The Midnight Lie (2021) Parents Guide: Is the book OK for kids?

The book focuses on a romantic relationship between 17-year-old Madeleine Force and the much older, recently divorced John Jacob 'Jack' Astor. The depiction remains chaste and focuses on emotional intimacy and the social scandal surrounding their 29-year age gap. There is a brief mention of their wedding night in Chapter 11 and later mentions of Madeleine’s pregnancy, but no explicit physical descriptions. The narrative focuses on the societal perceptions of their union rather than physical acts. Historical…

The second half of the book contains intense scenes of the Titanic sinking, which include descriptions of the ship breaking apart and the harrowing sounds of the disaster. Specific moments involve Madeleine witnessing the desperation of passengers and the knowledge of thousands drowning in the freezing Atlantic. There is significant emotional violence in the scene where Jack helps his pregnant wife into a lifeboat, knowing he will likely perish. The aftermath includes descriptions of the trauma experienced by…

Language is very mild and historically accurate for the upper class of the Edwardian era. Occasional use of mild terms like 'damn' or 'hell' may occur, typically during moments of high stress such as the ship's collision. The characters speak with the formality expected of the Gilded Age elite, and profanity is not a feature of the text. Readers will encounter social slurs of a different kind, such as the derogatory way the press refers to Madeleine as a 'child bride.' Overall, the linguistic content is…

This book includes mild substance use content reflective of the setting. Examples include descriptions of opulent New York dinner parties where champagne and wine are served to the upper class. In Chapters 7 and 13, characters are seen consuming alcohol at social functions and during their honeymoon in Egypt. There are brief mentions of men retiring for cigars and brandy, which was a standard social custom for the time. No instances of intoxication, drug abuse, or negative consequences from substance use are…

Major themes include the restrictive social roles for women in the early 20th century and the intense scrutiny of the media. The story heavily features the processing of immense grief and survivor's guilt following the Titanic disaster. Madeleine’s struggle to assert her identity while being married to one of the world's richest men is a central conflict. The narrative also explores the ethics of Jack Astor’s divorce and the subsequent public shunning the couple faces. Finally, the book deals with the weight of…