A Friend at Midnight is a 2005 standalone novel by Caroline B. Cooney, who wrote the Janie series.
Lily knows that her father is a bastard, but her little brother Michael, who is only eight, opts to live with him for a while. Then she gets a phone call from Michael at the airport less than a month after the movie, explaining that their father dropped him off with no ticket, luggage, or money, saying that Michael wasn't the son that he wanted. If her parents were at home, instead of seeing her older sister Reb off at college, she would notify them about what happened. Instead, she gets on a plane with their baby brother to pick up Michael, using Reb's passport to impersonate her and disowns her father over the phone for his cruelty. Over the next few months, she keeps what happened a secret, thinking about her faith in God and wondering if the "friend at midnight" parable would come in handy for her.
Tropes for this novel include:
- Bittersweet Ending: When the family finds out what the kids' father did, they promise not to seek revenge for Michael's sake though they all deeply desire it. Instead, Reb decides to have Kells walk her down the altar instead. To ensure that Michael gets actual quality time with his father, the family will go on a camping trip, and they'll make sure the man is on his best behavior. Reb isn't happy about this decision but agrees for Michael's sake. In the meantime, Lily makes her peace with God, realizing that she's the friend at midnight in question, and goes to talk to a boy at a party who's crushing on her.
- Both Sides Have a Point: In the end, Reb and her parents argue about this. Everyone wants a piece of the father for abandoning Michael at the airport, but Kells notices that Michael is uncomfortable about the discussed revenge plots. Kells says that instead of calling the cops on the man, they're going to stay "civil" for Michael's sake but make sure that he's on his best behavior for the wedding and after, with the whole family watching him. Reb has a legitimate point that this isn't a situation that calls for civility. Kells retorts that if her younger sister could pretend that their father is a decent human being for months on end, then Reb can manage it for a few days. Reb is forced to concede the point, especially when Michael begs her.
- Calling the Old Man Out: Lily reads her father the riot act over the phone for abandoning Michael at the airport, saying that he's not fit to be a parent and is no longer her father. Reb nearly follows through, but Lily stops her because she says that once you say those words, they become true.
- Cassandra Truth: Nathaniel spends a few months telling anyone who would listen that he and Lily went on a plane. The other siblings and adults dismiss him. Michael feels guilty when Nathaniel wanders off during Lily and Reb's fight. He decides to confess to clear his conscience.
- "Could Have Avoided This!" Plot: Michael begs Lily not to tell their family what happened, and he knows no one will believe Nathaniel about it. In the end, he realizes he ought to have come clean a lot sooner when Nathaniel wanders off in the middle of Reb and Lily fighting about inviting their father to the wedding because he knows that if he tells the truth, the fight will be over. Sure enough, his entire family doesn't blame him for what happened or question why he waited so damn long to tell them the truth, and strive to reach a compromise when he establishes he doesn't want his father sent to jail for abandoning him.
- Good Stepmother: Kells is a better father to Lily, Reb, Michael, and Nathaniel than their biological father is. It's mentioned that he's good at making compromises in the family.
- Jerkass Realization:
- Michael would rather throw Lily under the bus than explain why she doesn't want her father at Reb's wedding, let alone walking her down the aisle. He feels guilty when Nathaniel wanders off during Reb and Lily's fight, because Nathaniel was trying to tell the truth for months, and confesses.
- Reb has it when she finds out the reason why Lily doesn't want their dad walking Reb down the aisle. She reinvites Lily to the bridal party after trying to get the priest to get Lily to agree, agreeing when Lily says that her big sister owes her a million apologies.
- Stating the Simple Solution: Lily mentions that it would be easier for Michael to get airport security and explain what happened since they would help contact his mother and stepfather and get him home. That would also have the added benefit of getting their father arrested for child abuse. She knows it's not what Michael wants, and elects to impersonate Reb, get on a plane with Nathaniel, and hope they don't get caught.
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