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Thirteen Days to Midnight

by Patrick Carman (Goodreads Author)

3.66 of 5 stars 3.66 · rating details · 1,821 ratings · 352 reviews

You are indestructible. Three whispered words transfer an astonishing power to Jacob Fielding that changes everything. At first, Jacob is hesitant to use the power, unsure of its implications. But there's something addictive about testing the limits of fear.

Then Ophelia James, the beautiful and daring new girl in town, suggests that they use the power to do good, to save o...more

Hardcover, 304 pages

Published April 12th 2010 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

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Jul 11, 2011 Shanan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-on-blog

In A Nutshell:
This book is not the type I normally read, but I picked it up on the recommendation of a good friend. I am so glad I read Thirteen Days To Midnight. It had action and suspense—I could not put it down. When I was done, I stared at the book and felt as though I had just stepped off a roller coaster.

Review:
“If you could have only one superpower, what would it be?” (p. 3).

This intriguing question frames this story where three words whispered between friends can change every aspect of...more In A Nutshell:
This book is not the type I normally read, but I picked it up on the recommendation of a good friend. I am so glad I read Thirteen Days To Midnight. It had action and suspense—I could not put it down. When I was done, I stared at the book and felt as though I had just stepped off a roller coaster.

Review:
“If you could have only one superpower, what would it be?” (p. 3).

This intriguing question frames this story where three words whispered between friends can change every aspect of their lives.

For the first time in his life, Jacob who grew up in the foster system, feels like he is part of something permanent. He feels like Mr. Fielding really cares about him. But then Mr. Fielding dies in a car crash, and Jacob has to contend with guilt, grief, and loss.

Jacob returns to school where his best friend, Milo, who introduces Jacob to the new girl, Ophelia (goes by Oh). Jacob and Milo have to figure out how to deal with Oh, their mutual interest in her, and her choice between the two of them.

Patrick Carmen handles the relationships within Thirteen Days To Midnight with mastery and finesse. Milo is Jacob’s first true best-friend relationship, while Oh is Jacob’s first love. Patrick Carmen has to balance the fragility of these firsts with the steadfastness that make these relationships seem likely to last. The secrets that the friends share serve both the test their relationships and make their relationships stronger.

But this book is more than a coming-of-age or first-love story because with those three whispered words something passes between Jacob, Milo, and Oh that none of them truly understand. They must unravel the secret of what is passing between them, but in order for them to do that Jacob must start to face his fear, guilt, and grief over losing Mr. Fielding.

There is a lot of action packed into thirteen days, which made reading this book both a pleasure and a challenge. A pleasure because it moves fast and there is not a lot of wasted time or words. But a challenge because of some dark topics addressed that leave the characters with a lot to think about and not a lot of time to process.(less)

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Jun 02, 2011 Raina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adoption, creepyish, local-interest, romance, sci-fi, ya

This is a book that slams right out of the gate. Jacob asks what superheroic power you would want, and then tells some of the disadvantages of some popular powers. He then describes how he came to have his particular power and what trouble it brought him. Much of his experience revolves around his friend Milo and new romantic interest Oh. It gets downright creepy near the end, though a backstory involving a famous magician adds definite interest. Things get extremely violent, and personally I wo...more

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Dec 06, 2012 Izzy rated it 4 of 5 stars

"If you could have one superpower, what would it be?"
I think everyone has asked themselves this at some point. It was a good way to start the book. Now I have to ask myself "If I could pick one word for this book, what would it be?". That's a tougher question. Since I finished this book maybe twenty minutes ago, I've been asking myself this. I've given myself many answers, but truthfully, there is no one word to describe this book. Why? Because there's so many things packed into these short page...more

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Feb 25, 2013 Alexis Villalobos rated it 4 of 5 stars

Thirteen Days to Midnight is a book filled with action, suspense, love, supernatural powers,etc. I really love how he starts off with an simple question:"If you could have one super power, what would it be?" After that little question, he runs with it. The book starts with Jacob who is returning to Holy Cross. His friend,Milo,is trying to get Jacob in the swing of things.once Milo tells Jacob about the new girl in town, he is hooked. He meets Ophelia James, a daring and beautiful girl. It first...more

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Dec 19, 2012 Angela rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was so good that i finished it in one day. in two hours.
I love the beginning, because it puts everyday stereotypical superpowers (like the ability to fly, telekinesis, telepathy, invisibility, time travel, etc.)on the line and it explains why these powers suck beyond sucking. I've never thought about those powers in that sort of way. And then we get to the real story, where we find out that what? jacob has the power to be invincible and can even transfer it to (one) other person?! no f...more

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May 07, 2012 Dayla rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: action, adventure, death, down-to-earth-supernatural, frustrating, magic, not-perfect-but-fun, romance, school, young-adult, ya, confusing

This review first appeared on my blog: Book Addict 24-7

Thirteen Days to Midnight, by Patrick Carman is a young adult novel that follows orphan Jacob Fielding after his guardian's death and the legacy that is left for him. The premise of this novel is what drew me in since I was curious to see what Jacob experiences and his apparent connection with death. While Carman introduces his character in a pretty neat way, his story wasn't what I was anticipating.

"You are indestructible. Three whispered...more

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Apr 24, 2012 EllaSare rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really think it's about time Goodreads created an option to rate books half-stars already...but since they haven't yet, I'll put it out there right now that I proudly give this book a solid...
4.5 stars!
And now I guess I'll tell you why...

So I attend a college that is a pretty decent twenty minute-half-hour drive away from my house and I decided one day that to help make the drive just a little less mundane, I'll attempt to listen to an audiobook. Now, I don't know how many of you have ever at...more I really think it's about time Goodreads created an option to rate books half-stars already...but since they haven't yet, I'll put it out there right now that I proudly give this book a solid...
4.5 stars!
And now I guess I'll tell you why...

So I attend a college that is a pretty decent twenty minute-half-hour drive away from my house and I decided one day that to help make the drive just a little less mundane, I'll attempt to listen to an audiobook. Now, I don't know how many of you have ever attempted reading....well I guess technically it's listening to a book through an audiobook, but I never had, and for good reason (I thought). I just felt like reading...errr...listening to a book that way makes for a completely different and ultimately negative uh hearing experience (gosh I think I'm officially dubbing the term audioreading right now, consider it copyrighted) of the book. Let's just say when it came to "Thirteen Days to Midnight," I was completely and utterly wrong.

I feel the need to first and foremost thank the narrator of this audiobook because man, did he do an awesome job. Literally, if it had been read by some 60-year old man, I probably would've put it down before realizing just how wonderful it is. And boy, is it wonderful!

The story centers around a 15-year old boy named Jacob Fielding. Jacob has a secret that he has refused to divulge to anyone. He has a power. Not just any power, a power that is so incredible it literally gives him the ability to choose between who will live and who will die. When Jacob finally admits his incredible ability to his best friend, Milo, and the beautiful newcomer Ophelia (Oh), all heck breaks loose, literally.

This book basically started with a bang and never really let up. I found myself sitting in my driveway not wanting to turn it off and go inside. It literally came to a point where I was listening to it while making lunch in the kitchen, and even when I was just lying on my bed. It was that unputdownable!!! A roller coaster ride full of hills, drops, loop-the-loops the whole enchilada, "Thirteen Days to Midnight" is really a fantastic read. With its realistic characters, awesome writing, and exceedingly unique concept, it was an absolutely enjoyable audioread! I would recommend this book to anyone whose looking for a really fun yet somewhat dark and definitely suspenseful book!

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Mar 08, 2012 Branford rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is by far one of my favorite books. Forget what i said, it topped the list.
Nothing ever came close, a dark tale of how superpowers could ruin your life or the lives of others.
"What would your superpower be?" Forgive me if I didn't say the line right, but I myself was interested in this question for the longest time. I've read a whole lot of horror stories, goosebumps to cirque du freak. This may not be of the horror genre, but the last two chapters had me shivering in my bed until i convinc...more This is by far one of my favorite books. Forget what i said, it topped the list.
Nothing ever came close, a dark tale of how superpowers could ruin your life or the lives of others.
"What would your superpower be?" Forgive me if I didn't say the line right, but I myself was interested in this question for the longest time. I've read a whole lot of horror stories, goosebumps to cirque du freak. This may not be of the horror genre, but the last two chapters had me shivering in my bed until i convinced myself 'she' wasn't coming to get me.

This is the story of a boy who stumbled apon a superpower that his dead adopted father had given to him on the day of his death. His friends started toying with it, and eventually he was saving people. But while he did so, he was cursing his new girlfriend, Oh. It got to the point where she attepted suicide over and over again, to no avail.

What was scary was #1, i read the whole book in one day, the feelings of anticipation built until BAM! #2, i became fasinated with the human mind a while ago, so I actually put myself into his shoes. I saw what he saw, felt what he felt. #3, any of you hear of the grudge? juon the grudge? scariest thing in my life was watching trailers of the grudge lady. I have a fear of pale, black haired invincible girls who not only try to kill you, cannot be killed themselves. It wouldn't be so bad, if they didn't know where you were hiding and have a knack of popping out in unnecisarily bad timing! I almost had a heart attack that one scene:

the text said: take it back
as the main character texts 'no' WHAM! grudge lady leaves a dent in the car and crawls over the hood to look at you with dead eyes, all the more terrifying if you 'become the character' that you read and see her as your girlfriend...Then your best friend hits her with his car and sends your girl flying. She lies motionless for a while, but then she picks herself up and walks the grudge-lady walk into the trees.

I will never forget reading this book, as many reviews I have read on this book say, it has a unique perspective on superpowers, a time-limit counting down to midnight, creepiest time of day/night thirteen days from now, an unlucky number. The story talks about a unique power, and a good developement on the characters mental states. The main characters best friend from cheerful to business, Oh from energizing to desperately suicidal, the main character from carefree delinquet to a hopeless shell of a human who wants to bring back what he had lost. Then everything sprins back to normal again.

I truely reccomend this work of art!

~A dreamer is one who can find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees dawn before the rest of the world.

(less)

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Jan 04, 2012 H rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: superpowers

This was reaaaallll dark. A wee bit creepy-ish, a wee bit chilling, but mostly dark. Thank goodness it wasn't that long or too elaborate, because I don't know how much I would be able to handle. The tension in the book was impeccable. It keeps the story perpetually moving, it keeps you compelled to want to read more. A little violent, but bearable.

When I first started the book, I didn't really know what to expect. Okay, I expected the book to be dark (come on, the cover page, the number "thirtee...more

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Jun 10, 2011 Becky rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I had spotted this book on the shelves of the library a few times and couldn't decide whether to read it or not, then a teenage boy took it out, and when he brought it back he said it was a very good book, one of the best he had read. So I decided to go with this strangers judgement and give it a go.
Jacob Fielding is in a car crash with his foster father, doing 90mph they hit a tree, Jacob lives, his father doesn't. The last words Jacob remembers hearing before the accident are 'You are Indestru...more I had spotted this book on the shelves of the library a few times and couldn't decide whether to read it or not, then a teenage boy took it out, and when he brought it back he said it was a very good book, one of the best he had read. So I decided to go with this strangers judgement and give it a go.
Jacob Fielding is in a car crash with his foster father, doing 90mph they hit a tree, Jacob lives, his father doesn't. The last words Jacob remembers hearing before the accident are 'You are Indestructible', but these words seem to mean more than he could ever imagine and Jacob discovers that he cannot now be hurt. Punches, kicks, burns, cuts, etc nothing hurts him. When new girl Ophelia arrives in town, Jacob shares the secret with her and his best friend Milo. They decide that they can do incredible good in the world, just think of all the lives that can be saved, but messing with death is a dangerous business and soon the darkness is growing.
I was a bit slow getting into the book, it's starts right into the storyline and I found myself a little confused, but it is then quite quickly explained. I liked Jacob as a character, he had lost everything in his life and was now carrying some kind of darkness, but he wants to be a good person and tries hard with his friends and current carer. He seems polite and caring, and will do anything for his friends, but at some points in the book I was desperate to yell 'MAN UP! Get a back bone and stand up for yourself' as Ophelia or 'Oh' as she is known will tell him to do something and even if he doesn't agree with it, he will go along with it, because he doesn't want to disappoint them. I wanted him to stand up for himself.
Oh is a strange character, she starts of smart and sweet, a bit of a wild child but full of energy, she slowly becomes darker and more sinister and quite creepy.
The story is told in first person from Jacob's point of view, I quite liked it at first as I felt like I got to know him, but as the story progressed there were a lot of things that Oh and Milo did that were summed up in a couple of sentences that would have been quite good to see, I felt like I was missing part of the story.
Together the trio work to find out exactly how the power works and what it's limits are. It was quite incredible - some of the stuff they tried. It also explains where the power came from and adds a new twist that is quite surprising.
The ending is very fast paced but also very dark and quite disturbing. I was slightly freaked but at the same time couldn't stop.
Overall i think the book was quite well written and the storyline was different and exciting, but I didn't find myself particularly enjoying it or desperate to read it.
I think Teenage boys would enjoy it more, it's darker and more action packed, and if you like that sort of thing, but it just didn't work for me. I'm glad I read it, but wouldn't necessarily look for any more. (less)

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May 18, 2011 Cherrylea rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'm not sure if I should have given this one a 5, but it certainly doesn't deserve a 4. I enjoyed it, just not as much as other 5's... I can't really tell the difference.
My problems with this book? For a change, I'm going to do it now. I felt that the book had a weak beginning. Everything started fast, too fast - I was thrown into the action without a good understanding of what was going on. It was just, oh, hey, you have powers? I don't know, it just annoyed me a bit. I also felt that Oh was no...more I'm not sure if I should have given this one a 5, but it certainly doesn't deserve a 4. I enjoyed it, just not as much as other 5's... I can't really tell the difference.
My problems with this book? For a change, I'm going to do it now. I felt that the book had a weak beginning. Everything started fast, too fast - I was thrown into the action without a good understanding of what was going on. It was just, oh, hey, you have powers? I don't know, it just annoyed me a bit. I also felt that Oh was not as strong as I liked, and Jacob'd connection with her was a bit sudden and almost random. It's probably just me being picky about this, but they bothered me. I was also a bit confused of Oh's intentions towards the end - it was explained a bit hazily, and I really didn't understand why she made Jacob give the diamond to so many other people. And what's Jacob going to do about them - hunt them down and kill them too? Either there's going to be a sequel or we assume that - or the author forgot about tat pesky little detail. (Of course, there doesn't need to be a sequel - I'd rather not, seeing as they wrapped up everything else okay.)
Now, don't get me wrong - this was actually really good. The concept was different, really different (yes, I'm always harping on this, but it's really important!). I haven't read many books like this, with the ability to pass on invincibility and the Black Lion. I really enjoyed the involvement of Houdini - it was a new angle to look at it all, and gave it a sense of reality (to me, at least - can't speak for Jacob). Jacob's voice was also entertaining - 15-year old heterosexual guy? Funny... The layout wasn't half bad either - the countdown to midnight, the prologue that gave us a hint of what was to come, etc. All in all, a well rounded book, with just a few bits hanging loose.
Now - who should read it? Well, I doubt I have to warn away our squeamish readers - not too much horror or gore. THe ideas might be disturbing, especially in the end, but I think middle-schoolers can handle it. Fans of mysteries and superpowers and such would certainly enjoy this, and there's a lot of adventure, bit of drama, and a healthy does of romance. Go for it, guys!(less)

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May 09, 2011 Nancy rated it 4 of 5 stars

You are indestructible. Three whispered words transfer an astonishing power to Jacob Fielding that changes everything. At first, Jacob is hesitant to use the power, unsure of its implications. But there's something addictive about testing the limits of fear.

Then Ophelia James, the beautiful and daring new girl in town, suggests that they use the power to do good, to save others. But with every heroic act, the power grows into the specter of a curse. How to decide who lives and who dies?

In this n...more

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Apr 17, 2011 Ronya rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, science-fiction

Just before Jacob's Fielding's foster father died, he passed on a secret power to Jacob--invincibility. Jacob unwittingly discovers he can pass it on to people when they most need it. Jacob, his best friend, Milo, and girlfriend Ophelia set out to discover what limits--if any--there are to this power, with Ophelia insisting they have a responsibility to save those in need of a miracle. When the power takes a toll on Ophelia, they find that just because you can pass a power around doesn't mean yo...more

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Apr 11, 2011 Matt rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Thirteen Days to Midnight starts off with a simple (at least a first go) premise: What is the best power? Thirteen Days to Midnight tells the compelling story of a boy - named Jacob - who gains the power of indestructibility.

At first, this seems like an amazing gift to Jacob and his friends, especially when they discover that the power can be "given away" by the owner, but only to one person at any time. Jacob's friend, Oh, quickly decides that it is their duty to use this power to save lives, a...more

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Jan 24, 2011 Morgan Walsh rated it 4 of 5 stars

This isn't the first time I've read this book, but like always, when you read a book for the second time nothing is the same. When I read the book this time, I realized how little character development Jacob had. He was kind of static for the entire book, and I cherished the moments with Oh and Milo because they were both very prominent characters.
I loved the indestructibility/ death parts of the book. I would feel a certain regard for my survival were I to take a chainsaw to my arm even if I wa...more

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Dec 22, 2010 Sunyoung rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: cerritos-library

I borrowed this book from the library because it was in the 'New Books' Section in the Young Adults Area of the library. I always go there first to see if there is anything interesting before browsing the shelves or searching for a book by using ecatalogs. And there, I found Thirteen Days to Midnight. I had mixed feelings about it at first because I looked up the rating for this book on goodreads and it was less than 4 stars average so I wasn't sure if it'd be good, but I decided to start readin...more I borrowed this book from the library because it was in the 'New Books' Section in the Young Adults Area of the library. I always go there first to see if there is anything interesting before browsing the shelves or searching for a book by using ecatalogs. And there, I found Thirteen Days to Midnight. I had mixed feelings about it at first because I looked up the rating for this book on goodreads and it was less than 4 stars average so I wasn't sure if it'd be good, but I decided to start reading it because 1984 got a little boring (it picked up after Winston meets Julia which is where I am today [I just finished Thirteen Days to Midnight at midnight today] so it's not bad now, but the intro is kind of hard to keep on reading. It took me about five days to get to page 63!).

So... Jacob Fielding (I realized later, while reading the book, that this is also the name of one of the characters in the Twilight series... I find it interesting when authors use the names of characters in books that were published before) is a sophomore (I think. It's not very clear but it mentions somewhere of a fifteen-year-old boy... the timing of this novel is kind of strange and confuses me still. Whatever, it was hard enough to understand the concept without rereading several paragraphs several times) who has been a foster child for most of his short life. He finally settles down with Mr. Fielding who lives in Oregon (I forget which city). Mr. Fielding is a bit mysterious, but still Jacob and he get really close and it's almost a father-son relationship. However, Mr. Fielding passes away in a car accident that was deadly and strong enough to have killed both of the people in the car. But strangely, Jacob survives and is left alone in the world once again. He moves into the church house and resumes attending Holy Cross, which is a private high school. Wait... my order is all wrong, but whatever. Before the accident, Jacob met Milo Coffin at Milo's parents' bookstore and they became best friends. So after the accident, he mourns for about a week before going back to school. He finds it strange that Milo says that there is a new student because the school has been dwindling because a new high school had been built, called South Ridge. Lallalala then the new student who is a girl gets together with Jacob and that part of the story, the romance, seems predictable but more on that later.

While this is going on, after the accident, Jacob inherits a power which is better than flying or being invisible. He is indestructible. I like this concept a lot. I think that if I ever get asked the question of which superpower would I like if I could only have ONE, I might answer indestructibility (I was thinking invisibility for awhile before reading this book, but then the book gave a good reasoning why invisilibity has its flaws... like invisible clothes, walking around naked, etc.). Anyways, this book is about his adventure with this power of his which he got from ________ and also about his romance with Ophelia James (the new girl; she likes to be called Oh, which kind of confused me at times too because the teacher would be like "Oh, I didn't know that.") which takes a very bad turn when they 'play' with his power that they don't know the boundaries of.

Sorry very bad review and very bad wording. But it's pretty good especially if you read the ending at night like I did, around 12 AM which scared me a whole lot. And it's been raining for five days consecutively and it was windy and raining and stormy and I was right next to the window on my bed so it was quite frightening, but I just had to finish the book so I did.

Well I should work on my college apps now. Or read 1984 which I'm starting to like. Bye now! 2:34 PM 12/22/2010. (less)

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Dec 22, 2010 Rose rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, suspense, paranormal, favorites

"Thirteen Days to Midnight" is a thrilling, intuitive look about how much having too much power without exploring its limitations can have dire consequences. Jacob Fielding is a fifteen year old who's in the aftermath of healing from the unexpected and tragic death of his guardian. Returning to his private school, he deals with his best friend Milo, his rival Ethan, and a new girl that completely attracts him in looks and demeanor (Orphelia, a.k.a Oh).

Things become complicated when Jacob reveals...more

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Sep 11, 2010 Hafsah Faizal rated it 4 of 5 stars

"You are indestructible." Those are the last words Mr. Fielding says to his adopted son, Jacob, before they crash into a tree doing sixty. Mr. Fielding dies, and miraculously, Jacob leaves the scene without a scratch. A few weeks later, Jacob returns to Holy Cross, the decaying Catholic school he attends, where his best friend Milo greets him by saying there's a new girl in town. There are hardly ever any new enrollments at Holy Cross, just students leaving for the new South Ridge High, so this...more

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Sep 04, 2010 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Not an entirely new concept for a book Carman has taken it, made it his own, and done so with heart and depth. In his version of being indestructible, of being superhuman, Carman sets an eery tone without inching into what could be the makings of a true horror story. Demonstrating the use of such power for primarily benevolent purpose (again not a new twist) as compared to personal gain is what made the story. I don’t want to spoil the twists and turns but I will say that the battle between good...more Not an entirely new concept for a book Carman has taken it, made it his own, and done so with heart and depth. In his version of being indestructible, of being superhuman, Carman sets an eery tone without inching into what could be the makings of a true horror story. Demonstrating the use of such power for primarily benevolent purpose (again not a new twist) as compared to personal gain is what made the story. I don’t want to spoil the twists and turns but I will say that the battle between good and evil is prevalent in this story and it is written a muted but strong tone that I found added to the ambiance. It is creepy and dark but not overwhelmingly so.

Indestructibility is strong in it’s presence — a character unto itself, which makes the story all the more compelling as it progresses. Further, I liked how Carman wrote the intricacies of how the power worked, what it’s motivations were and how Jacob, Ohphelia and their friend Milo interacted with it.

Speaking of which, Carman has built in Jacob a loving and tender boy whose goodness threads through each of his relationships to build the most solid foundation. As the owner of indestructibility he is also flawed and tortured, often times fighting with his own morality as he tries to do right by those closest to him. Most specifically he falls in love with the new girl in town Ophelia James, the same girl who encourages him to use his power of indestructibility to save strangers from death. This is where the majority of the conflict in the story stems from and it’s very good as it relates to the individuality of Jacob’s character, his relationships as well as the superpower he’s entrusted with.

I wouldn’t say that this novel is a good first foray into young adult literature for the youngest of middle schoolers but certainly teen, young adult and adult audiences will enjoy it. I’d also go out on a limb and say that fans of science fiction and fantasy might enjoy it as well. The glory of Thirteen Days to Midnight is that it has strength of character and story in addition to the other worldly element of indestructibility. It is that aspect that makes this book worthy of picking up.(less)

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Jul 14, 2010 Liz rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, sci-fi-fantasy-etc, ya, to-reread

If we had half stars, I'd give this book 4 1/2. It's amazing.

The only thing wrong with it was that when Father Tim brings out all these Bible verses to back up his idea that everybody is saved even if they don't choose Christ. I was intrigued by this idea, so I got out my Bible and looked them up. And, well... half of the verses don't even relate to his point, and the other half have been taken out of context. So, so much. What's weird is that the book didn't even need this particular thought ab...more

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May 17, 2010 A&E rated it 4 of 5 stars

The idea is that Jacob Fielding receives a gift/curse from his foster dad just before their car crashes into a tree. Mr. Fielding, the dad, dies but Jacob lives because Fielding utters the words "You are indestructible" and passes on his own power of indestructibility.

Jacob didn’t know anything about this and he’s coming to terms with the power (the crash happened a week ago). He’s now living with a bunch of priests because Father Tim is his guardian (and the principal of the school Jacob atten...more

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May 06, 2010 Cait rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, young-adult, reviews, favorites

THIRTEEN DAYS TO MIDNIGHT absolutely blew me away. It’s an intense thrill-ride of moral dilemma, love and death and had me hooked from the beginning.

This book was breathtaking. The build up in the beginning, to when we find out about Jacob’s power, was perfect. Once Ophelia and Jacob’s best friend Milo find out, the action is non-stop until the end of the book. Carman’s idea for this power that Jacob has is amazing. The legend behind it and the way it can be used (and not used) is very unique. M...more

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Dec 02, 2012 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really, really loved this book. However, I wish Goodreads would offer half-stars for rating, because even though it is a fantastic book, I would not rate it 5 stars.
Thirteen Days To Midnight is organized in a fashion of counting down days to the climax, thirteen days from the start of the book. This format was interesting to read and exciting, in that I was aware of how much "time" is left.

I would definitely recommend this to friends, with caution of course. Because this book acknowledges the...more I really, really loved this book. However, I wish Goodreads would offer half-stars for rating, because even though it is a fantastic book, I would not rate it 5 stars.
Thirteen Days To Midnight is organized in a fashion of counting down days to the climax, thirteen days from the start of the book. This format was interesting to read and exciting, in that I was aware of how much "time" is left.

I would definitely recommend this to friends, with caution of course. Because this book acknowledges the darker side of a super power. I would definitely make the person I am suggesting this to aware that although this book is about a common topic, it strays from the norm.
The best reader for this book, and those like it, is someone who is able to suspend all previous beliefs on a deep personal level and believe, for even a little while, that maybe this boy can control death. The ability to believe the previously unbelievably is key to enjoying this book as much as I did. Understanding the the extremely intricate plot within the story might be found difficult for someone who cannot momentarily believe in something impossible. The plot of the story leads to many new ideas previously unexplored. This, I believe, makes the plot more interesting and exciting to read.

This book touches on ideas of love, loss, mystery, and most importantly, the idea of absolute control. As a person, I require absolute control. Having the main character lose control, just as I have in my past, helps me relate to Jacob Fielding on a deeper level. Losing a loved one is always hard, and losing your only father figure is even harder and gives the story a certain tone of absolute struggle to the main character. Jacob struggles for love, with loss, and how to comprehend this newly found power he posseses. Also, how his only parental figure could have known of his own untimely death enough to save Jacob. Losing people in my life in this situation allows a sort of relatibility to the main character. The love Jacob feels for his friends and family is tested with the abilty to be invincible.

Overall, this book is an amazing read. I almost couldn't put the book down. With plot twists and realistic views from the teenage perspective, this book is definitely one of my favorites.(less)

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Dec 14, 2011 Danny rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have just recently finished the book Thirteen Days To Midnight, and I must say it kept we awake all night even though I did not have to do so. It is a book you read through the eyes of a teenage boy who has a hidden secret. I connected well to the book and I believe that many other people will be able to do so as well. The main Characters name is Jacob, and he has spent most of his time moving from foster house to foster house, until he met Mr. Fielding. He settled down with him and met Milo,...more

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Feb 28, 2011 Eli The Tainted Poet rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: personal-library

When I originally purchased Thirteen Days to Midnight, I had no idea what it was really about. It seemed like a promising story and lately I have been really into reading books with male protagonists, so when I picked this one up, I decided to give it a chance. And I am glad I did!

Thirteen Days to Midnight by Patrick Carman is an YA psychological thriller with a hint of the supernatural. Sounds like a great combination right? It was fantastic! I loved how Carman kept you guessing throughout the...more

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May 28, 2011 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The question is asked at the beginning of the book and at the end of the book: "If you could have only one superpower what would it be?" Well, Jacob doesn't get a choice of power, it was thrust upon him one day when it saved his life. His only source of information, Mr. Fielding, gone at the same time it happened. Actually, Jacob really doesn't know what really happened... IF anything really happened, but he does know that he is alive when he should be dead. However, when he meets Ophelia, or Oh...more

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Apr 22, 2011 Taylor rated it 4 of 5 stars

A split second before his foster parent, Mr. Fielding, dies, Jacob Fielding is given a dangerously unpredictable power: invincibility. He doesn't discover this amazing ability, however, until Ophelia James comes to town and brings a load of unintentional trouble with her.

Told from Jacob's point of view, the story starts out with a simple, but vital question: If you could have any one superpower, what would it be? He goes on to explain how he has asked people this question multiple times and is a...more A split second before his foster parent, Mr. Fielding, dies, Jacob Fielding is given a dangerously unpredictable power: invincibility. He doesn't discover this amazing ability, however, until Ophelia James comes to town and brings a load of unintentional trouble with her.

Told from Jacob's point of view, the story starts out with a simple, but vital question: If you could have any one superpower, what would it be? He goes on to explain how he has asked people this question multiple times and is always confronted with the same answers: flying, invisibility, etc.

When he meets the "super hot" Ophelia James - otherwise known as Oh - Jacob is hypnotized and practically falls in love on the spot. She asks Jacob to sign her bright pink cast (Oh is an avid, nearly accident prone, long boarder) and he is happy to oblige. He writes the three words that Mr. Fielding said to him right before he died:

You are indestructible.

And that is when the trouble really begins.

Apparently a drop-dead gorgeous girl, according to Jacob's description, wasn't trouble enough.

"Thirteen Days to Midnight" was fast-paced, action-packed, and crazily intense. Every page had me guessing. Of course, like most books, the beginning had a bit of a slow start. However, I was hooked as soon as I read the first two sentences, standing in the middle of Barnes and Noble holding a giant stack of books as I tried to decide which ones to buy.

What made "Thirteen Days to Midnight" even more suspenseful, was the fact that Jacob, Oh, and Milo - Jacob's best friend - had no idea where the power came from, it's extent, or how to use it. When Oh decides to use the power to help people, things get even worse. Ophelia spirals down into a sucidal depression and Jacob and Milo have no idea what's wrong with her. The power, later referred to as the "black lion," is like a living thing, tearing, clawing, biting, wanting to stay with Jacob, but also wanting to stay with Oh. Once the truth of the deadly power was revealed, all of the pieces of the puzzle I had obtained throughout the story fell into place.

I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to finish this book and it did not disappoint. Biting my fingernails and ignoring texts from my friends, for fear of a repeat of Oh's desperate situation, it was like the black lion itself had me in its clutches.(less)

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Oct 02, 2011 Stephanie (Stepping out of the Page) rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: library-read, supernatural, young-adult, read-in-2011, sci-fi, let-down, if-i-were-a-boy

I was so disappointed with this book. The whole thing seemed a little unfocused and a bit random. The whole book just dragged on from start to finish. Jacob finds out that he has a superpower and so he and his two friends, Milo and Ophelia (Oh), decide to play with it and see how far it can take them. Pretty much the whole book consisted of these teenagers harming themselves to see if they can become injured whilst they have the power. After that, they decide to try and save a couple of people b...more

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Aug 24, 2011 April rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned, reviewed

Originally on From Book to Hooked.

Review on blog: 3.5/5 stars

Thirteen Days to Midnight introduced me to a really unique idea. I don't think I've ever read anything quite like this before, and I wish I could have given it a higher rating. Despite the few things that drew me away from the story (stated below) I really did enjoy this book!

Jacob Fielding's life was changed by three whispered words. He's given a power has can't even begin to understand. When Ophelia James moves to town, she suggests...more Originally on From Book to Hooked.

Review on blog: 3.5/5 stars

Thirteen Days to Midnight introduced me to a really unique idea. I don't think I've ever read anything quite like this before, and I wish I could have given it a higher rating. Despite the few things that drew me away from the story (stated below) I really did enjoy this book!

Jacob Fielding's life was changed by three whispered words. He's given a power has can't even begin to understand. When Ophelia James moves to town, she suggests they use the power for good. But with each act, the power becomes more of a curse. How can they decide who lives and who dies?

The last words Jacob remembers before the accident that killed his foster father were "You are indestructible." Jacob doesn't understand how he could have survived while his foster father didn't... that is until Ophelia, Oh, comes to town. When Jacob accidentally says those same three words to Oh, she comes out of a skateboarding crash that could have killed her... unharmed. The idea of this power was really fascinating to me. It protects the person it inhabits from harm (including punches, kicks, burns, and apparently car accidents). The direction the author took the story was very fast-paced, but also kind of dark. After all, messing with death is a dangerous business.

I normally don't enjoy books from guy's perspectives as much as those from girl's perspectives. But Jacob wasn't a bad narrator. He was polite and caring. The thing that bothered me about him was that he didn't really have much of a backbone. He let himself get pushed around a lot (by Oh, might I add), and when he finally stands up for himself (not to Oh) it's using his fists. Boys. Oh was an unusual character. She started off kind of quirky and sweet, but became increasingly darker as the story progressed. She was, however, not as strong as I think she could have been. Milo was a good friend to Jacob and Oh. You could see a progression in Milo as the story went on.

Now, why I only gave this book a 3.5. First of all, I felt that the beginning could have been stronger. It felt too fast to me. I was thrown into the action without a good understanding of what was going on. The ending also felt a bit hazy. I don't think it was the resolution I needed. My rating was also effected by what I said of the characters above. I was pretty reeled into the story, but I'm not sure I'd look for more if this were to continue as a series.(less)

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Feb 22, 2011 Jordan Purdham rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is one of the best books I have read recently. It followed the story of Jacob, a foster child who was driving with his foster dad when they got into a terribe accident, only he survived without a scratch and his foster dad did not. Jacob then found out that he was indestructible and could pass on "the diamond" to anyone by saying the words "you are indestructible." Jacob, his friend Milo and new girlfriend Oh battle as they figure out how they can use this new found power. Oh insists o...more

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You don't have to read this book to answer this question- If you could have one super power, what would it be?	4	10	Apr 09, 2012 04:40am

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About Patrick Carman

I have been a lifelong writer and storyteller. Salem, Oregon is where I spent my formative years and I graduated from Willamette University. After college, I spent a decade living in Portland, Oregon where I worked in advertising, game design, and technology.

I've written young adult and children's books for Scholastic, Little Brown Books For Young Readers and Katherine Tegen Books/ HarperCollins P...more

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Books by Patrick Carman

The Dark Hills Divide (The Land of Elyon #1)

Beyond the Valley of Thorns (The Land of Elyon, #2)

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“Faith never stays put. It's always challenging always questioning. That's what makes it real.” — 19 people liked it

“I've stabbed two people with a fork today. What's wrong with me?” — 17 people liked it

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