Hartnett, Sonya. The Midnight Zoo. Illustrated by Andrea Offermann. 217 pages. Candlewick Press, 2011. $16.99. Sexual Content: G, Language: G, Violence: PG. Two brothers scavenge for food through a bomb-destroyed town in Eastern Europe during World War II. There are no people in the town, but they find a small zoo with the animals still in their cages. The boys take off their bundles, one carrying their baby sister Wilma. To their surprise the animals talk to them and tell them what happened to the town. They tell the boys about Alice, the zookeeper’s daughter, who was a resistance fighter. The boys tell the animals about being gypsies and how the soldiers (Nazis) rounded up their group and their mother told them to run. And they have been running since then. The situation is bleak for the boys and the animals. The boys share the little food they have with the animals and wait. The somber illustrations have almost a sinister look, but they match the tone of the story. Author Sonya Hartnett vividly portrays the effects of war on the innocent: children and animals. A haunting but ultimately hopeful read, recommended for upper elementary. EL-ADVISABLE. Samantha, librarian.
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