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Thief!
Fleeing on to the moors when she is unfairly accused of theft, an unusual storm suddenly whirls 12-year-old Lydia into the future. But will it ever let her return?
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
43 people are currently reading
874 people want to read
About the author
Malorie Blackman
156 books4,514 followersAn award-winning children's author, Malorie Blackman was honoured with an OBE in 2008. Her work has been adapted for TV and stage.
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More information available at:
Myspace
British Council: Contemporary Authors
British Council: Encompass Culture
Channel 4 Learning: Book Box
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
May 19, 2021
با اینکه خیلی دوستش داشتم و از اون کتاب های جذابی بود که دلت می خواد زیرزیرکی زیر میز بخونی؛ اما در گذر زمان، با زیاد شدن سن، دیگه شاید از داستان های تکراری نبرد حق و باطل آن طور که باید و شاید لذت نبری. ولی با این حااال، ته تهش خیلی خوب بود.
February 5, 2012
This is a short review for one of my favourite childhood books.
This is one of the rare books which my WHOLE FAMILY has read. Literally. Even my little brother, who detests books. Just to put the amazingness of this book into perspective, my family consists of eight people. My older brother was the first to read this book, and once he had gotten over the shock of its awesomeness, heforced recommended me to read it as well. Which I did, finally. And *I* loved it as well. Which led me to force recommend the book to my other brother....and so forth. Needless to say, all of us completely ADORED this story.
Which means that out of a 100%, 100% loved this book. I must add that I've read this book twice, both in my fifteenth year of life. Which is two years ago. I dont have a copy, and have never stumbled upon it again in any library or bookshop. But I still remember all of the twists and major plot points. So I should be fine with this review. Hopefully.
Now, onto the story.
"Thief" is not fantasy, per se, but has elements of the supernatural, if you will. The opening chapters are a reflection of true life, but then, as the story progresses, we see our protagonist travelling into the future (I hope that's not a spoiler!). Things really get interesting from there. REALLY.
The best part of this story is not the writing, which is good, but not spectacular. It is the actual PLOT. I mean, wow. Seriously. Malorie Blackman is amazing at plot and twists. Some of the twists I could see coming, but others I couldnt. I loved the fast pace and adrenaline of the story. I lvoed all of the characters. I loved the epilogue. I LOVED THE MAIN CHARACTER'S LITTLE BROTHER. He was pretty fantastic, you gotta admit.
I enjoyed the epilogue, and felt it wrapped up the story sufficiently. The only thing I didnt much like is the LENGTH. I think that Blackman could have fleshed some scenes out much further, and even split the book into two parts. It definitely had the potential.
Overall, fabulous book. It was high on plot, and not low on anything. So definitely a book of value!
This is one of the rare books which my WHOLE FAMILY has read. Literally. Even my little brother, who detests books. Just to put the amazingness of this book into perspective, my family consists of eight people. My older brother was the first to read this book, and once he had gotten over the shock of its awesomeness, he
Which means that out of a 100%, 100% loved this book. I must add that I've read this book twice, both in my fifteenth year of life. Which is two years ago. I dont have a copy, and have never stumbled upon it again in any library or bookshop. But I still remember all of the twists and major plot points. So I should be fine with this review. Hopefully.
Now, onto the story.
"Thief" is not fantasy, per se, but has elements of the supernatural, if you will. The opening chapters are a reflection of true life, but then, as the story progresses, we see our protagonist travelling into the future (I hope that's not a spoiler!). Things really get interesting from there. REALLY.
The best part of this story is not the writing, which is good, but not spectacular. It is the actual PLOT. I mean, wow. Seriously. Malorie Blackman is amazing at plot and twists. Some of the twists I could see coming, but others I couldnt. I loved the fast pace and adrenaline of the story. I lvoed all of the characters. I loved the epilogue. I LOVED THE MAIN CHARACTER'S LITTLE BROTHER. He was pretty fantastic, you gotta admit.
I enjoyed the epilogue, and felt it wrapped up the story sufficiently. The only thing I didnt much like is the LENGTH. I think that Blackman could have fleshed some scenes out much further, and even split the book into two parts. It definitely had the potential.
Overall, fabulous book. It was high on plot, and not low on anything. So definitely a book of value!
December 4, 2020
Book Review:
Thief by Malorie Blackman is definitely one of my favorite books and is also a very hard book to put down. It is about a girl called Lydia who ends up in several tricky situations.
Lydia is quite happy with her life; she has just moved down from London to a small town called Tarwich and has already made a friend but then she is blamed for a theft that she did not commit. Suddenly her life turns upside down and everywhere she looks people are pointing at her and shouting ‘THIEF!’. All she wants to do is hide in humiliation and only her 10-year-old brother, Danny, really understands how she feels. Isn’t that nice?
One day there is an accident involving her friend and a misunderstanding that Lydia can’t take it anymore and tries to run away but is caught in a strange storm and the next thing she knows, she is in the future and the whole future is bizarre, making her go crazy.
I absolutely love this book because in every page something unexpected happens and the idea of the future that Malorie did is really inventive because in each sentence you are transported into the mystical world of the future.
I think this is a great, fantastic, thriller book and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy, science-fiction thriller books.
10/10! 😊
Thief by Malorie Blackman is definitely one of my favorite books and is also a very hard book to put down. It is about a girl called Lydia who ends up in several tricky situations.
Lydia is quite happy with her life; she has just moved down from London to a small town called Tarwich and has already made a friend but then she is blamed for a theft that she did not commit. Suddenly her life turns upside down and everywhere she looks people are pointing at her and shouting ‘THIEF!’. All she wants to do is hide in humiliation and only her 10-year-old brother, Danny, really understands how she feels. Isn’t that nice?
One day there is an accident involving her friend and a misunderstanding that Lydia can’t take it anymore and tries to run away but is caught in a strange storm and the next thing she knows, she is in the future and the whole future is bizarre, making her go crazy.
I absolutely love this book because in every page something unexpected happens and the idea of the future that Malorie did is really inventive because in each sentence you are transported into the mystical world of the future.
I think this is a great, fantastic, thriller book and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy, science-fiction thriller books.
10/10! 😊
October 15, 2020
“A children story that can only be enjoyed by the children is not a good children story in the slightest.” - C.S. Lewis
Quite rightly put by Lewis, you can grow old and still love children fiction if it’s good enough. And this book ‘Thief!’ is by well known and celebrated author ‘Malorie Blackman’. After reading a lot of non-fiction or adult fiction lately, I decided to go for a mystery story which kept laying at my bookshelf from an year. As we all know Blackman is acknowledged as one of today’s most imaginative and convincing writers for young readers, so this book also proved to be as wonderful as her other best sellers i.e. Noughts and Crosses, Hacker, A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E., Pig- Heart Boy etc.
The protagonist of this book Lydia, a young girl moves to a new town with her family and finds it difficult to make friends at new school and adjust in new surrounding. After having a quarrel with some friends, she’s unfairly accused of being ‘a thief’. Out of frustration and scare she flee to moors and her last memory is that of storm swirling up and suddenly she finds herself in a completely different and eerie sphere, which she later finds out is the future world. The story then further goes on about her struggle to deal with people in future world and then finally coming back to her world only to save an accident from happening.
This book is recommended to all youngsters and adults if they like reading children fiction :)
Quite rightly put by Lewis, you can grow old and still love children fiction if it’s good enough. And this book ‘Thief!’ is by well known and celebrated author ‘Malorie Blackman’. After reading a lot of non-fiction or adult fiction lately, I decided to go for a mystery story which kept laying at my bookshelf from an year. As we all know Blackman is acknowledged as one of today’s most imaginative and convincing writers for young readers, so this book also proved to be as wonderful as her other best sellers i.e. Noughts and Crosses, Hacker, A.N.T.I.D.O.T.E., Pig- Heart Boy etc.
The protagonist of this book Lydia, a young girl moves to a new town with her family and finds it difficult to make friends at new school and adjust in new surrounding. After having a quarrel with some friends, she’s unfairly accused of being ‘a thief’. Out of frustration and scare she flee to moors and her last memory is that of storm swirling up and suddenly she finds herself in a completely different and eerie sphere, which she later finds out is the future world. The story then further goes on about her struggle to deal with people in future world and then finally coming back to her world only to save an accident from happening.
This book is recommended to all youngsters and adults if they like reading children fiction :)
June 20, 2011
It's sad that I forgot this book existed until Tinie Tempah and his rap skillz reminded me of the wonderful Malorie Blackman because I remember absolutely loving it when I read it in primary school (think it was about Year Five).
It was so long ago that I read it and I can't remember the details to write a full review (I was about ten, give me a break!) but I remember the world that Blackman created terrified the crap out of me.
I hope one day I'll go back and read it along with Noughts & Crosses.
Her books are so intelligent and even though they are written for readers who are more on the 'Young' side of 'Young Adults', they are still rich with well-thought out characters and don't shy away from gritty and uncomfortable subject matters. (I remember the controversy that Pig Heart Boy caused when it was adapted for the BBC!)
I feel like I have to say something here, no offense Suzanne Collins, you know I love you... but Malorie Blackman is the reigning queen of dystopian fiction and she will be for a long long time.
It was so long ago that I read it and I can't remember the details to write a full review (I was about ten, give me a break!) but I remember the world that Blackman created terrified the crap out of me.
I hope one day I'll go back and read it along with Noughts & Crosses.
Her books are so intelligent and even though they are written for readers who are more on the 'Young' side of 'Young Adults', they are still rich with well-thought out characters and don't shy away from gritty and uncomfortable subject matters. (I remember the controversy that Pig Heart Boy caused when it was adapted for the BBC!)
I feel like I have to say something here, no offense Suzanne Collins, you know I love you... but Malorie Blackman is the reigning queen of dystopian fiction and she will be for a long long time.
July 11, 2012
12 year old Lydia Henson and family have just moved from London to the Yorkshire town of Tarwich, and Lydia is finding it hard to fit into her new school. In order to join the gang of popular girls, Lydia is dared to steal the school sport's cup, but is disturbed by the caretaker. However, the cup goes missing and turns up in Lydia's locker. Then she is accused of causing a serious accident. Lydia runs away and is caught in a storm.
She is mysteriously transported to a dystopian future version of Tarwich, ruled by a tyrant and enforced by guards who shoot stun guns on sight. Teaming up with Fran and Mike, whose parents seen oddly familiar, Lydia must confront the tyrant, who also looks familiar, and get back to her own time to put things right. A great book to read as a class novel for upper KS2 to discuss fitting in, peer pressure and bullying, to explore Science Fiction/ time travel genre with upper KS2 and also to have on class bookshelves for confident readers of Y5 and 6.
She is mysteriously transported to a dystopian future version of Tarwich, ruled by a tyrant and enforced by guards who shoot stun guns on sight. Teaming up with Fran and Mike, whose parents seen oddly familiar, Lydia must confront the tyrant, who also looks familiar, and get back to her own time to put things right. A great book to read as a class novel for upper KS2 to discuss fitting in, peer pressure and bullying, to explore Science Fiction/ time travel genre with upper KS2 and also to have on class bookshelves for confident readers of Y5 and 6.
July 26, 2020
I didn’t mind Lydia in this book, and the prose wasn’t great, but entirely tolerable, as long as you ignore all the exclamation points.
Personally, I thought the twist was pretty neat; and entirely unexpected, rather novel. And I don’t mind that the time travel isn’t explained. As long as you set yourself some rules and then abide by them then things are fine.
Yeah.
But damn. That time travel wasn’t thought through. Or rather. None of the characters thought it through. At first I thought only Lydia was an idiot. But. Seems like I was wrong.
Issues:
* Why does everyone assume that there is just one set timeline that can be changed? They do actually bring this up at one point; the fact that there might be multiple possible timelines, and this is just one of them; but they seem to forget about this just as quickly. This is important because I don’t buy that all characters would be so on board with Lydia’s return - because if she can alter the timeline, then isn’t she essentially erasing them forever? It’s not even like they are dead; they are gone, never to have existed. Their lives are crap, sure, but many of them - like Fran and Mike - grew up in this world; it’s their home. The fact that no one’s self preservation kicks in is wholly unrealistic. Would’ve made for some interesting conflict too.
* Either way; the people of the town don’t really benefit. If there are multiple timelines, then sending Lydia back to her own time matters not to them; nothing changes; so it doesn’t make sense for them to risk their lives and relationships to get Lydia back (Fran is in tears because she had to betray her life long friends and family; Danny completely abandons his position of power)
* Mike seems to be one of the reasonable people here; but his point of view on the matter is never explained? We never discover why he lies to the resistance about who Lydia is, though he’d have many reasons to, as established.
* Lydia doesn’t seem to ask a single question about why the world went to the dogs in the span of fifty years. The changes are pretty drastic. And Lydia gathers absolutely no information that could lead to its prevention. I’m not suggesting that Lydia has the power to do that, but the fact that she doesn’t even try at all breaks all suspension of disbelief. If at least she’d had a quick, private conversation with Fran, asking, hey, is there any country in this time that isn’t awful so me and my people can move there?
* Because; the thing is, Lydia might now prevent herself and Danny growing into jaded tyrants, but that isn’t stopping literally everyone else from tormenting the town and the whole of England. The resistance says this themselves:
“...and you’re wrong,” one man’s voice argued vehemently. “If we get rid of him, how do you know he won’t be replaced by someone worse?”
The argument is that there is no one worse. But that doesn’t say they will be a whole lot better. According to Fran, the whole of England is cluttered with rulers ranging from poor to downright awful.
I wouldn’t even mind if Lydia came up with some kind of silly plan to combat this “Oh I’ll make lots of money and buy it myself and then everyone will live in sunshine and rainbows”. But the fact that she doesn’t even consider this horrible, looming future is more than strange. As though she cares only about saving her and her brothers immortal souls, everything else doesn’t matter that much.
* Fran knowing all about Lydia’s conflict. Why would Frankie tell her this in such aching detail? One would assume that it’s to make Fran understand the Tyrant’s motivations, but the thing is, Fran doesn’t know about his motivations! Only about the cup-conflict. And not just, oh there was this girl in town who ran away and died because people accused her of theft. But in every single -she-tried-to-speak-to-you-in-the-parking-lot-of-the-supermarket-but-you-wouldn’t-listen-i-wish-you-had-listened-then-she-slipped-and-fell-but-it-wasn’t-your-fault detail. Fran’s general knowledge on the subject broke my suspension of disbelief. Felt a lot like lazy writing.
In the future, Lydia dresses in some fancy, papery clothes, and her wound is mended by plastic staples. When she returns to the past, the staples disappear. But the clothes didn’t? Lying naked or half undressed somewhere in the moors is pretty darn concerning. This needn’t even have been an issue if the staples hadn’t been mentioned at all?
* A six day stay at hospital. What, did she get pneumonia or something? Lydia seems to suffer from the conveniently-passing-out trope.
* The whole initial conflict. Look, I get Lydia feeling distraught. She’s a bit pathetic, but everything was describing pretty well; probably the best bit of description in the book - how she feels that everyone hates her, what it’s like to be outside when everyone thinks you’re a thief. But it gets pulled to such ridiculous proportions. I’d buy it if this were just Lydia’s perception; she is convinced every single soul in the town hates her because she is so anxious, when in truth it isn’t such a big deal - but considering that this conflict triggers the whole plot, it doesn’t come across that way. And also the fact that Frankie remembered all this in painstaking detail and even passed it down to her daughter. ~ This is further reinforced by the Henson’s believing they were ‘forced’ out of the town which is ‘directly linked’ to their crash.
* Lydia doesn’t really ‘steal’ the cup, no matter what you believe. Mr. Simmers himself admits that it was likely some kind of prank, because it was just in her locker.
“If this was some foolish kind of prank, Lydia, then I have to tell you I’m not amused- Now I don’t believe you meant to really steal it, otherwise you would have taken it home with you. Certainly you’d have taken it off the school premises(...)”
* Why does Lydia not explain that this was part of a hazing ritual? She need not even imply the others. “Hey, I was told to steal the cup as a hazing ritual; to be accepted by my peers. That is why I was in the assembly hall that night. I ultimately chickened out; and someone from my group probably put it in my locker and tipped you off to punish me.” She might still not be believed, but at least it sheds some light onto her situation, and puts the underlying issue not on Lydias dishonesty, but on the customs of the school. And especially after Lydia discovers this was all Anne’s work; why is she shy to explain?
* The fact that Mr. Simmers isn’t at all suspicious about these circumstances after being so specifically tipped off about the cup. Someone else clearly knew about the operation, was trying to get Lydia into trouble. And Lydia is the vulnerable party here, as a new girl. And she claims not to know how the cup got into the locker.
* The staffs assuming that there is absolutely-no-way anyone could’ve gotten into Lydia’s locker. I’ll tell you a secret. 99% of locker locks are garbage. It usually isn’t heart surgery to get those things open. Also, how did Mr. Balding not know about those screws? In any case, he must have a system for opening all those lockers - in fact, he’s the one who has opened Lydia’s locker to check it - either with a special code, a key, or whatever - something that might well be accessible to a deviant student.
* Why does Lydia not realize this was all Anne’s plan from the very beginning? Anne told Lydia that everyone in the group had done this - including Frankie and Bharti. Frankie gives Lydia the cold shoulder (And Lydia does not assume this is because Lydia failed her task, but because Frankie thinks Lydia is a thief) and Bharti only believes Lydia because he likes to be contrary like that. Anne’s lie is obvious, no?
* Why does Danny pretend he is the main Tyrant? What reasons does Old Lydia have for staying put? To elicit more guilt from the townspeople?? I’m not sure if I like the revelation of Old Lydia in any case....it completely changes Danny position from, madly grief stricken, angry, in a quest for a love he once had; to, Danny is being forced into this and wickedly manipulated by his sister. Might be worth mentioning that Danny actually was getting on quite well in Tarwich; so I’m assuming he must’ve had friends himself; which he is tormenting now? I mean, it’s not a bad revelation, but the implications aren’t much explored.
* The whole sort of moral message here seems to be ‘don’t be mad at all these people’, or something to that tune. But there isn’t really any conflict here. The moment Lydia is propelled into the future, and realizes what is up, she wants to stop it. She doesn’t miss a beat when she comes home. The conflict here is not internal; Lydia realizing hate is not a good thing, but entirely external. She finds out the truth about Danny and Old Lyddy, and then it’s off to the past, be all sunshine and smiles. I don’t really feel like any lesson has been taught. I don’t know. The delivery of any kind of message here is sloppy at best.
* A lot of characters will suddenly just know what’s going on; how exactly the time travel worked (particularly when Lydia meets Old Lydia). It wasn’t detrimental to the plot, or anything; it seems to have been done for convenience sake, to save lots of explaining. But feels rather lazy on the authors side.
And finally, I just want to whinge about Lydia’s character...nothing wrong here, I just didn’t grow to like her much. Her reason for declaring Frankie her ‘best friend’ after three weeks is because:
“...Lydia had found someone like her: someone who loved comics and carrots, someone who hated everything with cabbage in it, and who thought that circus clowns were downright boring.”
I mean, sure, 12 year olds are shallow. But. Well.
None of this comes up again, by the way. It’s not important, or anything.
Lydia is understandably stressed out by the accusations; starts feeling persecuted and the like. But she is so ridiculously snappy with Frankie - not just once, but twice, when Frankie tries to talk to her. It’s not entirely unrealistic, as with everything concerning Lydia’s character, but it doesn’t make her likeable or interesting.
She and Fran overhear a basement conversation regarding the revolt against the Tyrant.
“If only he [Daniel Henson] had some family,” said a second man’s voice. “Then we could kidnap his wife or children and have something to bargain with.”
On the very next page:
“My brothers name is Daniel Henson,” Lydia said weakly.
This doesn’t even come back to bite her. But no one even seems to consider taking her as a hostage.
Overall, it’s not a terrible book. It has a halfway-interesting plot, as long as you ignore the inconsistencies and suspend your disbelief. Definitely would’ve enjoyed this more when I was younger.
Personally, I thought the twist was pretty neat; and entirely unexpected, rather novel. And I don’t mind that the time travel isn’t explained. As long as you set yourself some rules and then abide by them then things are fine.
Yeah.
But damn. That time travel wasn’t thought through. Or rather. None of the characters thought it through. At first I thought only Lydia was an idiot. But. Seems like I was wrong.
Issues:
* Why does everyone assume that there is just one set timeline that can be changed? They do actually bring this up at one point; the fact that there might be multiple possible timelines, and this is just one of them; but they seem to forget about this just as quickly. This is important because I don’t buy that all characters would be so on board with Lydia’s return - because if she can alter the timeline, then isn’t she essentially erasing them forever? It’s not even like they are dead; they are gone, never to have existed. Their lives are crap, sure, but many of them - like Fran and Mike - grew up in this world; it’s their home. The fact that no one’s self preservation kicks in is wholly unrealistic. Would’ve made for some interesting conflict too.
* Either way; the people of the town don’t really benefit. If there are multiple timelines, then sending Lydia back to her own time matters not to them; nothing changes; so it doesn’t make sense for them to risk their lives and relationships to get Lydia back (Fran is in tears because she had to betray her life long friends and family; Danny completely abandons his position of power)
* Mike seems to be one of the reasonable people here; but his point of view on the matter is never explained? We never discover why he lies to the resistance about who Lydia is, though he’d have many reasons to, as established.
* Lydia doesn’t seem to ask a single question about why the world went to the dogs in the span of fifty years. The changes are pretty drastic. And Lydia gathers absolutely no information that could lead to its prevention. I’m not suggesting that Lydia has the power to do that, but the fact that she doesn’t even try at all breaks all suspension of disbelief. If at least she’d had a quick, private conversation with Fran, asking, hey, is there any country in this time that isn’t awful so me and my people can move there?
* Because; the thing is, Lydia might now prevent herself and Danny growing into jaded tyrants, but that isn’t stopping literally everyone else from tormenting the town and the whole of England. The resistance says this themselves:
“...and you’re wrong,” one man’s voice argued vehemently. “If we get rid of him, how do you know he won’t be replaced by someone worse?”
The argument is that there is no one worse. But that doesn’t say they will be a whole lot better. According to Fran, the whole of England is cluttered with rulers ranging from poor to downright awful.
I wouldn’t even mind if Lydia came up with some kind of silly plan to combat this “Oh I’ll make lots of money and buy it myself and then everyone will live in sunshine and rainbows”. But the fact that she doesn’t even consider this horrible, looming future is more than strange. As though she cares only about saving her and her brothers immortal souls, everything else doesn’t matter that much.
* Fran knowing all about Lydia’s conflict. Why would Frankie tell her this in such aching detail? One would assume that it’s to make Fran understand the Tyrant’s motivations, but the thing is, Fran doesn’t know about his motivations! Only about the cup-conflict. And not just, oh there was this girl in town who ran away and died because people accused her of theft. But in every single -she-tried-to-speak-to-you-in-the-parking-lot-of-the-supermarket-but-you-wouldn’t-listen-i-wish-you-had-listened-then-she-slipped-and-fell-but-it-wasn’t-your-fault detail. Fran’s general knowledge on the subject broke my suspension of disbelief. Felt a lot like lazy writing.
In the future, Lydia dresses in some fancy, papery clothes, and her wound is mended by plastic staples. When she returns to the past, the staples disappear. But the clothes didn’t? Lying naked or half undressed somewhere in the moors is pretty darn concerning. This needn’t even have been an issue if the staples hadn’t been mentioned at all?
* A six day stay at hospital. What, did she get pneumonia or something? Lydia seems to suffer from the conveniently-passing-out trope.
* The whole initial conflict. Look, I get Lydia feeling distraught. She’s a bit pathetic, but everything was describing pretty well; probably the best bit of description in the book - how she feels that everyone hates her, what it’s like to be outside when everyone thinks you’re a thief. But it gets pulled to such ridiculous proportions. I’d buy it if this were just Lydia’s perception; she is convinced every single soul in the town hates her because she is so anxious, when in truth it isn’t such a big deal - but considering that this conflict triggers the whole plot, it doesn’t come across that way. And also the fact that Frankie remembered all this in painstaking detail and even passed it down to her daughter. ~ This is further reinforced by the Henson’s believing they were ‘forced’ out of the town which is ‘directly linked’ to their crash.
* Lydia doesn’t really ‘steal’ the cup, no matter what you believe. Mr. Simmers himself admits that it was likely some kind of prank, because it was just in her locker.
“If this was some foolish kind of prank, Lydia, then I have to tell you I’m not amused- Now I don’t believe you meant to really steal it, otherwise you would have taken it home with you. Certainly you’d have taken it off the school premises(...)”
* Why does Lydia not explain that this was part of a hazing ritual? She need not even imply the others. “Hey, I was told to steal the cup as a hazing ritual; to be accepted by my peers. That is why I was in the assembly hall that night. I ultimately chickened out; and someone from my group probably put it in my locker and tipped you off to punish me.” She might still not be believed, but at least it sheds some light onto her situation, and puts the underlying issue not on Lydias dishonesty, but on the customs of the school. And especially after Lydia discovers this was all Anne’s work; why is she shy to explain?
* The fact that Mr. Simmers isn’t at all suspicious about these circumstances after being so specifically tipped off about the cup. Someone else clearly knew about the operation, was trying to get Lydia into trouble. And Lydia is the vulnerable party here, as a new girl. And she claims not to know how the cup got into the locker.
* The staffs assuming that there is absolutely-no-way anyone could’ve gotten into Lydia’s locker. I’ll tell you a secret. 99% of locker locks are garbage. It usually isn’t heart surgery to get those things open. Also, how did Mr. Balding not know about those screws? In any case, he must have a system for opening all those lockers - in fact, he’s the one who has opened Lydia’s locker to check it - either with a special code, a key, or whatever - something that might well be accessible to a deviant student.
* Why does Lydia not realize this was all Anne’s plan from the very beginning? Anne told Lydia that everyone in the group had done this - including Frankie and Bharti. Frankie gives Lydia the cold shoulder (And Lydia does not assume this is because Lydia failed her task, but because Frankie thinks Lydia is a thief) and Bharti only believes Lydia because he likes to be contrary like that. Anne’s lie is obvious, no?
* Why does Danny pretend he is the main Tyrant? What reasons does Old Lydia have for staying put? To elicit more guilt from the townspeople?? I’m not sure if I like the revelation of Old Lydia in any case....it completely changes Danny position from, madly grief stricken, angry, in a quest for a love he once had; to, Danny is being forced into this and wickedly manipulated by his sister. Might be worth mentioning that Danny actually was getting on quite well in Tarwich; so I’m assuming he must’ve had friends himself; which he is tormenting now? I mean, it’s not a bad revelation, but the implications aren’t much explored.
* The whole sort of moral message here seems to be ‘don’t be mad at all these people’, or something to that tune. But there isn’t really any conflict here. The moment Lydia is propelled into the future, and realizes what is up, she wants to stop it. She doesn’t miss a beat when she comes home. The conflict here is not internal; Lydia realizing hate is not a good thing, but entirely external. She finds out the truth about Danny and Old Lyddy, and then it’s off to the past, be all sunshine and smiles. I don’t really feel like any lesson has been taught. I don’t know. The delivery of any kind of message here is sloppy at best.
* A lot of characters will suddenly just know what’s going on; how exactly the time travel worked (particularly when Lydia meets Old Lydia). It wasn’t detrimental to the plot, or anything; it seems to have been done for convenience sake, to save lots of explaining. But feels rather lazy on the authors side.
And finally, I just want to whinge about Lydia’s character...nothing wrong here, I just didn’t grow to like her much. Her reason for declaring Frankie her ‘best friend’ after three weeks is because:
“...Lydia had found someone like her: someone who loved comics and carrots, someone who hated everything with cabbage in it, and who thought that circus clowns were downright boring.”
I mean, sure, 12 year olds are shallow. But. Well.
None of this comes up again, by the way. It’s not important, or anything.
Lydia is understandably stressed out by the accusations; starts feeling persecuted and the like. But she is so ridiculously snappy with Frankie - not just once, but twice, when Frankie tries to talk to her. It’s not entirely unrealistic, as with everything concerning Lydia’s character, but it doesn’t make her likeable or interesting.
She and Fran overhear a basement conversation regarding the revolt against the Tyrant.
“If only he [Daniel Henson] had some family,” said a second man’s voice. “Then we could kidnap his wife or children and have something to bargain with.”
On the very next page:
“My brothers name is Daniel Henson,” Lydia said weakly.
This doesn’t even come back to bite her. But no one even seems to consider taking her as a hostage.
Overall, it’s not a terrible book. It has a halfway-interesting plot, as long as you ignore the inconsistencies and suspend your disbelief. Definitely would’ve enjoyed this more when I was younger.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2019
This book was quite an easy read and I didn't enjoy it as much as the author's other books, I would recommend it for a year 6 student. I felt the storyline was very good and much different to Malorie Blackman's other books. It's got an action and futuristic storyline involving changing the future and taking action which is something I wouldn't usually go for, but it was delivered quite well.
June 15, 2019
This book was quite short and a very easy read. The storyline was a little bit weird and although it was really straightforward I just found it a bit strange. I would say this book is more suited for a younger person, yr 6 maybe. I really liked a couple if this authors books but the rest I haven’t really been a fan of. Overall I wouldn’t recommend.
April 21, 2021
Amazing!
July 12, 2024
this book did smthing to me
July 21, 2018
It was so good to finally complete this book.
I remember reading it as a kid but I never finished it for some reason. It was definitely an enjoyable read!
I remember reading it as a kid but I never finished it for some reason. It was definitely an enjoyable read!
March 14, 2023
I liked the story because of all the twists and turns in the book. It’s pretty unpredictable! Though I did guess certain twists, others were a complete shock. I loved Lydia as the main Protagonist because she was likeable and with all the stuff she goes through, your bound to feel sorry for her. The book was written in 1995, so in the present there are certain gadgets and other things that might be confusing for a modern reader, but it’s pretty modern. It made the Antagonists rather unlikeable, yet made them human with redeeming qualities. It showed a lot about unhealthy bitterness and how just one small action can change the whole future. One of Malorie Blackman’s best, yet most underrated, book.
12 year old Lydia Henson, has moved from London to a Town called Tarwich, in Yorkshire, England because her mother got a promotion. Lydia isn’t used to be living in Yorkshire, for example where she lived in London there was noisy traffic and cars outside her bedroom. Outside her Tarwich bedroom, she can see a slow, small river flowing. It’s November 1995, freezing cold and full of bad weather. As well as that, Lydia has had to start a new school called Collivale School. In her school in London, Lydia was popular, however in Collivale she has only made one real friend, Frankie, though they have a lot in common and have become best friends despite only knowing each other for a couple of week. Frankie is part of a Clique called the Cosmics (similar to the Plastics in Mean Girls). Also in the Clique are Frankie, Maxine, Bharti (though she later gets kicked out) and ruthless Queen Bee Anne Turner. Lydia wants to join the Cosmics, it will make her popular like she was at her old school in London and Frankie is also part of the Clique, so it would mean Frankie will be able to hang out with Lydia and the Cosmics at the same time. Anne agrees to let Lydia join, but on one condition. Not just any girl can join the Cosmics. Lydia must take the prestigious Collivale sports cup out of the school trophy cabinet, keep it in her locker for 24 hours and then return it without getting caught. Once Lydia has done all this, she will be an official member of the Cosmics. Anne shows Lydia the school trophy cabinet, then leaving her to make a decision…
Lydia eventually decides to not go through with stealing the cup, because she knows if she gets caught then she will be in BIG trouble. The next morning, however, in assembly, it’s announced the school cup has been stolen. Someone anonymously tipped off the Headmaster that the Cup was in Lydia’s locker, so she must stay behind after assembly. They look in her locker and find the sports cup in Lydia’s locker. Anne gossips to everyone about the cup being in Lydia’s locker. Frankie turns on Lydia and everyone calls her a “thief” including a mean boy called Shaun Lucas. Her parents received a phone call from the Headmaster, but they refuse to believe that their daughter is a thief. For a whole week, Lydia is bullied endlessly by her classmates, who corner her in the playground, chant “thief” at her, loud and clear, so Lydia gets upset. Lydia has no friends and has also been skipping lunch, not wanting to eat alone. However, on Friday, she gives in. As the chanting finishes for the day, Lydia follows her classmates to the cafeteria and eats alone at a table hidden from the Cosmics and Shaun Lucas and his friends table. A former Cosmic, Bharti, is forced to eat with Lydia by a teacher due to bad behaviour. Lydia and Bharti have a little chat. Bharti reveals Anne and Frankie were best friends with each other before Lydia came to Tarwich. Lydia is positive it was Anne who framed her for theft.
Lydia’s younger brother Danny (who is 10 and at primary school, meaning he can’t keep Lydia company at break and lunch) stands by her side and believes she is not a thief genuinely, while their parents believe she’s innocent, they just don’t know how. On Saturday morning, Lydia and Danny go to the Supermarket with their mother. Lydia’s mother tells her to hold her head high and not care what others think. Lydia cannot. While shopping, they run into Anne and her mother. They insult Lydia for allegedly stealing the sports cup (which has been at the school since Anne’s mother was a student there herself). Danny sticks up for Lydia. At the checkout, Frankie talks to Lydia, claiming to be on her side. Lydia, furious that Frankie has been ignoring her and watching the chanting and bullying with Anne, doesn’t forgive her. Lydia’s mother allows her to walk home on her own rather than go in the car. On the way however, Frankie follows her, asking to listen. But Lydia won’t listen. When Frankie tries to stop Lydia, she slaps Frankie’s hand away. Frankie stumbles back, then slips on some ice. As Frankie tries to get stable on her feet, she steps onto the road, where she gets hit by a car. Frankie is sent to Hospital in an ambulance, unconscious. Nobody witnessed the accident except Lydia, but Anne claims Lydia pushed Frankie onto the road.
A reporter for a newspaper shows up at Lydia’s house, along with a photographer taking photos of the house and of Lydia and her family when they answer the door. The reporter asks Lydia if she pushed Frankie, which Lydia insists she didn’t. Before she can explain her side of the story however, her mother declines the interview and slams the front door when the reporter refuses to leave. Then, weird phone calls start coming. They are repeating, Lydia realises People are calling about her. Then later, her father comes home and yells. The family car has been painted white by some vandals, who are excusing their behaviour by the fact Lydia apparently tried to murder someone. Lydia realises ever since the cup was found in her locker, it’s not just her life that has been ruined. The lives of her family are also being ruined. Lydia has become the talk of Tarwich, many believing she is dangerous. Lydia decides the best option would be to run away from home; she thinks her family will be happier and treated better by the Town If she is gone.
Lydia gets a bus taking her to the Moors, once she’s through the Moors she will be out of Tarwich. She doesn’t know where she’s going and knows she might be on the streets, but doesn’t care. Anything is better than the horrible Town she currently has to call home. Lydia has been warned that the Moors are easy to get lost in. But she doesn’t mind. The weather is bad! Ever since she was on the bus, rain has been hammering, wind is blowing roughly and now thunder and lightning has joined. Soon, an electrical storm starts. Lydia decides that the weather is too dangerous and starts her journey back home, feeling foolish for running away. However, the storm gets too strong. Lydia is trapped in the storm, going round in circles, hovering in the sky. She’s getting soaked and is frozen, and high up in the sky. She can’t see the world now, she’s trapped in every colour of the rainbow and bad weather.
She wakes up to find herself lying on the ground. The grass is quite warm, and there’s a gleaming sun warming her. Despite all this, Lydia’s coat is soaking wet. She wakes up to find a figure in the distance. It’s a girl, Fran. Fran finds Lydia strange, but does grow concerned with her when Lydia seems crazy. There are cracks in the ground and buildings like the bus shelter that used to be by the Moors have disappeared, though Fran claims it’s always been like this. They hear a loud noise, which alerts them it’s Curfew time. Fran explains that after 8 P.M every citizen must be indoors or the Night Guards have the right to kill you. Lydia doesn’t know what a Night Guard is. When Lydia explains that she’s from London, Fran is shocked, as London has apparently been destroyed. Fran orders Lydia to come with her, as if a Night Guard meets them they will get shot. As they go to Fran’s house, they meet the Night Guards. They barely escape with their lives, Lydia gets shot at slightly in the arm, though only in the side of the arm so her arm isn’t broken, though she’s in pain. Fran resorts to using secret underground tunnels as a way to escape, but the Night Guards send objects called tracker mobiles after them. The pair barely escape with their lives, but they make it out of the tunnels and into Fran’s basement.
Fran’s father is angry at Fran for bringing a complete stranger into their home. Fran’s dad thinks Lydia is a spy. Lydia faints. She wakes up in a small room. It’s Fran’s bedroom. Fran explains her father (a former Nurse) healed her arm by using an advanced type of medical treatment, known as “Staples” which are somehow sewn into Lydia’s arm under the wound. Fran explains her father is part of an organisation plotting to kill the Tyrant. Fran tells her that the Town is run by an evil Tyrant who uses the Night Guards as his army and makes the laws. He goes out of his way to make every citizen miserable. Tarwich is not called Tarwich anymore, it’s now known as Hensonville. Then it’s revealed that the Tyrants name is Daniel Henson, Lydia’s younger brother! She watches TV in the living room with Fran and her dad, the TV takes up the whole wall. It shows Daniel Henson, gloating about how he’s the Ruler and how much he despises the Town and that if anybody dares to go out after curfew they will die…
Lydia wants to tell her brother (now 47 years old) to stop what he’s doing. She hopes that is he sees her he will be reminded of his childhood and stop the Towns suffering. Then, he can help Lydia get back to the Past (her Present). Lydia manages to get Fran to believe her after some difficult convincing. Fran agrees to help her, and reluctantly doesn’t tell her Dad. Lydia finds out that Fran is the daughter of Frankie and Shaun Lucas. Shaun is the overweight Alcoholic who questioned her, and Frankie died when Fran was young, being murdered by the Night Guards. Fran is named after Frankie (both are called Frances). Fran and Lydia cannot go out at night, so they take the tunnels. Fran knows someone who can help them get to Daniel Henson’s mansion. They take the tunnels to Mike (Fran’s best friend) house. Mike’s mum, Mrs Joyce, is Head of the Resistance Organisation that Fran’s dad is a part of. Despite Fran being 12 and Mike being 16, they are close and best friends, though Mike can be rude. Mike reluctantly agrees to take them. They go through the tunnels, as they get to the entrance that leads to the Tyrants garden, Mike orders Fran to go. Fran wants to come with them, but Mike explains having three would be too noticeable in case there’s the Tyrants agents on the lookout. Mike gives Fran a password to an old Primary School (possibly Danny’s old school) where she can take refuge for the night, as Fran’s house is too far. Fran explains briefly to Lydia that the tunnels used to be sewers before they were modified into tunnels. Mike also says that the tunnels leading to the Tyrants garden were only finished a few days ago. With Fran gone, Mike and Lydia begin walking through the garden and to the mansion. But lookouts see them and they get caught.
The Tyrants meets Lydia, who recognise each other. The Tyrant looks like Lydia’s dad with some of their mothers features. The Tyrant thinks that someone modified her face so she’d look like his sister when she was her age. The Tyrant shows Lydia a Tower when she keeps refusing to admit she’s fake. The Tower is in memory of Lydia, who died a few days before her 13th birthday, December 18th in a car crash. The Tyrant blames The Town for ‘forcing them out” due to Lydia’s alleged crimes (which she never even committed). Lydia escapes without Mike, who told her that if they got caught they both had to run away, without each other if that’s what it takes. Lydia escapes through a hidden Tunnel under a tree with Fran’s help. Lydia tells Fran her story, about the Collivale sports cup and Fran’s mothers accident. Fran puts together a story that her mother Frankie once told her. That Lydia was framed for both crimes she allegedly committed, and Fran knows who the culprit is. Fran calls Mrs Joyce, telling her that Mike has been captured. Mrs Joyce is not just upset, she’s also scornful and regretful. She expresses that the Tyrant “really hates us” but when she says “us” she means herself and Mike.
Mrs Joyce meets Fran and Lydia at the Moors. When Mrs Joyce sees Lydia, she’s surprised. Fran tells Lydia that Mrs Joyce is called Anne, at first Lydia doesn’t understand how it’s relevant. Then Fran tells Lydia Mrs Joyce’s surname before her marriage. Mrs Joyce is in fact an older, 49 year old, and slightly less bitchy version of Anne Turner. Old Anne admits to Lydia that she framed her. That after Lydia left school the day they chatted, Anne checked to see if the Cup was still in there. So Anne came early the next morning with a screwdriver unscrewed the backplate of Lydia’s locker. She then put the cup in that way. Anne also tipped the Headmaster off about it being in Lydia’s locker. Old Anne apologises to Lydia sincerely. Old Anne also tells Lydia that she really did think Frankie was pushed, but Frankie cleared the business when she woke up from her accident.
Lydia still wants to help Fran and Old Anne save Mike. They walk together on the streets, a Night Guard comes over and asks to see their I.D’s. Lydia sacrifices herself to save Old Anne and Fran. As Lydia is about to be arrested (and probably murdered) the Tyrant shoots the Night Guard. He and Lydia talk in The Tyrants flying car. Daniel now believes Lydia because he has proof. Lydia gained a Scar on her arm from when she was shot the previous evening. Daniel takes Lydia to his mansion to meet an older woman, who also has a Scar the same shape as Lydia’s. Lydia didn’t die, her older self is in front of her. Lydia’s older version is 49 like Anne Joyce. The true Tyrant is Lydia, and Danny is only pretending to be the Ruler of Hensonville. Old Lydia forged her own memorial so everyone would think she’d died, and so she’d never forget what the Town caused with their bullying. Lydia wants to return to her own time and fix everything, her older self is a bitter, mean woman who has no empathy. Old Lydia refuses to let Lydia leave until she tells her the Leaders of the Resistance Organisation. Old Lydia knows it’s Old Anne, she just needs to confirm it. Old Lydia plans in murdering Mike and then delivering his corpse to Old Anne’s doorstep. In the end, not even Old Daniel can get Old Lydia to see reason, and locks her in her room. Mike, Lydia and Daniel leave the mansion, but are thwarted by a mob. At least 50 people are in the mob, men, women, children alike, all holding weapons. Old Shaun and Fran are there, as Old Anne is leading it.
Lydia and Old Daniel are tied up. Shaun, Fran and a couple of other Resistance members stay to guard the prisoners while Anne and Mike Lead the rest of the mob to the Night Guard Camp. Fran encourages her father and the other two to look around the mansion. With them gone, Fran unties Lydia and Old Daniel. When they question her, Fran explains that any chance of getting her mother back would be worth it. The three escape and start Daniel’s Car. They fly in the air, but the storm (still going on) makes it difficult for them to fly high. They are almost close enough to the ground, where the Mob have seen them. Lydia must jump into the sky and back to the storm to return to her own time. It’s risky, she might did, she may not get to her time…then out of another flying car Old Lydia appears. She talks to Anne and shocks the mob (implying she revealed who she is). Lydia jumps and is trapped in the storm. She gets to the ground as the car breaks down and runs deeper into the storm, not wanting to see her older self, or Fran, or Old Daniel hurt, dead, or captured.
Lydia wakes up to find herself in the Moors, soaking wet (both the grass and her jacket). She then later finds herself in hospital. She is discharged and her name has been cleared of the alleged assault on Frankie. Her parents are thrilled to see her alive and awake. Though they admit they were worried she wouldn’t make it and that they thought they’d never see her again after the she ran away. They tell her they want to pull her out of school, but she allows Lydia to stay after she begs her.
Lydia and Frankie make a plan. They set up a camera to film Lydia and Anne. Anne is supposed to be meeting Frankie, but Lydia shoves her into a classroom with a camera. Lydia tells Anne she knows how she put the cup in her locker, unscrewing the backplate. Anne can’t even hide how impressed she is. But Anne gloats she doesn’t care and is glad she framed her. Anne leaves and Lydia has evidence. The next day, Lydia tricks the Headmaster into coming to her lesson, and Frankie fiddles with the DVD player to show Anne gloating. Lydia’s name is cleared and Anne is then labelled a thief. She loses all her friends in the Cosmics and Lydia becomes popular. Lydia and her family are invited to spend Boxing Day with Frankie’s family. They are supposed to be going to London to spend Christmas with Lydia’s Aunt, but Lydia convinces her mother to let them spend Boxing Day with Frankie and then visit her Aunt in the New Year. This means that Lydia won’t have her car crash (and won’t become a bitter Tyrant).
12 year old Lydia Henson, has moved from London to a Town called Tarwich, in Yorkshire, England because her mother got a promotion. Lydia isn’t used to be living in Yorkshire, for example where she lived in London there was noisy traffic and cars outside her bedroom. Outside her Tarwich bedroom, she can see a slow, small river flowing. It’s November 1995, freezing cold and full of bad weather. As well as that, Lydia has had to start a new school called Collivale School. In her school in London, Lydia was popular, however in Collivale she has only made one real friend, Frankie, though they have a lot in common and have become best friends despite only knowing each other for a couple of week. Frankie is part of a Clique called the Cosmics (similar to the Plastics in Mean Girls). Also in the Clique are Frankie, Maxine, Bharti (though she later gets kicked out) and ruthless Queen Bee Anne Turner. Lydia wants to join the Cosmics, it will make her popular like she was at her old school in London and Frankie is also part of the Clique, so it would mean Frankie will be able to hang out with Lydia and the Cosmics at the same time. Anne agrees to let Lydia join, but on one condition. Not just any girl can join the Cosmics. Lydia must take the prestigious Collivale sports cup out of the school trophy cabinet, keep it in her locker for 24 hours and then return it without getting caught. Once Lydia has done all this, she will be an official member of the Cosmics. Anne shows Lydia the school trophy cabinet, then leaving her to make a decision…
Lydia eventually decides to not go through with stealing the cup, because she knows if she gets caught then she will be in BIG trouble. The next morning, however, in assembly, it’s announced the school cup has been stolen. Someone anonymously tipped off the Headmaster that the Cup was in Lydia’s locker, so she must stay behind after assembly. They look in her locker and find the sports cup in Lydia’s locker. Anne gossips to everyone about the cup being in Lydia’s locker. Frankie turns on Lydia and everyone calls her a “thief” including a mean boy called Shaun Lucas. Her parents received a phone call from the Headmaster, but they refuse to believe that their daughter is a thief. For a whole week, Lydia is bullied endlessly by her classmates, who corner her in the playground, chant “thief” at her, loud and clear, so Lydia gets upset. Lydia has no friends and has also been skipping lunch, not wanting to eat alone. However, on Friday, she gives in. As the chanting finishes for the day, Lydia follows her classmates to the cafeteria and eats alone at a table hidden from the Cosmics and Shaun Lucas and his friends table. A former Cosmic, Bharti, is forced to eat with Lydia by a teacher due to bad behaviour. Lydia and Bharti have a little chat. Bharti reveals Anne and Frankie were best friends with each other before Lydia came to Tarwich. Lydia is positive it was Anne who framed her for theft.
Lydia’s younger brother Danny (who is 10 and at primary school, meaning he can’t keep Lydia company at break and lunch) stands by her side and believes she is not a thief genuinely, while their parents believe she’s innocent, they just don’t know how. On Saturday morning, Lydia and Danny go to the Supermarket with their mother. Lydia’s mother tells her to hold her head high and not care what others think. Lydia cannot. While shopping, they run into Anne and her mother. They insult Lydia for allegedly stealing the sports cup (which has been at the school since Anne’s mother was a student there herself). Danny sticks up for Lydia. At the checkout, Frankie talks to Lydia, claiming to be on her side. Lydia, furious that Frankie has been ignoring her and watching the chanting and bullying with Anne, doesn’t forgive her. Lydia’s mother allows her to walk home on her own rather than go in the car. On the way however, Frankie follows her, asking to listen. But Lydia won’t listen. When Frankie tries to stop Lydia, she slaps Frankie’s hand away. Frankie stumbles back, then slips on some ice. As Frankie tries to get stable on her feet, she steps onto the road, where she gets hit by a car. Frankie is sent to Hospital in an ambulance, unconscious. Nobody witnessed the accident except Lydia, but Anne claims Lydia pushed Frankie onto the road.
A reporter for a newspaper shows up at Lydia’s house, along with a photographer taking photos of the house and of Lydia and her family when they answer the door. The reporter asks Lydia if she pushed Frankie, which Lydia insists she didn’t. Before she can explain her side of the story however, her mother declines the interview and slams the front door when the reporter refuses to leave. Then, weird phone calls start coming. They are repeating, Lydia realises People are calling about her. Then later, her father comes home and yells. The family car has been painted white by some vandals, who are excusing their behaviour by the fact Lydia apparently tried to murder someone. Lydia realises ever since the cup was found in her locker, it’s not just her life that has been ruined. The lives of her family are also being ruined. Lydia has become the talk of Tarwich, many believing she is dangerous. Lydia decides the best option would be to run away from home; she thinks her family will be happier and treated better by the Town If she is gone.
Lydia gets a bus taking her to the Moors, once she’s through the Moors she will be out of Tarwich. She doesn’t know where she’s going and knows she might be on the streets, but doesn’t care. Anything is better than the horrible Town she currently has to call home. Lydia has been warned that the Moors are easy to get lost in. But she doesn’t mind. The weather is bad! Ever since she was on the bus, rain has been hammering, wind is blowing roughly and now thunder and lightning has joined. Soon, an electrical storm starts. Lydia decides that the weather is too dangerous and starts her journey back home, feeling foolish for running away. However, the storm gets too strong. Lydia is trapped in the storm, going round in circles, hovering in the sky. She’s getting soaked and is frozen, and high up in the sky. She can’t see the world now, she’s trapped in every colour of the rainbow and bad weather.
She wakes up to find herself lying on the ground. The grass is quite warm, and there’s a gleaming sun warming her. Despite all this, Lydia’s coat is soaking wet. She wakes up to find a figure in the distance. It’s a girl, Fran. Fran finds Lydia strange, but does grow concerned with her when Lydia seems crazy. There are cracks in the ground and buildings like the bus shelter that used to be by the Moors have disappeared, though Fran claims it’s always been like this. They hear a loud noise, which alerts them it’s Curfew time. Fran explains that after 8 P.M every citizen must be indoors or the Night Guards have the right to kill you. Lydia doesn’t know what a Night Guard is. When Lydia explains that she’s from London, Fran is shocked, as London has apparently been destroyed. Fran orders Lydia to come with her, as if a Night Guard meets them they will get shot. As they go to Fran’s house, they meet the Night Guards. They barely escape with their lives, Lydia gets shot at slightly in the arm, though only in the side of the arm so her arm isn’t broken, though she’s in pain. Fran resorts to using secret underground tunnels as a way to escape, but the Night Guards send objects called tracker mobiles after them. The pair barely escape with their lives, but they make it out of the tunnels and into Fran’s basement.
Fran’s father is angry at Fran for bringing a complete stranger into their home. Fran’s dad thinks Lydia is a spy. Lydia faints. She wakes up in a small room. It’s Fran’s bedroom. Fran explains her father (a former Nurse) healed her arm by using an advanced type of medical treatment, known as “Staples” which are somehow sewn into Lydia’s arm under the wound. Fran explains her father is part of an organisation plotting to kill the Tyrant. Fran tells her that the Town is run by an evil Tyrant who uses the Night Guards as his army and makes the laws. He goes out of his way to make every citizen miserable. Tarwich is not called Tarwich anymore, it’s now known as Hensonville. Then it’s revealed that the Tyrants name is Daniel Henson, Lydia’s younger brother! She watches TV in the living room with Fran and her dad, the TV takes up the whole wall. It shows Daniel Henson, gloating about how he’s the Ruler and how much he despises the Town and that if anybody dares to go out after curfew they will die…
Lydia wants to tell her brother (now 47 years old) to stop what he’s doing. She hopes that is he sees her he will be reminded of his childhood and stop the Towns suffering. Then, he can help Lydia get back to the Past (her Present). Lydia manages to get Fran to believe her after some difficult convincing. Fran agrees to help her, and reluctantly doesn’t tell her Dad. Lydia finds out that Fran is the daughter of Frankie and Shaun Lucas. Shaun is the overweight Alcoholic who questioned her, and Frankie died when Fran was young, being murdered by the Night Guards. Fran is named after Frankie (both are called Frances). Fran and Lydia cannot go out at night, so they take the tunnels. Fran knows someone who can help them get to Daniel Henson’s mansion. They take the tunnels to Mike (Fran’s best friend) house. Mike’s mum, Mrs Joyce, is Head of the Resistance Organisation that Fran’s dad is a part of. Despite Fran being 12 and Mike being 16, they are close and best friends, though Mike can be rude. Mike reluctantly agrees to take them. They go through the tunnels, as they get to the entrance that leads to the Tyrants garden, Mike orders Fran to go. Fran wants to come with them, but Mike explains having three would be too noticeable in case there’s the Tyrants agents on the lookout. Mike gives Fran a password to an old Primary School (possibly Danny’s old school) where she can take refuge for the night, as Fran’s house is too far. Fran explains briefly to Lydia that the tunnels used to be sewers before they were modified into tunnels. Mike also says that the tunnels leading to the Tyrants garden were only finished a few days ago. With Fran gone, Mike and Lydia begin walking through the garden and to the mansion. But lookouts see them and they get caught.
The Tyrants meets Lydia, who recognise each other. The Tyrant looks like Lydia’s dad with some of their mothers features. The Tyrant thinks that someone modified her face so she’d look like his sister when she was her age. The Tyrant shows Lydia a Tower when she keeps refusing to admit she’s fake. The Tower is in memory of Lydia, who died a few days before her 13th birthday, December 18th in a car crash. The Tyrant blames The Town for ‘forcing them out” due to Lydia’s alleged crimes (which she never even committed). Lydia escapes without Mike, who told her that if they got caught they both had to run away, without each other if that’s what it takes. Lydia escapes through a hidden Tunnel under a tree with Fran’s help. Lydia tells Fran her story, about the Collivale sports cup and Fran’s mothers accident. Fran puts together a story that her mother Frankie once told her. That Lydia was framed for both crimes she allegedly committed, and Fran knows who the culprit is. Fran calls Mrs Joyce, telling her that Mike has been captured. Mrs Joyce is not just upset, she’s also scornful and regretful. She expresses that the Tyrant “really hates us” but when she says “us” she means herself and Mike.
Mrs Joyce meets Fran and Lydia at the Moors. When Mrs Joyce sees Lydia, she’s surprised. Fran tells Lydia that Mrs Joyce is called Anne, at first Lydia doesn’t understand how it’s relevant. Then Fran tells Lydia Mrs Joyce’s surname before her marriage. Mrs Joyce is in fact an older, 49 year old, and slightly less bitchy version of Anne Turner. Old Anne admits to Lydia that she framed her. That after Lydia left school the day they chatted, Anne checked to see if the Cup was still in there. So Anne came early the next morning with a screwdriver unscrewed the backplate of Lydia’s locker. She then put the cup in that way. Anne also tipped the Headmaster off about it being in Lydia’s locker. Old Anne apologises to Lydia sincerely. Old Anne also tells Lydia that she really did think Frankie was pushed, but Frankie cleared the business when she woke up from her accident.
Lydia still wants to help Fran and Old Anne save Mike. They walk together on the streets, a Night Guard comes over and asks to see their I.D’s. Lydia sacrifices herself to save Old Anne and Fran. As Lydia is about to be arrested (and probably murdered) the Tyrant shoots the Night Guard. He and Lydia talk in The Tyrants flying car. Daniel now believes Lydia because he has proof. Lydia gained a Scar on her arm from when she was shot the previous evening. Daniel takes Lydia to his mansion to meet an older woman, who also has a Scar the same shape as Lydia’s. Lydia didn’t die, her older self is in front of her. Lydia’s older version is 49 like Anne Joyce. The true Tyrant is Lydia, and Danny is only pretending to be the Ruler of Hensonville. Old Lydia forged her own memorial so everyone would think she’d died, and so she’d never forget what the Town caused with their bullying. Lydia wants to return to her own time and fix everything, her older self is a bitter, mean woman who has no empathy. Old Lydia refuses to let Lydia leave until she tells her the Leaders of the Resistance Organisation. Old Lydia knows it’s Old Anne, she just needs to confirm it. Old Lydia plans in murdering Mike and then delivering his corpse to Old Anne’s doorstep. In the end, not even Old Daniel can get Old Lydia to see reason, and locks her in her room. Mike, Lydia and Daniel leave the mansion, but are thwarted by a mob. At least 50 people are in the mob, men, women, children alike, all holding weapons. Old Shaun and Fran are there, as Old Anne is leading it.
Lydia and Old Daniel are tied up. Shaun, Fran and a couple of other Resistance members stay to guard the prisoners while Anne and Mike Lead the rest of the mob to the Night Guard Camp. Fran encourages her father and the other two to look around the mansion. With them gone, Fran unties Lydia and Old Daniel. When they question her, Fran explains that any chance of getting her mother back would be worth it. The three escape and start Daniel’s Car. They fly in the air, but the storm (still going on) makes it difficult for them to fly high. They are almost close enough to the ground, where the Mob have seen them. Lydia must jump into the sky and back to the storm to return to her own time. It’s risky, she might did, she may not get to her time…then out of another flying car Old Lydia appears. She talks to Anne and shocks the mob (implying she revealed who she is). Lydia jumps and is trapped in the storm. She gets to the ground as the car breaks down and runs deeper into the storm, not wanting to see her older self, or Fran, or Old Daniel hurt, dead, or captured.
Lydia wakes up to find herself in the Moors, soaking wet (both the grass and her jacket). She then later finds herself in hospital. She is discharged and her name has been cleared of the alleged assault on Frankie. Her parents are thrilled to see her alive and awake. Though they admit they were worried she wouldn’t make it and that they thought they’d never see her again after the she ran away. They tell her they want to pull her out of school, but she allows Lydia to stay after she begs her.
Lydia and Frankie make a plan. They set up a camera to film Lydia and Anne. Anne is supposed to be meeting Frankie, but Lydia shoves her into a classroom with a camera. Lydia tells Anne she knows how she put the cup in her locker, unscrewing the backplate. Anne can’t even hide how impressed she is. But Anne gloats she doesn’t care and is glad she framed her. Anne leaves and Lydia has evidence. The next day, Lydia tricks the Headmaster into coming to her lesson, and Frankie fiddles with the DVD player to show Anne gloating. Lydia’s name is cleared and Anne is then labelled a thief. She loses all her friends in the Cosmics and Lydia becomes popular. Lydia and her family are invited to spend Boxing Day with Frankie’s family. They are supposed to be going to London to spend Christmas with Lydia’s Aunt, but Lydia convinces her mother to let them spend Boxing Day with Frankie and then visit her Aunt in the New Year. This means that Lydia won’t have her car crash (and won’t become a bitter Tyrant).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2023
hate to give malorie blackman a lower rating when noughts and crosses is one of my favourite books of all time. this book wasn’t necessarily bad, i’m just not the right audience.
January 28, 2020
Good book. Interesting !!
The book went in a very different direction than I expected.
I mean, I thought that both of these girls are in a coma, and it is all in their brain, but nah !!
I enjoyed the book?
Yes, unfortunately, I did. I mean, it was short so there is nothing much to hate.
But whatever, it was okay.
Bookaapi Book Blog
The book went in a very different direction than I expected.
I mean, I thought that both of these girls are in a coma, and it is all in their brain, but nah !!
I enjoyed the book?
Yes, unfortunately, I did. I mean, it was short so there is nothing much to hate.
But whatever, it was okay.
Bookaapi Book Blog
March 9, 2022
6.5/10
THIEF! is an imaginative novel which plays with the parable of not letting hate beget hate. We follow the protagonist Lydia as she tries to deal with the contempt of a whole town. It ultimately leads her to being whisked about 40 years into the future, where her town his subjected to the oppression of the Tyrant.
The tonal shift in the story was crazy and had we at the edge of my seat, wanting to know what's happening and what would happen next. It went from school drama to an action packed dystopian sci-fi. I really appreciate how Lydia going into the future was left up to interpretation, did she just dream while in a delirium or did she really see what the world would become had she let anger consume her.
While I really enjoyed this story, it did have some drawbacks. There were some leaps in what the future would look in 40years, the idea that Parliament would just crumble because Scotland and Northern Ireland gained independence is a bit of a stretch. Especially when it results in people being able to but towns and thus be the 'governor' of the town. There is also
Overall this novel is a great read for any child, as well as for anyone who wants a short story that wraps into a neat bow at the end. It teaches a lesson while also having lots of fun with the plot.
THIEF! is an imaginative novel which plays with the parable of not letting hate beget hate. We follow the protagonist Lydia as she tries to deal with the contempt of a whole town. It ultimately leads her to being whisked about 40 years into the future, where her town his subjected to the oppression of the Tyrant.
The tonal shift in the story was crazy and had we at the edge of my seat, wanting to know what's happening and what would happen next. It went from school drama to an action packed dystopian sci-fi. I really appreciate how Lydia going into the future was left up to interpretation, did she just dream while in a delirium or did she really see what the world would become had she let anger consume her.
While I really enjoyed this story, it did have some drawbacks. There were some leaps in what the future would look in 40years, the idea that Parliament would just crumble because Scotland and Northern Ireland gained independence is a bit of a stretch. Especially when it results in people being able to but towns and thus be the 'governor' of the town. There is also
Overall this novel is a great read for any child, as well as for anyone who wants a short story that wraps into a neat bow at the end. It teaches a lesson while also having lots of fun with the plot.
October 4, 2013
A young girl called Lydia moves to a new town with her family, has to attend a new school and make new friends. she wishes to make friends with a group of girls, however in order for her to join she needs to steal the school cup. Lydia is hesitant at doing this but when the headmaster finds out the cup has been stolen, they do a check in pupils lockers and find the cup in Lydia's locker. She denies taking the cup but no one will believe her except her little brother. She has a rough couple of days in school and decides to run away.
on her journey she falls over to find herself in the future. Here she meets her future self and her future brother who own a town. They work together and make life very difficult for the residents that live there. when young Lydia finds out what her future self and brother have done, she decides to return to her time and change the future.
Once back in her time Lydia successfully manages to get everyone to believe that she didn't steal the cup, rather someone planted it there.
This was an interesting read, and kept me wanting to find out more. it would be a great book for upper Ks2 and can be read independently or as a class book. Given the pressure that Lydia was under to take the cup it could be used to teach children the importance of peer pressure and not to give in. As the book referred to the future, it could be used to get children to do a piece of writing about the future.
on her journey she falls over to find herself in the future. Here she meets her future self and her future brother who own a town. They work together and make life very difficult for the residents that live there. when young Lydia finds out what her future self and brother have done, she decides to return to her time and change the future.
Once back in her time Lydia successfully manages to get everyone to believe that she didn't steal the cup, rather someone planted it there.
This was an interesting read, and kept me wanting to find out more. it would be a great book for upper Ks2 and can be read independently or as a class book. Given the pressure that Lydia was under to take the cup it could be used to teach children the importance of peer pressure and not to give in. As the book referred to the future, it could be used to get children to do a piece of writing about the future.
September 2, 2011
I chose this book as a step out of my comfort zone- I rarely read any sci fi related books- but I was pleasantly suprised.
'Thief!' centres around a character named Lydia who is labelled as a thief by a bully at her school. Lydia tries to escape the bullying and retreats to the moors near her home. Whilst walking through the moors Lydia is transported to the future and is met with a much changed, cruel world ruled by a familiar tyrant. I don't want to give anything away, so I'll stop there!
Malorie Blackman makes this a thrilling and shocking read which is utterly gripping. Her portrayal of the stress that Lydia experiences is so well observed and, as such, would be brilliant to read alongside learning how to effectively write about emotional energy. Furthermore, despite being a fast paced sci fi read, this story still retains important links to the themes of bullying, innocence and the destructiveness of hatred.
'Thief!' centres around a character named Lydia who is labelled as a thief by a bully at her school. Lydia tries to escape the bullying and retreats to the moors near her home. Whilst walking through the moors Lydia is transported to the future and is met with a much changed, cruel world ruled by a familiar tyrant. I don't want to give anything away, so I'll stop there!
Malorie Blackman makes this a thrilling and shocking read which is utterly gripping. Her portrayal of the stress that Lydia experiences is so well observed and, as such, would be brilliant to read alongside learning how to effectively write about emotional energy. Furthermore, despite being a fast paced sci fi read, this story still retains important links to the themes of bullying, innocence and the destructiveness of hatred.
April 23, 2012
Lydia a new girl at school has been accused of stealing from the school. In reality she is a victim of bullying-but only her brother really believes she didn't steal. The bullying gets to a point where Lydia decides she needs to get away...only to collapse and wake up in a completely new world... Lydia soon realsises she is in the future and it is up to her to put things right!
This is an exciting book which allows the reader to imagine the future and the advance in technology. This book did have me hooked at certain points though at times i felt it was a tad too descriptive.
However,I think this is a great book for children from year 5/6 to get hooked into as it allows them to extend their imagination and think about other realms/worlds. This book also addresses issues of bullying which some children may be able to relate to.
This is a great book for independent reading.
This is an exciting book which allows the reader to imagine the future and the advance in technology. This book did have me hooked at certain points though at times i felt it was a tad too descriptive.
However,I think this is a great book for children from year 5/6 to get hooked into as it allows them to extend their imagination and think about other realms/worlds. This book also addresses issues of bullying which some children may be able to relate to.
This is a great book for independent reading.
July 18, 2007
I LOVES THIS BOOK SO MUCH, IT IS BRILLANT. The book it about a girl who just moved to a new town and begins a new school. she gets pressured to steal a trophy to be a part of a group. she gets framed and ends up running away. and goes to the future, where she sees her brother as the master of a town and is horrible to everyone, because of what happened to his sister.
i recommend this book to everyone.
i recommend this book to everyone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2020
Okay i'm not going to lie, this book was a disappointment from Malorie Blackman. Usually, I'm a sucker for Malorie Blackman's books (I read "Boys Don't Cry in mere hours), but this book definitely caught me by surprise (and not in a good way).
Firstly we are introduced to the main protagonist, Lydia. She's a 12 year old who's main goal is to just fit in school. I'm sure many of us have been there before. So far the books going well.
She is then manipulated by the school's b*tch to steal the Sports Trophy in order to gain their respect and welcome. I'm not sure if I'm alone but I genuienly thought that the request was too cliche. Steal something of the school's property to prove yourself worthy. However, it was also unrealistic at the same time. Think about it. Has this ever happened in real life?
Anyway, let's give her the benefit of the doubt and say that she got accused of stealing the trophy that the school give huge sh*ts about apparently and get the consequences. The next bit where she confronts her friend and "pushes" her in front of a car was a good scene and I enjoyed it. It was almost the breaking point for our poor friend who had just been accused of stealing and now accused of pushing her in front of a car.
Now this is where it just get's weird.
Lydia then tries to run away from her problems and get's into a bus while it's heavily raining outside (as you do) and suddenly she's transported into the future.
This is where I struggled to read further.
The book just looses all it's meaning. It becomes unrealistic to the max and doesn't give a solution to the problem. It just holds up and shows the future of Lydia's life where everything seems weird because the town is ruled by some mutant tyrant? It didn't match with the storyline at all and just made it unbearable to read.
Don't get me wrong, the storyline was good for both the present arc and the future arc but merging the two together just gives an unrealistic and distorted take on life and to a point became unbearable.
I guess it was too much to handle. One second Lydia is in a bus reconciling the previous events that had just happened and the next second she's being shot for going out past curfew time.
I guess the book is okay for what it is, and if were two seperate books with their own storylines, I'm sure would be amazing, but the merge of the two books became unbearable for me.
Firstly we are introduced to the main protagonist, Lydia. She's a 12 year old who's main goal is to just fit in school. I'm sure many of us have been there before. So far the books going well.
She is then manipulated by the school's b*tch to steal the Sports Trophy in order to gain their respect and welcome. I'm not sure if I'm alone but I genuienly thought that the request was too cliche. Steal something of the school's property to prove yourself worthy. However, it was also unrealistic at the same time. Think about it. Has this ever happened in real life?
Anyway, let's give her the benefit of the doubt and say that she got accused of stealing the trophy that the school give huge sh*ts about apparently and get the consequences. The next bit where she confronts her friend and "pushes" her in front of a car was a good scene and I enjoyed it. It was almost the breaking point for our poor friend who had just been accused of stealing and now accused of pushing her in front of a car.
Now this is where it just get's weird.
Lydia then tries to run away from her problems and get's into a bus while it's heavily raining outside (as you do) and suddenly she's transported into the future.
This is where I struggled to read further.
The book just looses all it's meaning. It becomes unrealistic to the max and doesn't give a solution to the problem. It just holds up and shows the future of Lydia's life where everything seems weird because the town is ruled by some mutant tyrant? It didn't match with the storyline at all and just made it unbearable to read.
Don't get me wrong, the storyline was good for both the present arc and the future arc but merging the two together just gives an unrealistic and distorted take on life and to a point became unbearable.
I guess it was too much to handle. One second Lydia is in a bus reconciling the previous events that had just happened and the next second she's being shot for going out past curfew time.
I guess the book is okay for what it is, and if were two seperate books with their own storylines, I'm sure would be amazing, but the merge of the two books became unbearable for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2020
I don’t think Thief! was a book for me, but at least it was a quick and easy read.
The main story is quite banal and it revolves around a stolen sports cup which the main character Lydia is framed for stealing. It presents some important themes such as friendship and trust, bullying at school, trying to fit in and peer pressure, even though these aren’t explored in as much depth as they could be.
Then there is Lydia’s trip to the future which is actually quite interesting as it reveals a dystopian picture in which wealthy individuals own whole towns and rule them as they see fit. I really liked the idea of a localised society in the future rather than a globalised one – this is something different and it’s again a shame this aspect of the novel wasn’t developed more, although it makes sense as it’s not that relevant to the main story.
But the two parts of the book somehow didn’t work together for me – I just found the combination a bit strange and implausible. Lydia didn’t need to go forward in time to and her trip felt a bit pointless (even though don’t get me wrong, it was the most interesting part of the book).
I also didn’t appreciate the excessive exclamation marks which were disruptive to the reading.
This was the first book I’ve read by Malorie Blackman and I must admit I was expecting more, even though to be fair I’m not the target audience for this novel and much younger readers will probably enjoy it more.
The main story is quite banal and it revolves around a stolen sports cup which the main character Lydia is framed for stealing. It presents some important themes such as friendship and trust, bullying at school, trying to fit in and peer pressure, even though these aren’t explored in as much depth as they could be.
Then there is Lydia’s trip to the future which is actually quite interesting as it reveals a dystopian picture in which wealthy individuals own whole towns and rule them as they see fit. I really liked the idea of a localised society in the future rather than a globalised one – this is something different and it’s again a shame this aspect of the novel wasn’t developed more, although it makes sense as it’s not that relevant to the main story.
But the two parts of the book somehow didn’t work together for me – I just found the combination a bit strange and implausible. Lydia didn’t need to go forward in time to and her trip felt a bit pointless (even though don’t get me wrong, it was the most interesting part of the book).
I also didn’t appreciate the excessive exclamation marks which were disruptive to the reading.
This was the first book I’ve read by Malorie Blackman and I must admit I was expecting more, even though to be fair I’m not the target audience for this novel and much younger readers will probably enjoy it more.
August 29, 2025
If a supposed friend at school tells you that you have to steal a trophy to join their club, that's a not a friend or a club you want. The girl shown should have backed off immediately. I was never that desperate to be liked. Books and TV have a lot to answer for. Young people didn't need to have best friends or a school group to be happy. They were just part of the crowd, or weren't, and were fine either way.
In this story we do see the harsh reality kicking in, but this is altered by a non-explained trip to a dystopian future. If someone who knows all the rules and dangers is half an hour away from home and the curfew is starting, why are they half an hour away from home? They know they will get shot, yet they are waiting around for the unheralded time arrival's convenience. That's not realistic.
This is a mix of good and less good, but we can learn lessons.
In this story we do see the harsh reality kicking in, but this is altered by a non-explained trip to a dystopian future. If someone who knows all the rules and dangers is half an hour away from home and the curfew is starting, why are they half an hour away from home? They know they will get shot, yet they are waiting around for the unheralded time arrival's convenience. That's not realistic.
This is a mix of good and less good, but we can learn lessons.
April 25, 2022
Malorie Black was, of course, an author I loved a lot when I was a kid. I seem to have never got round to reading this one.
Obviously a book aimed at children, so the dialogue and description is a little simple, but a fun story nonetheless which took a turn I didn’t see coming at all.
I kind of wished we spent a little more time in Hensonville and the ending felt a little rushed. How did she make friends with Frankie again? Feel like we could have had a scene of them resolving their misunderstanding and maybe a bit more background on their initial friendship to begin with
Obviously a book aimed at children, so the dialogue and description is a little simple, but a fun story nonetheless which took a turn I didn’t see coming at all.
I kind of wished we spent a little more time in Hensonville and the ending felt a little rushed. How did she make friends with Frankie again? Feel like we could have had a scene of them resolving their misunderstanding and maybe a bit more background on their initial friendship to begin with
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2019
So bad, the problems were trivial the dystopian future was bland - Malorie Blackman should stick to writing adult books and needs to stop overdoing exclamation marks lmao. The Lydia girl was hella pathetic for one and I couldnt connect to her character, skim read the ending and wasnt surprised as how mundane it was. Unfortunately as a 15 year old, it was my first time reading this and it was hella young for me - i cringed throughout it
January 22, 2018
The book itself wasn't that bad and I didn't have too many problems with it, my only problem is that when I read this book I wanted to branch out more into the YA (young adult) fiction genre. This story is aimed to be a children story but nonetheless I enjoyed it. If I was younger I think I would've liked it more.
April 7, 2019
5/5 for Kids
3/5 for Adults
This book was good but it was definitely aimed at the younger end of the YA genre.
It was well written, as is all books by Malorie Blackman, but it felt more like a short story.
I think for kids it was brilliant, but it is the first book i have read that i actually think i was too old to read.
3/5 for Adults
This book was good but it was definitely aimed at the younger end of the YA genre.
It was well written, as is all books by Malorie Blackman, but it felt more like a short story.
I think for kids it was brilliant, but it is the first book i have read that i actually think i was too old to read.
February 10, 2023
The thought was there and there was nothing horrible about this book the storyline was awesome and the writing is so easy. Like if you're looking for a quick book to read through while waiting for another or something definitely go for this one.
Its not something I would normally read but hey I tried it and it's okay
Its not something I would normally read but hey I tried it and it's okay
November 2, 2023
This is an amazing book for young adults who love mysteries! At first I thought I was going to be bad but as I went on it was absolutely amazing. The person who read it to me would always leave it on the cliffhangers which made want to read more! This book is not for a non Fiction person because it’s based on a girl who time travels into the future but doesn’t realise at first.
March 29, 2021
4 stars: Very Good
My friend lent this to me so I read it quite quickly.
How was the world building?
Very Good
Good ✅
Ok
Meh
Bad
How were the characters?
Very Good
Good ✅
Ok
Meh
Bad
How was the plot?
Very Good ✅
Good
Ok
Meh
Bad.
My friend lent this to me so I read it quite quickly.
How was the world building?
Very Good
Good ✅
Ok
Meh
Bad
How were the characters?
Very Good
Good ✅
Ok
Meh
Bad
How was the plot?
Very Good ✅
Good
Ok
Meh
Bad.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews