The Fight for Midnight

By: Dan Solomon

Narrated by: Michael Crouch

As the clock ticks forward to midnight during Wendy Davis’s historic filibuster of the abortion bill HB2 in June 2013, an Austin teen grapples with his past mistakes, the complex issue of abortion, and the kind of person he wants to be.

It’s been a rough year for Alex Collins. In the past twelve months, he’s lost his best friend, become the target of the two biggest bullies at school, and been sentenced to community service. But on June 25, 2013, he gets a call for help from Cassie Ramirez, the prettiest girl in school. At last, he feels like his luck might be changing. Cassie is at the Texas State Capitol to protest Wendy Davis’s historic filibuster of the abortion bill HB2, and she’s rallying everyone she knows to join her. Until today, Alex didn’t know what a filibuster was, and he’d never given a moment’s thought to how he felt about abortion. But at the Capitol, he finds himself in the middle of a tense scene full of pro-life “blueshirts,” pro-choice “orangeshirts,” and blustering politicians playing political games as Wendy Davis tries to run out the clock at midnight. Alex may have entered the Capitol looking to spend time with Cassie, but the political gets personal when he runs into his ex-friend Shireen in an orange T-shirt and quickly realizes that when it comes to an issue like abortion, neutral isn’t an option. Over the next nineteen hours—as things get increasingly heated both on the Senate floor and between the two sets of protesters—Alex will struggle to figure out what side he’s on, knowing that whatever choice he makes will bring him face-to-face with his past mistakes.

Discussion starter for teens and parents. Great read!

The author discusses choices and beliefs facing teens today-including drugs, overdose, teen pregnancy, and abortion. Written by a man for young people, about topics that aren’t always seen as “guy” issues. So much to think about in this short, but worthwhile, read. I can’t encourage parents enough to get this book for their teen boys especially! Parents should also read it and use this as a spring board for many conversations that teens are yearning to talk about but don’t know where or how to begin the discussion.

Insightful

Insightful way to explore the topic of abortion from a character who knew nothing on the topic. Great questions with answers from both sides of the aisle and told through the story of interesting teenagers who had difficult, yet relatable experiences.

Great way to explore the topic.

I love how the main character comes to his view on the subject of abortion. Being from Texas I recall this happening and liked how accurate the events of the day were in the story.