Africa . . . I peered at the African continent on the chart, my breath catching with the promise of adventure. “What’s in Africa besides jungles?”
At this, Uncle straightened and placed a strong, square hand on my shoulder. His expression was solemn. “Philip lad, have you ever wanted to be rich?”
I remembered my vow to never be hungry again. And since arriving in New Orleans, I’d kept that vow. Money was the answer. Money and family. “Yes, I want to be rich.” More than anything, I realized.
Uncle’s lips curled up in a smile. “There’s black gold in Africa, Philip.”
“Black gold?”
“Slaves, lad. Slaves,” he hissed. . . .
Philip is an orphan and has spent most of his life suffering the cruelties of the workhouse. So when he learns he has an uncle-and not just any uncle, but a rich uncle, captain of his own ship-he sets off for New Orleans to find him.
It’s a challenge to track down one man in a bustling port city, but even when a kindly family takes him in as their own son, Philip won’t give up his quest. And one day, his persistence is rewarded. Not only does he locate his last living relative, but Uncle offers him the position of surgeon’s mate on his ship, the Formidable. Philip couldn’t be happier; at last, he’s found his family! But little does he know the purpose of the journey he’s about to embark on: Uncle is a slave trader, and the ship is bound for Africa to collect their cargo.
Caught between his lifelong desire for a family and the promise of a better life, and the shocking brutality he witnesses aboard the Formidable, Philip must open his eyes and decide for himself the true meaning of family, freedom, and humanity.
Click here to read chapter one (.pdf)
Click here for a discussion guide (.pdf)
Reviews and Honors
- “A powerful, beautifully written tale . . . The characterization is strong and believable, and Philip is a compelling hero. . . .” – School Library Journal – READ FULL REVIEW
- “The most intense and harrowing of Torrey’s nautical Chronicles of Courage . . .” – Kirkus Reviews, Starred – READ FULL REVIEW
- “Capturing a slice of the horrors of slaving ships, this well-researched work of historical fiction excels in every regard.” – www.ocala.com
- “[An] engrossing and eye-opening historical novel, which examines one boy’s response to a call for action.” – Booklist – READ FULL REVIEW
- “Too old for ‘Dick and Jane,’ too young for ‘Life of Pi’ – Tween boys have a tougher time finding good books; unlike girls, they don’t have dedicated imprints at their service. One book that will appeal to them is “Voyage of Midnight,” the third book in Michele Torrey’s “Chronicle of Courage” series.” – www.yourmedianews.com READ FULL REVIEW
- “Michele Torrey’s words flow like a gentle stream – both appealing and appalling words, revealing moral and immoral individuals, and social injustice. She portrays a heart-wrenching, realistic account of the slave trade, and a lad growing into manhood, while deciding for himself the ‘true meaning of family, freedom, and humanity’. Published internationally, Torrey delivers powerful messages in her works of nautical fiction, which I highly recommend to any and all who appreciate solid, insightful writing.” – J. A. Kaszuba Locke, www.bookloons.com
- “The subject matter of Voyage of Midnight is dark and written with the intensity it deserves, but ultimately this is also a tale of courage, humanity, and family.” – Staff pick, www.Powells.com
- “This book has the whole package: a thrilling ride, a tremendous amount of learning potential and a solid human interest story. It’s all good and one of the better ways to learn about history that I’ve come across in a long time.” – Colleen Mondor, Voices of New Orleans
- “I have read your book, Voyage of Midnight and was wondering how you gathered all of the information for it. By the way, the book was absolutely fantastic and it is now my favorite book of all time.” – Jade, Year 7
- Chosen for 2006 NYPL’s 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing list
- Starred review, Kirkus Reviews
- Named one of the “Best Children’s Books of the Year” by the CBC at Banks Street College, 2006
