The Golden Hour

Time-Travel Series #1

by Maiya Williams

Now available in paperback, the first book in a thrilling, critically-acclaimed time-travel series

In this "page-turner debut" ( Kirkus Reviews ), thirteen-year-old Rowan and his friends, twins Xanthe and Xavier, find a time portal in an abandoned resort hotel. They travel back to revolutionary France, in search of Rowan's mysteriously missing sister, Nina. A desperate dash through Versailles and a daring escape from the guillotine are just two of the many adventures the children tackle as they race against time. If they don't make it home with Nina by the "golden hour," they won't come home at all.

Awards and praise for The Golden Hour

Book Sense Pick

International Reading Association Intermediate Fiction Award

Southern California Booksellers' Association Children's Book Prize

"A trip well worth taking." - The New York Times

"One of the few fantasies with any African American characters..." - Booklist

"Action-packed and laden with good-natured humor, Williams' tale is a journey worth taking." - Publisher's Weekly

Genres: Time Travel, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Science Fiction, Adventure, Fiction, Historical Fantasy

288 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2004

Reviews

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book in a mystery bundle from The Last Bookstore, and I'm so glad I did! The Golden Hour is a middle grade time travel story that does not disappoint. It's magical, entertaining, and quite complex. Our protagonists deal with grief, danger, and self doubt. My one gripe with this story is the role of religion. There seems to be an odd Christian undertone - two of the characters are nuns, but it's not really discussed. Plus, God is mentioned several times, and in the end it seems like the protagonists have rekindled their relationship with God.

Besides not appreciating the weird religious moments, I really enjoyed this story. I am definitely interested in reading more in the series.

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow I have been trying to find the name of this book for ages! I read this when I was about 15 and it freaked me out so much I gave it to my friend. It’s not scary by any means but it’s pretty out there and also quite miserable for a children’s book. So glad I can finally put the mystery to rest though!

[KnowledgeGeek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up a copy of this book a couple of years ago at my local re-use it center as the synopsis on the dust cover captured my attention. However, what really piqued my interest was an inscription to a young girl named McKinlee on her 12th birthday which was March 31, 2005 according to the date her Grandma & Grandpa Ward inscribed. Each grandparent had written a lovely & personal message to their young grand-daughter. I often find inscriptions in second hand books but usually they're older books (as i have quite an affinity for old books) & I usually feel quite sure the previous owners have passed from this realm having no further use for their book. However, as this book is newer and the inscription date is in the very recent past, and McKinlee would now be just 21, I found myself wondering why she would have given away such a personal gift? Did she have a falling out with her family? Or worse, has she perhaps moved on from this life? Or, was it simply that this book was placed in the 'donate' pile by mistake & McKinlee has wondered about & lamented it's loss ever since? I wish I knew the answer to this mystery for I'd very much like to re-unite her with this heart-felt gift from her grandparents. Alas, I suppose I shall never know. I will keep it on my bookshelf and take it down from time to time to read the inscription...and wonder.

Now, to review the story itself. I found The Golden Hour to be a very enjoyable read. It's an imaginative, adventurous & heart-felt story of 13 year-old Rowan Popplewell and his younger sister, 11 year-old Nina. Their young lives were irrevocably changed in an instant when their mother was killed while out running an errand. Their dad has spiraled into a deep depression, Nina has stopped talking & worse, stopped playing the piano which she has an amazing talent for, bottling up her grief inside herself & leaving Rowan feeling even more alone to deal with his loss; for he and Nina were once extremely close. Fortunately, they are sent to spend a month of their summer break with their two eccentric 'aunts' in a small town in Maine. There they meet Xander & his twin sister Xanthe. Together with their new friends, Rowan & Nina set out on quite an adventure. One that Rowan didn't expect as he & the twins end up going back in time to search for Nina who's gone off on her own but, she's not told anyone where. So Rowan and the twins are left to do some quick investigative work to figure out where she may have gone. Feeling certain they've discovered where, they're off on a mad dash to find her; for they may only visit any given location for a max of 7 days otherwise they'll be trapped in that time forever! During the course of this adventure, Rowan learns a lot about himself & the sometimes confusing manifestations that grief can take, all to his advantage. Nina too, comes out of her self-imposed silence & learns to accept that there are things in life we can't change, no matter how very much we wish that we could & that sometimes the hardest person to forgive is one's self. As a person who lost a parent when I was just a teen, I could relate to Rowan & Nina & I found this to be a very, very good read for many reasons. I'd recommend it to anyone, not just young adults.

[Astrid Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son randomly picked this book up at the library and chose it for our nightly bedtime story. He is 10 and enjoys sci-fi and time travel, and so do I, so it seemed like a good fit. I was not expecting much but found that I really enjoyed reading this story. The storyline was more mature and emotionally intense than I expected: deeply serious guilt and grief that was at times more than I expected, but handled in a very gentle and objective manner. There were some really great action scenes that kept us on the edge of our seats, and the characters were likeable and well developed. The time travel was well thought-out and original, and my son found the historical facts about the French Revolution interesting. Overall it was a great read!

[Cleo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved this book. It was so wonderful. So basically, the book is about a boy named Rowan, who is forced to spend his summer in a small town in Maine with his silent sister Nina. But then, along with twins Xanthe and Xavier, he explores a mysterious old hotel, that suddenly comes to life at certain hours. Suddenly, Nina disappears, and Rowan, Xanthe, and Xavier must find her. At least, that’s what the book description says. What it doesn’t tell you is that they travel back in time to the French Revolution (via the old hotel), where they think Nina is. And that is what I really loved about the book.

First of all, I always love books with time travel in them, and second, the French Revolution was a very interesting (though brutal) period. We meet many famous characters, like Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI. I was quite surprised to find the depiction of Marie Antoinette more favorable than is usual. At one point, Rowan finds himself having dinner with her, and she seems quite anguished over false accusations being leveled at her. It was very different and certainly interesting to read. You’d have to do more research to really say. Surprising, Maiya Williams does not touch on her portrayal of Marie Antoinette in the afterword.

Another great thing was the characters: Rowan, Nina, the twins, and his two great aunts were all so amazing. As well as, of course, all the characters from the French revolution.

I also received this book from Abram’s, and though it was easy, I still loved it, and could probably appreciate it more now than a few years ago because I know a bit more about the French revolution.

The “golden” hour of the title refers to the moment right before sunset, in between day and night. Quite a beautiful concept. There is also a “silver” hour, the time before sunrise. (Additionally, the golden and silver hours are when you can travel back in time.)

The Golden Hour is not all about time travel though. Both Rowan and Nina learn something throughout. I would definitely recommend this one.

You can read all of my reviews at my blog, www.novareviews.blogspot.com.

[Elizabeth Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Golden Hour is a special part of the day, two hours in the early evening to be exact, where the sun creates a “golden” lighting. When thirteen-year-old Rowan and his quiet, eleven-year-old sister, Nina, are sent to live with their “aunts” for a summer in a small town in Maine, the “golden hour” takes on a new meaning. Rowan and Nina quickly make friends with twins Xanthe and Xavier and on one of their explorations they stumble upon a run-down hotel where time-travelling can occur during a certain time of day: the golden hour. When Nina goes missing, it is up to Rowan, Xanthe, and Xavier to travel back in time to the French Revolution where they believe she is hiding. They only have seven days to find her before they are stuck in that time period forever, will they be successful?

Because this is historical fiction, it could be a summer reading or just a book that is used in an English classroom as it does involve multiple genres, including historical fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, and mystery. A good teaching strategy to use for this book could be “Tweet Tweet,” or having students write a 140-text from the perspective of one of the characters in the book regarding their experience in the time period of the French Revolution. I would recommend this for students in 6th or 7th grade.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first in a series of YA books featuring the adventure of time travel. In this one, the 3 main protagonists go to Revolutionary France (by mistake) to find their missing sister and friend. They encounter many dangers, of course, and the chaos of the French revolution is aptly described. The book is the first novel of a writer and producer of TV shows. It consists mostly of dialogue and I thought it was more suitable for a television script than a novel. In spite of that, I found it to be an enjoyable and imaginative read with just enough realism to call it a historical novel.

[Katrien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book, not just as historical fiction, but as a story of kids growing and learning and surviving a difficult time. One of my most favorite discoveries and a favorite book to share with my students.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has a unique story line and my preteen boys and I really enjoyed listening to it!

[The Reluctant Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book maybe some ten years ago; an absolute childhood favourite

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it's nice to see some black characters in a fantasy book, the author is way too American in her perception of what life would have been like for a young black boy in Louis XVI's time. Also, many of the characters colonize the past... hello, editor, why didn't you catch this?

P.O.:
After their mother’s death, Rowan and Nina are sent to their (not biological) aunts’ home in Owatannauk, Maine for the summer where they learn that the town holds the secret of time travel. When Rowan travels to Revolutionary France with his new friends, twins Xanthe and Xavier, to save Nina, he learns not only about the past, but about himself.
The inclusion of African-American characters was refreshing. However, Williams’s treatment of race relations in Revolutionary France felt decidedly American to me. Though I am no expert in French history, what I have learned has led me to believe that race relations in France have always been very different in France than in the United States. Also, after discussing the book with a former Simmons student, I came to adopt her view of the book as condoning colonization of the past! The residents of Owatannauk (like Rowan’s aunts) often travel to the past to harvest valuables to sell in their exclusive “antiques” business. This, at first reading, seemed harmless enough to me, but after discussing it and thinking about it, I have to agree that doing this is a form of colonization, especially considering the huge potential for disaster that is always possible when time traveling (according to Otto at the Hotel).

[Teresa]

The Golden Hour
By: Maiya Williams
Teresa

The Golden Hour is the first book of the time-travel series by Maiya Williams. In this book a boy named Rowan, and his sister Nina were invited to stay at their aunts house in Owatannauk, for the summer. Rowan and Nina soon found strange things about this little town. Their curiosity soon brought them and their new friends Xanthe and Xavier to a abandoned hotel. After looking around at the hotel something strange suddenly happened. The hotel looked new again. After getting in the hotel they learned that the hotel had a vehicle called “Alleviators” that can take them back in time, but they decided not to go. The next morning Rowan’s sister disappeared. Rowan thought his sister used the alleviator and went back in time. So Rowan, Xanthe, and Xavier decided to go look for his sister.
When Nina disappeared and Rowan, Xanthe, and Xavier searched for her, it was like when me and my cousins were on a ferry and one of my cousins got mad and ran off somewhere. We searched for him and after a few minutes we found him sitting next to my mom in the ferry.
I really like this book because it is adventurous and exciting. I also like this book because I can understand what is happening.
I would recommend this book to anybody who likes adventure, time traveling, or history.

[Jaemi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another one of those books I grabbed before it even hit the shelf at my other job. It just looked good. And it sounded rather unique. And it was.

This is a book that has a bit of something for everyone: time travel for the sci-fi lover, a place that can only be seen two hours out of a day (and the time travel) for fantasy lovers, lessons learned about life and self for the realist in us, and plain old fun and excitement for the rest.

The very beginning might take some bearing with; while it peaks your interest and curiosity, it also at times seems slightly random and can leave you feeling a little lost. But hanging in there is definitely worth it. The story picks up quickly and then becomes hard to put down. And while I wondered briefly how on earth it would wrap up in time and not be destined for life as a serial, it did. And remarkably well at that. So, if you need some time out of your life, try this little time-hopping jaunt. It's sure to get you away.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the beginning of the Time Travel series. I read book #3 a couple months ago and liked it a lot. However, this first book explained a whole lot of things that were a bit vague in book #3. I loved it! The author took time to adequately research the French Revolution and it was great reading about how the people felt during this terrible time in history. It seemed authentic. Marie Antoinette seems like a misunderstood person. In this book 13 year-old Rowen and his 11 year-old sister Nina, a childhood music prodigy, are hurting from the sudden death of their mother. The family is falling apart. They are sent for the summer to their very odd great aunts in Maine where they meet twins Xanthe and Xavier. There's an old resort hotel in the town and there's something very odd about it. That's when they discover that every evening at sunset, the golden hour, the place comes alive. Intriguingly, time travel is possible at this time. When Nina disappears the others are sure that she went to meet her idol, Mozart, and so they hurry after her- right into the French Revolution of the 1790s. I definitely want book #2 "The Hour of the Cobra".

[Mindy Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute story about time travel.

Since it's a kids' book, I thought the author would make each chapter about a different aadventure going back in time, but there is only one time-travel adventure: to the French Revolution. I got a little tired of it by the end.

I'm also not sure who I'd actually recommend this book to since the author herself seemed a little confused about her audience. The children are treated as adults throughout France (partly because one is acting as part of the bougoiuse, I'm sure, but that doesn't explain it all), and some of the subject matter I would probably not describe as child appropriate. However, the main characters are 11 and 13. So I was a little confused there.

Another issue is that the author rewrote history quite a bit, and from my online research, it seems her portrayal of Marie Antoinette's character is most likely false, but the book does inspire a curiosity about true history. So it may be a good tool for introducing younger people to history.

I did enjoy reading this book and would possibly be interested in checking out sequels if they existed.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rowan, age 13, and his sister, Nina, age 11, lost their mother a year ago, and life has not been the same since. Their dad is drunk most of the time, and it looks like he'll lose his bakery. He hardly talks to the kids, and Nina hasn't spoken a word since her mom died.

Now Aunt Gertrude and Aunt Agatha, who they hardly know, have invited them to visit for the summer. They quickly find two friends--Xavier and Xanthe--and also discover the mysterious "Golden Hour" when the old hotel comes to life and time travelers are allowed to go wherever they want. Rowan, Xavier, and Xanthe find themselves in the middle of the French Revolution. This is a time they definitely shouldn't have visited.

This is a good book. It was exciting and helped me learn a little about the French Revolution. It also is about learning to understand yourself and face reality.

I'd probably give it a 3.5 rating.

[Christina Getrost · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun quick little time-travel book, good for historical fiction fans. Rowan and his sister Nina are staying with aunts for a while, still grieving over the death of their mom a year ago, while their dad deals with his own problems. They meet Xavier and Xanthe, twins their age, while exploring an old abandoned hotel--which turns out to be a portal to another time! (Kinda reminded me of the movie Somewhere in Time, but not in the same romantic sense, just a cool old hotel with people from another era in it) When Nina goes off on her own through the hotel's "Alleviator" (an elevator that takes you to whatever day in history you choose), it's up to Rowan and the twins to follow her--straight into the French Revolution!

[C.O. Bonham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awsome Time Travel fantasy adventure. I loved every minute of it. Fast paced action keeps the story flowing rather than digressing into long sections of historical disscusion like some other books of this genre.

I Loved the Characters; especially, the two witty and intelligent Homeschoolers. Xanthe and Xavier Alexander are great examples of the benefits of Home schooling they have the curiosity to go Time Traveling and the Smarts to help them survive it. A must read for every Home Schooler. Even Home Schoolers can have some School Spirit.

Lastly, this book offers many insites into the French Revolution (Something to think about for anyone looking for a History Project).
Readers should be prepared for the Emotional Ending though, it's a real tear jerker.

[Lydia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book about a 13year old boy named Rowan, and his 11 year old sister Nina going on an adventure with their 2 aunts that have very different personalities. One of the aunt is mental, and the other aunt is very unaware. The four of them are on an adventure to find their dad who left them 5 years ago, because their mother's death 1 year ago. They have very little money, plus, they need to make sure that the aunts are safe because, on their way, they meet dangerous events. Rowan is a boy that is very brave, smart, and responsible. He knows how to keep the aunts and Nina safe, and he makes smart plans in the middle of the adventure. He reminds me of Mirri, in The Iron Ring because, Mirri made smart plans on the journey to help Tamar, just like Rowan.

[Badiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

The protagonist of this book is Rowan Popplewell. The antagonist is Nina, which is Rowan;s sister. They have been sent to stay in this tiny place in Maine, with two strange aunts they dont really know. They expect one month of being board, until Rowan notice this abandoned hotel in the woods. One of the aunts tell them not to go near it, but they ignore her and Nina goes missing.

I would recommend this book to people who always want to be at the tip of their toes when reading a book. This book was excellent.

If i were to rate this book out of ten, i would give it a eight and a half. This book was really good.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

~promising~
I liked the cover when I bought this but I didn't expect the story to be moving! It was really amazing how each of the mystery revealed itself. A unique way to find out another world beyond our own. This book made me think of things I've never paid attention before like for example as the title itself says 'Golden Hour'. The few minutes where both the sun and the moon can be seen and when unexpected thing happen. I never paid attention to that. Also about the things we could lose in just a matter of seconds... time can be deceiving... but really can't.
This book contains exhilarating adventure that can keep all the readers from shifting to another book.
Two thumbs Up.

[Gabrielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Golden Hour is about a boy and his sister that move in with their "aunts" for a few months. These two children find two friends that are twins. They all go up to a hotel that is said to be haunted and that the aunts say not to go to. They find out that during the Golden Hour where the sun isn't down or up. This is when ghosts of the hotel's past appear. When all four of them go into the hotel the children and they are allowed to go back in time. The next day The main character's sister is missing. The rest of the kids go to find her. But, there is time limit of a few days. Will they find the sister?

[Neill Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Rowan’s mom died his sister, Nina, stopped communicating with anyone. When his dad’s bakery got in financial trouble, Rowan and his sister were sent to spend some time with their great aunts in a tiny backwoods village. But the aunts know more than they tell and the village is a portal to time – an opportunity for Rowan and Nina to develop some talents, discover some truths, and restart their lives. In a search for his missing sister Rowan finds himself embroiled in the French Revolution while Nina was examining some other truths.

[Constance Gibbs · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Golden Hour was a great page-turner. I started it one night and was halfway through by about 2/3am. I really like time travel and, while the French Revolution isn’t an era of history that I love exploring, Maiya Williams made me able to enjoy it. There was something a bit old school in the style of adventure, very Edward Eager, whose Magic series books I read as a child, involving magic and time.

Check out more of my review: http://ofchildishthings.wordpress.com...

[Tracey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Children's fiction/time travel adventure. It starts out as a suspense-mystery (are all those people really ghosts at the abandoned hotel?) but quickly turns into another book about time travel; characters find themselves in the middle of the French Revolution and must escape from several sticky situations. Reasonably entertaining, but apart from the Xavier's and Xanthe's African-American ethnicity, nothing very remarkable.

[Suzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this story and thought overall it was a good read for middle graders. There were a few references I thought could have been left out or re-phrased to make it more appropriate for school children. ie: no sexual relations when time travelling. Also one character is referered to as Miss for several paragraphs and then as Mrs. and then back to Miss and I hate seeing mistakes like that in a book as it invalidates the story. The time travel in France is the most interesting part.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well done time travel book. The era of interest is the French Revolution, because Rowan's sister greatly admires Mozart. This is not one of my own personal favorite eras, but you have to admit that a LOT is going on and our heroes do a pretty good job of getting involved in most of it. The kids are cool, they learn from their experiences, and you will enjoy it. I also like that the twins were "people of color", and were pleasantly surprised by their acceptance in pre-revolutionary France.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a terrific introductory story in the series. A great blending of time travel and historical fiction, I thoroughly enjoyed the crafting of this story line. I think that any young person who enjoys either of these two genres may find a developing interest in the other ... and if you already enjoy both, prepare to be drawn quickly into this series.

[Scottsdale Public Library]

The Golden Hour is a delightfully crafted story, weaving together magic, humor, history, and emotion. The adventure of searching for Nina and time traveling to the French Revolution will capture the audience. The reader assumes that the characters will find the missing sister and return to their present time, but Williams keeps them guessing as to how all the events will transpire. -Sara G

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantasy time travel novel based around a brother and sister coming to terms with the death of their mother. An engaging story which finds the brother in revolutionary France which will appeal to lovers of historical fiction whilst the sister goes to visit her mother before she dies. How they both come to terms with living in the present without their mother is told gently and sensitively.