during World War II, and in an abandoned town they find a zoo where the animals tell their stories, helping the children understand what has become of their lives and what it means to be free.

Tags

Historical FantasyMagical RealismWar StoryAnimal Perspective