In this edition of the NEHS Museletter, Buo Chun Bryan Hew, President of the National English Honor Society chapter at QSI International School of Shenzhen, reflects on Midnights With You by Clare Osongco—a novel that lingers in the quiet spaces of adolescence. Read on to learn why Bryan believes the story captures the emotional complexity of growing up, the fragile beauty of connection, and the silent strength it takes to keep moving forward. Brian’s recommendation reminds us why literature, especially the kind that speaks to our quietest doubts and deepest hopes, matters so much.
Why You Should Read Midnights With You
There is something about midnights, their silence and stillness, that makes them both comforting and haunting. Midnight is the hour when everything is most quiet, yet nothing is really asleep. Midnights With You by Clare Osongco perfectly portrays such midnights. The book follows a teenage girl, Deedee Walters, who tries to escape from the weight of her family’s expectations and her own inferiority to discover who she really is. After moving to a new neighborhood, she meets and forms an unexpected connection with her neighbor, Jay Hayes, and both start to grow together.
What makes Midnights With You so touching is that it does not just portray teenage years straightforwardly. Instead, it shows how messy and overwhelming growing up can be, especially when emotions are most raw, exposed, and almost all decisions feel like a dilemma. By doing so, the story invites us to reflect on our own identities and emotional journeys when we were once at the characters’ age. It was a time when every choice, no matter how small or big, felt like it would change everything. A time when, at night, we would lay awake wondering if we were good enough, if we were loved, and if the people we care for truly cared for us in return.
Osongco’s writing style is intimate: it reminds us of the effort we made to face each day when we were misunderstood by others, especially our own mothers. As readers, we feel attached to Deedee’s quiet struggles because they mirror fear we often try to avoid: the fear of disappointing others. At the same time, the book reminds us of the time when we start to realize that our parents are naturally imperfect humans, our friends are flawed companions, and we are an individual still growing, still hurting, and still trying to heal.
The story does not try to end perfectly by fantasizing a flawless ending. It is purposefully made so that it acknowledges that growing up can be difficult, but that we can accept mistakes, forgive imperfect parents, and allow ourselves to hope for better days.
I highly recommend Midnights With You to anyone who wants a book that feels real and relatable. It is for anyone who has ever stayed awake, overthinking, and for those who know that sometimes, the quietest moments are what help us grow the most. Osongco’s story reminds us that healing is slow, and trust is fragile, but that even when we feel most alone, there will always be “that someone” who will listen—sometimes, that is all it takes to carry us through one more midnight.
Buo Chun Bryan Hew, originally from Malaysia, has studied in Shenzhen, China, since 1st grade. He speaks Mandarin at home but considers English to be his most proficient language. Being extremely passionate about English, he has been in the National English Honor Society chapter at the Quality International School of Shenzhen, China, since he was a first-year student and took on the position of President in his junior year. Additionally, Bryan is extremely enthusiastic about STEM subjects including Physics, Mathematics, and Computer Science. After high school, he hopes to continue utilizing his English proficiency by studying abroad, combining that with the science-related subjects that he enjoys learning in school. Apart from studies, he is extremely confident in his gaming skills, having reached Immortal in Valorant multiple times and high ranks in other FPS games. He believes life is not just about studying and, with a perfect balance, any challenges can be conquered.
National English Honor Society
The National English Honor Society (NEHS), founded and sponsored by Sigma Tau Delta, is the only international organization exclusively for secondary students and faculty who, in the field of English, merit special note for past and current accomplishments. Individual secondary schools are invited to petition for a local chapter, through which individuals may be inducted into Society membership. Immediate benefits of affiliation include academic recognition, scholarship and award eligibility, and opportunities for networking with others who share enthusiasm for, and accomplishment in, the language arts.
America’s first honor society was founded in 1776, but high school students didn’t have access to such organizations for another 150 years. Since then, high school honor societies have been developed in leadership, drama, journalism, French, Spanish, mathematics, the sciences, and in various other fields, but not in English. In 2005, National English Honor Society launched and has been growing steadily since, becoming one of the largest academic societies for secondary schools.
As Joyce Carol Oates writes, “This is the time for which we have been waiting.” Or perhaps it was Shakespeare: “Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer . . .” we celebrate English studies through NEHS.
National English Honor Society accepts submissions to our blog, NEHS Museletter, from all membership categories (students, Advisors, and alumni). If you are interested in submitting a blog, please read the Suggested Guidelines on our website. Email any questions and all submissions to: submit@nehsmuseletter.us.
