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The Blurb On The Back:
I suppose if you’d asked me before, I’d have said a time machine might look something like a submarine? Or perhaps a space rocket.
Instead, I’m looking at a laptop and a tin tub from a garden centre.
This is my dad’s time machine.
And it’s about to change the world.
Well, mine, at any rate.
Al Chaudhury has a chance to save his dad’s life – but to do it he must travel to 1984 …
This astonishing and original novel will make you laugh, cry and wonder – and wish you could turn back time, to start reading it all over again.
( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )
The Verdict:
Ross Welford’s debut novel for children aged 9+ is a sensitively written and intricately plotted science fiction story about grief, acceptance and second chances. Al is a resourceful lead character who’s easy to sympathise with – bullied by both Carly and her on/off boyfriend and isolated, he misses his dad and doesn’t have much in common with the sport-loving Steve. I completely believed in his reactions as he comes to terms with the reality of time travel and its effects and I loved the relationship that develops between him and his dad when they’re both kids (especially the fact that they’re both misfits) almost as much as I loved the relationship between Al and his grandfather. Welford isn’t afraid to tackle race either – this is a great book for those keen to read more diverse books and he makes a point of highlighting both the cultural differences of Al and his family and the things that make them the same as any other family. Although this is a strong debut, it’s not perfect – I found some of the time travel a little convoluted, which meant that the pace dropped off in some scenes. I also found Carly to be a bit too stereotypical and wished that there had been more interaction between her and Al beyond what was needed to keep the plot moving. That said, I did enjoy this book – it’s a clever page turner and I will definitely check out what Welford writes next.
Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.
Instead, I’m looking at a laptop and a tin tub from a garden centre.
This is my dad’s time machine.
And it’s about to change the world.
Well, mine, at any rate.
Al Chaudhury has a chance to save his dad’s life – but to do it he must travel to 1984 …
This astonishing and original novel will make you laugh, cry and wonder – and wish you could turn back time, to start reading it all over again.
( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )
The Verdict:
Ross Welford’s debut novel for children aged 9+ is a sensitively written and intricately plotted science fiction story about grief, acceptance and second chances. Al is a resourceful lead character who’s easy to sympathise with – bullied by both Carly and her on/off boyfriend and isolated, he misses his dad and doesn’t have much in common with the sport-loving Steve. I completely believed in his reactions as he comes to terms with the reality of time travel and its effects and I loved the relationship that develops between him and his dad when they’re both kids (especially the fact that they’re both misfits) almost as much as I loved the relationship between Al and his grandfather. Welford isn’t afraid to tackle race either – this is a great book for those keen to read more diverse books and he makes a point of highlighting both the cultural differences of Al and his family and the things that make them the same as any other family. Although this is a strong debut, it’s not perfect – I found some of the time travel a little convoluted, which meant that the pace dropped off in some scenes. I also found Carly to be a bit too stereotypical and wished that there had been more interaction between her and Al beyond what was needed to keep the plot moving. That said, I did enjoy this book – it’s a clever page turner and I will definitely check out what Welford writes next.
Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.
