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The Greenwich Chronicles #1
The Time Wreccas
The Guardians look after time for all people. Humans always rush around claiming that they do not have enough time, but no one thinks of guarding it. The Guardians do this, and in every region of the world, there is one who protects time for us all. In Greenwich, it is Old Father Tim. When the Wreccas, who populate the Underneath (below ground), send Snot to steal the Tick, their only intention is to wreak havoc on the Guardians who live Topside (above ground). They don't expect Snot to find out that she feels more at home Topside and that she really rather likes Tid (Old Father Tim's grandson) who she has to trick. And little do they know that without the Tick, time will stop forever...
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First published January 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 27, 2023
I first read this book when I was 9, about 13 years ago. I remembered it because I think it was the first book I read in which a main character dies. Poor Cob!
I have enjoyed reading it recently just as much as I did when I was younger. Tyler creates a magical world which is so easy to escape to.
I find it very interesting that all the Wrecca women are absent. I wonder - does anyone have any theories about why this is the case, and where they go to?
I have enjoyed reading it recently just as much as I did when I was younger. Tyler creates a magical world which is so easy to escape to.
I find it very interesting that all the Wrecca women are absent. I wonder - does anyone have any theories about why this is the case, and where they go to?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2022
A nicely worked children's fantasy set around two sets of small beings who inhabit our human world without our knowledge. The humans who appear are bit players, the story belongs to the Guardians who live Topside – on the Earth's surface – and guard the workings of time and the Wreccas who live Underneath – in caverns and tunnels they have burrowed and enlarged – and who live a scavenging, thieving existence without true meaning. Until, that is, the Wreccas steal the Tick, a mechanism the Guardians need to restart the Timepiece in time for the New Year – without the Tick there will be no Time, and without Time nothing at all. There are also some brave-hearted talking squirrels to add a touch of Disney.
As is often the case – the devil usually has the best tunes – it is the bad guys, the Wreccas, whose society comes to life. The Guardians are just good: industrious, well mannered, considerate, neat and tidy, never rush to judgement and scrupulously fair. Old Killjoy, Scratch, Sniff, Spew, Spite and all the rest of the Wreccas would tear your arm off to steal a crust of mouldy bread. I was reminded a little of Michael de Larrabeiti's The Borribles with a hint of Fungus the Bogeyman. Rather like the misguided Sheldon, a Guardian youth who has lost his way to goodness, I am attracted to Wrecca life but I would not want to experience it at first hand.
The adventures of the main protagonists, Tid Mossel the Guardian boy and Snot who becomes Sofi, a Wrecca girl who wants to live Topside and see the sun and colours and eat tasty food and not get beaten up, race along at an often furious pace. It's all good fun though some of the Wrecca behaviour turns to disturbing levels of violence. Spew and Spite being condemned to face the Ruckus comes to mind. However, as with all good fantasies the right side wins in the end, though only by the skin of their teeth, and leaves everything set up for a sequel.
As is often the case – the devil usually has the best tunes – it is the bad guys, the Wreccas, whose society comes to life. The Guardians are just good: industrious, well mannered, considerate, neat and tidy, never rush to judgement and scrupulously fair. Old Killjoy, Scratch, Sniff, Spew, Spite and all the rest of the Wreccas would tear your arm off to steal a crust of mouldy bread. I was reminded a little of Michael de Larrabeiti's The Borribles with a hint of Fungus the Bogeyman. Rather like the misguided Sheldon, a Guardian youth who has lost his way to goodness, I am attracted to Wrecca life but I would not want to experience it at first hand.
The adventures of the main protagonists, Tid Mossel the Guardian boy and Snot who becomes Sofi, a Wrecca girl who wants to live Topside and see the sun and colours and eat tasty food and not get beaten up, race along at an often furious pace. It's all good fun though some of the Wrecca behaviour turns to disturbing levels of violence. Spew and Spite being condemned to face the Ruckus comes to mind. However, as with all good fantasies the right side wins in the end, though only by the skin of their teeth, and leaves everything set up for a sequel.
August 17, 2013
My rating for this book is remaining at 4 stars, due to my love of this book when I first read it when I was 11, when it first came out. I'm now much older and just re-read this book again for the fun of it :)
Reading it again now that I'm much older highlights the fact that this really is a book for 11/12/13 year olds. It's written in a way that is directed for that age group. However, this didn't stop my enjoyment of it (whether that's because it was one of my favourite childhood books or not, I do not know.) But I have to say, the story idea is really original, with the Guardians looking after time and having to make a new Tick every 100 years or so (I think that's right? 100 years?) and how that is how time exists. And the idea of the Wreccas in the Underneath, trying to ruin everything all the time. It IS really original - I've read many books related to time, fascinated as I was with it at that age (this is also when the 2005 series of Doctor Who began and, yes, I'm a big fan and still am), but I've never read of a set up like this. I love the characters in this book and how they develop, and there are some really nice quotes here too - and I'll end this review with one.
"And what is more," continued Old Father Tim, "you love us."
"Does I?" asked Sofi hopefully. "I's never loved before. I doesn't know how."
"That's the wonderful thing about love. No one knows how."
I'd recommend this book for people in the age group mentioned, but if older people want to read it, see past the more childish language and there's a great concept and story there :)
Reading it again now that I'm much older highlights the fact that this really is a book for 11/12/13 year olds. It's written in a way that is directed for that age group. However, this didn't stop my enjoyment of it (whether that's because it was one of my favourite childhood books or not, I do not know.) But I have to say, the story idea is really original, with the Guardians looking after time and having to make a new Tick every 100 years or so (I think that's right? 100 years?) and how that is how time exists. And the idea of the Wreccas in the Underneath, trying to ruin everything all the time. It IS really original - I've read many books related to time, fascinated as I was with it at that age (this is also when the 2005 series of Doctor Who began and, yes, I'm a big fan and still am), but I've never read of a set up like this. I love the characters in this book and how they develop, and there are some really nice quotes here too - and I'll end this review with one.
"And what is more," continued Old Father Tim, "you love us."
"Does I?" asked Sofi hopefully. "I's never loved before. I doesn't know how."
"That's the wonderful thing about love. No one knows how."
I'd recommend this book for people in the age group mentioned, but if older people want to read it, see past the more childish language and there's a great concept and story there :)
September 11, 2019
I have to be honest. It took me a lot of time to get to the end of this book because, at first, it didn't grab my attention. I kept reading a few pages and then putting it down for weeks.
In the end, after reaching the half of the story, I finally felt compelled to go on and reached the end.
Despite its slow start, it's a fascinating story for children that creates an exciting world, full of risks and possible adventures. The book treats important themes for kids, such as differences, acceptance, friendship, and family.
I'd suggest it to kids, but I'm not sure I'll go on with reading the series.
In the end, after reaching the half of the story, I finally felt compelled to go on and reached the end.
Despite its slow start, it's a fascinating story for children that creates an exciting world, full of risks and possible adventures. The book treats important themes for kids, such as differences, acceptance, friendship, and family.
I'd suggest it to kids, but I'm not sure I'll go on with reading the series.
February 23, 2017
Really enjoyed this book ; I wasnt sure of it at first as it changed characters perspective quite quickly and inconsistently but as I read on I became comfortable with reading it like this. The story got more and more interesting as it went on with lots of twists and introductions of different characters. So glad I picked this book up now and would really like to read the next book especially to see what else happens in the underneath and what happens with Snivel . This book kind of reminds me a little bit of 'Muddle Earth'
November 23, 2013
Wonderful fantasy world created for 8-12 year old readers. The Guardian People, who look after time, live unseen in and around our own world. Beneath our feet live the Wreccas, and they just love causing trouble. When the Wreccas try to steal the Tick things begin to go horribly wrong.
Full of suspense, strong characters and light humour, the book rollicks along at a great pace. Now out of print, but usually available in good condition second-hand through Amazon.
Full of suspense, strong characters and light humour, the book rollicks along at a great pace. Now out of print, but usually available in good condition second-hand through Amazon.
August 1, 2011
I read this book about 4 days ago its a really good book.. many comments on here are from chldren reading this i am 19year old and truly found this book good :) definatly recommend this to parents reading stories to kids at bedtime or children reading it themselfs even people the same age as me might find this a good read
January 8, 2012
First thoughts were "cool cover" BUT this book really let me down. Don't even know if young kids would enjoy it as it was fairly uneventful and left me feeling sleepy. Didn't make a good impression, if it ever left an impression at all.
January 27, 2009
Good :)
January 19, 2018
This book is the beginning of my reading :)
May 26, 2023
All time for a thousand years hence is saved . By a hair p307
May 27, 2016
Time Wreccas by Val Tyler is an adventure to rescue a stolen clock piece. This clock keeps time for the planet. If it stops, time stops and then what happens? Time Wreccas should probably be young adult fiction though at times it seems more targeted to the tween crowd. Not because of the emotional tween crap those books tend to have, just the characters seem to be of the tween age. Though there is some mild language that the most conservative would take offense to at the tween level. This book also continues the unfortunate stereotype that ugly things are bad and pretty things are good, though more subconsciously than overtly. It started maybe a touch slow but pacing was overall decent. On to book two.
July 17, 2008
hmm i read it when i was 10 and i really liked it, its a little kiddish tho.
July 21, 2022
Good YA fiction.
May 12, 2014
My sister love it ;)
She's nine years old and she want read the next one, but we can't find it
She's nine years old and she want read the next one, but we can't find it
April 9, 2013
Foi um dos livros que não tinha vontade nenhuma de ler e depois de começar só parei na última página. Recomendo.
April 6, 2013
This book was OK.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews