Time Travelers
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-- School Library Journal, 01/20/2010
Who hasn’t wished, just once, that they could turn back or speed up time? Some of the characters in these stories think they can control time, but more often than not things don’t go as planned, requiring quick thinking and self-examination. In addition to these titles, watch for Heather Davis’s The Clearing (Houghton) this spring, which examines the relationship between 16-year-old Amy and Henry, a boy she discovers in the woods who is stuck in the summer of 1994—sort of a Time Traveler’s Wife for teens!
BYNG, Georgia. Molly Moon’s Hypnotic Time Travel Adventure. HarperCollins. 2005. PLB $18.89. ISBN 978-0-06-075033-6; pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-06-075034-3.
Gr 4-6–You don’t have to be a Molly Moon fan to appreciate this manic time-twisting tale in which our heroine is transported back to 19th-century India in search of her beloved pug, Petula. When Molly starts encountering younger versions of herself, things get a little trippy, but she finds a way to cope and, of course, foils the evil and insane maharaja and saves the world. Kids may miss some of the historical references, but the fast-paced story won’t be diminished.
ETCHEMENDY, Nancy. The Power of Un. Front St. 2000. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8126-2850-0; pap. $4.99. ISBN 978-0-439-31331-5.
Gr 4-8–Middle-schooler Gib finds himself in possession of the Unner, an odd device that gives him the ability to go back in time. Before he gets the hang of it, his sister is hit by a truck and he needs to learn which parts of the past can be changed so that Roxy’s life is saved. A little sci-fi and a bit coming-of-age as Gib starts to see how time, action, and consequence are related, this title is a great ride from start to finish.
MASS, Wendy. 11 Birthdays. Scholastic. 2009. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-05239-9.
Gr 4-8–Amanda and Leo have done everything together since they took their first steps on their shared first birthday. But at their 10th birthday party, Leo makes a remark that sends Amanda flying out the door and into a deep, dark dungeon of grudgedom. When her miserable 11th birthday party—sans Leo—is over, she finds herself doomed to repeat that horrible day over and over again—unless she partners with her former friend to break the loop. A fun read highlighting a close boy/girl middle school relationship.
REISS, Kathryn. Paint by Magic: A Time Travel Mystery. Harcourt. 2003. Tr $17. ISBN 978-0-15-216361-7.
Gr 4-8–Something weird is happening to Connor’s mom. She starts dressing oddly, gets rid of the television, and is soon having frightening seizures. Discovering connections to artists from 1924 and 15th-century Italy, Connor is soon time-traveling to exotic places to figure out how he can save his mother from the magic gripping her. The suspenseful and complicated plot will keep readers hooked.
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