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Countdown to Yesterday
Rebecca Stead’s The List of Things That Will Not Change gets a “Space Oddity” sci-fi twist in this moving middle grade novel about one boy’s journey to go back in time to prevent his parents’ divorce.
The present is the last place James wants to be. Since his parents have separated, he’s been living two different lives and neither of them add up to the great one he used to have. He thinks about his Top Six memories and wonders if he can go back.
During National Science Week, James meets the enigmatic Yan, a girl who looks at the world with x-ray eyes, and discovers that time travel might be possible after all. The two budding scientists’ quest to restore James’s lost past brings them into contact with retro Australian Women’s Weekly birthday cakes, old Commodore computers, chaotic rideshare vehicles of the future, and spacemen.
But as they get closer to their goal, James is forced to consider that his favorite moments from his personal history may not be as perfect as he remembers them.
The present is the last place James wants to be. Since his parents have separated, he’s been living two different lives and neither of them add up to the great one he used to have. He thinks about his Top Six memories and wonders if he can go back.
During National Science Week, James meets the enigmatic Yan, a girl who looks at the world with x-ray eyes, and discovers that time travel might be possible after all. The two budding scientists’ quest to restore James’s lost past brings them into contact with retro Australian Women’s Weekly birthday cakes, old Commodore computers, chaotic rideshare vehicles of the future, and spacemen.
But as they get closer to their goal, James is forced to consider that his favorite moments from his personal history may not be as perfect as he remembers them.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 4, 2024
14 people are currently reading
148 people want to read
About the author
Shirley Marr
8 books421 followersShirley Marr is a multi-award winning children's and YA author and a first generation Chinese-Australian living in sunny Perth. Her titles are Fury, Preloved, Little Jiang and All Four Quarters of the Moon and the CBCA Book of the Year for Younger Readers A Glasshouse of Stars
She describes herself as having a Western Mind and an Eastern Heart and writes in the middle where both collide. She takes milk and sugar with her tea much to the dismay of her oolong drinking friends and eats chicken feet much to the disgust of her Aussie friends. Her passion is to distil her cultural heritage through the lens of resilient young women.
She describes herself as having a Western Mind and an Eastern Heart and writes in the middle where both collide. She takes milk and sugar with her tea much to the dismay of her oolong drinking friends and eats chicken feet much to the disgust of her Aussie friends. Her passion is to distil her cultural heritage through the lens of resilient young women.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
March 25, 2024
When James’ mum announces she is finally going to participate in the annual Summerlake Primary School Cake Competition, he is thrilled. But also suspicious since she has never participated before. Then James finds out that his mum is moving out and his parents are getting a divorce. He doesn’t understand how this has happened and why they can’t just work things out. He remembers all the good times they had together as a family, and wishes he could go back in time to when everything used to be perfect. And then he meets Yan who claims to have a time machine.
While James is obsessed with David Bowie, Yan is fascinated by obsolete technology. Her ‘time machine’ is a way of looking back at the history of web pages over time, but as the book is structured like a countdown, it seems that Yan and James have found a way to actually go back in time. Yan is a brilliantly self-sufficient character, although she clearly struggles to make friends as much as James - who spends his lunches in the front office with the receptionist.
This is a bittersweet coming-of-age story as James realises that his golden memories of his family are not the perfect moments he recalls, but this does help him come to terms with his parent’s divorce and this story would be of particular interest to any children whose parents are divorced - as was the case for a couple of the pupils in my Year 5 book club.
As soon as the author mentioned the Australian Women’s Weekly Children's Birthday Cake Book, I remembered my mum telling me about it when I was a child (its fame extended to South Africa, where I grew up) and she made the rabbit cake with the green coconut grass for one of my sister’s birthdays. I ordered a secondhand copy of the original 1980 publication and the pupils were fascinated to see the cakes mentioned in the book, although somewhat horrified at the stereotyped ‘cakes for boys’ and ‘cakes for girls’ sections.
Generally this book was hugely popular with the book club - the pupils really enjoyed the time travel element in particular, as well as the characters of James, Yan and Tiger the cat!
Thanks to Usborne and the Reading Agency for the ARC and the book group copies.
While James is obsessed with David Bowie, Yan is fascinated by obsolete technology. Her ‘time machine’ is a way of looking back at the history of web pages over time, but as the book is structured like a countdown, it seems that Yan and James have found a way to actually go back in time. Yan is a brilliantly self-sufficient character, although she clearly struggles to make friends as much as James - who spends his lunches in the front office with the receptionist.
This is a bittersweet coming-of-age story as James realises that his golden memories of his family are not the perfect moments he recalls, but this does help him come to terms with his parent’s divorce and this story would be of particular interest to any children whose parents are divorced - as was the case for a couple of the pupils in my Year 5 book club.
As soon as the author mentioned the Australian Women’s Weekly Children's Birthday Cake Book, I remembered my mum telling me about it when I was a child (its fame extended to South Africa, where I grew up) and she made the rabbit cake with the green coconut grass for one of my sister’s birthdays. I ordered a secondhand copy of the original 1980 publication and the pupils were fascinated to see the cakes mentioned in the book, although somewhat horrified at the stereotyped ‘cakes for boys’ and ‘cakes for girls’ sections.
Generally this book was hugely popular with the book club - the pupils really enjoyed the time travel element in particular, as well as the characters of James, Yan and Tiger the cat!
Thanks to Usborne and the Reading Agency for the ARC and the book group copies.
July 19, 2024
In this beautifully crafted twist on a time travel story, we follow James, a young boy navigating the emotional labyrinth of his parents’ recent split. Straddling two homes, James is a quintessential character yearning for the simplicity and wholeness of yesteryears. His nostalgic longing is palpable, holding tight to cherished family memories as if they were lifebuoys in a sea of change.
Enter Yan, an enigmatic and slightly eccentric girl from his school, who turns the tide of James's story. Yan’s introduction of a time machine is both fantastical and deeply symbolic—a vessel for hope and reflection. Her invention becomes a conduit for James's desire to revisit the past, but with a poignant twist: the ability to live within a memory.
James is faced with a heart-wrenching decision—if he could immerse himself in one memory, which would he choose? This premise is where the story’s magic unfolds. It’s not just about the allure of time travel, but about the nature of memory itself. Are the moments we yearn for as perfect as we remember? Or do they hold the same imperfections that mar our present?
The narrative gracefully explores themes of family, the fragility of human connections, and the unexpected friendships that arise in times of turmoil. It’s a tale that resonates deeply with anyone who has ever wanted to turn back the clock, not just to escape the present, but to understand the past more clearly.
This book is more than just a time travel adventure; it’s a journey into the heart of what makes us human. Through James’s eyes, we see that the true power of memory isn’t in its accuracy but in its ability to shape our identity and guide us toward the future. It’s a poignant reminder that while we can’t change the past, we can choose how we let it influence our present and future selves.
May 5, 2024
Do you have an 8-10 year old in your life? This is the book you need to read and share with them.
A story of parental separation, finding friendship and acceptance at school, baking and seeing life from another point of view.
Personally, this book made me nostalgic for 1980s films, Australian Women’s Weekly Children’s Birthday Cake Cookbook (it’s the Dolly Varden cake I always wanted as a kid), and revolving restaurants.
Shirley Marr has crafted a seamless story of a week in James’ life in the lead up to Science Week and the school fundraiser. Weaving in themes of nostalgia and anemoia, the computer simulation theory of Nick Bostrom and excellent dessert inspiration.
Any teacher of years 3-6 will love this book for teaching perspective.
But, I would dearly love for this book to be turned into an Australian television film - with Peter Rowsthorn as Principal Taylor.
Run to your nearest bookshop or library now.
A story of parental separation, finding friendship and acceptance at school, baking and seeing life from another point of view.
Personally, this book made me nostalgic for 1980s films, Australian Women’s Weekly Children’s Birthday Cake Cookbook (it’s the Dolly Varden cake I always wanted as a kid), and revolving restaurants.
Shirley Marr has crafted a seamless story of a week in James’ life in the lead up to Science Week and the school fundraiser. Weaving in themes of nostalgia and anemoia, the computer simulation theory of Nick Bostrom and excellent dessert inspiration.
Any teacher of years 3-6 will love this book for teaching perspective.
But, I would dearly love for this book to be turned into an Australian television film - with Peter Rowsthorn as Principal Taylor.
Run to your nearest bookshop or library now.
February 22, 2024
I loved this twist on a time travel story. James’ parents have split up and he has to split his life between two houses. He wants things to go back to how they used to be and he holds on to the good memories of his family. When he meets Yan, an unusual girl from his school, she tells him that she has created a time machine. James starts to think about when in time he would go back to. Yan explains that he could use her time machine to live inside one of his memories, but which one? But, are his memories as good as he remembers them to be? This is a great story about families, making surprising friends and time travel.
May 29, 2024
This is the best kid's book I have read in some time. It hooked me in early and kept me engaged right to the end. Something tells me this will be a hit with my kid's book club kiddos. The story is relatable and being centred around The Australian Women's Weekly Children's Birthday Cake Book, it has a sense of nostalgia for all ages. I particularly love the way it focuses on perception and remembering, and how those can shift with time.
I will definitely be recommending this one to a lot of kiddos.
I will definitely be recommending this one to a lot of kiddos.
January 7, 2024
I had requested this, but also Jessica @Usborne was lovely enough to forward me an actual copy.
Is it good? Absolutely it is! I just read a review on a blog I follow (librarylady) and her review blew me away, so this one of mine will not do the book justice!
James lives with his mum and dad in Australia. He thinks all is happy with his family. He has his room with the broken trundle bed in the house on the hill. His David Bowie, Major Tom poster is on the back of his bedroom door.
Then his parents announce they are splitting up. James runs to his room. They were happy, how can this be? Dad stays in the house and Mum moves to a flat which she fills with second hand furniture. He can walk to school still, and he can walk from one to the other if need be.
On the way to school one morning he sees a girl on the other side of the road. she's reading a book, She walks into a lamppost! She then examines it, she then looks in a bush very carefully. James calls her over. She's called Yan, her parents are Chinese (so is James Mum). They talk. James loves Space, Yan likes old books and computers. James helps the secretary at lunchtimes, Yan hides in the library with the old books (and helps the librarians).
The school Science Week project is Vehicles of the Future. James decides to do a Time Machine, rather than a flying car. Dad show James a kind of Time Machine on the computer, it show exactly what was happening on a day in the past. But Yan tell James she has a real time machine.
In between helping his Mum and Dad, making his Time Machine poster and becoming friends with Yan. His parents are so different when they are apart. Mum is even entering the school Cake Competition. Dad is mending an old motorbike, playing his instruments and suddenly doesn't care what James eats; takeaways and deconstructed desserts! James is on a countdown to when Yan can take him back to a time when his parents were happy. But when? He picks some times from their old photographs.
He also finds out about Yan who isn't sure where she fits, she is Australian but doesn't feel it, she has to be aware of her parents culture and wishes for her. They like her to do academic subjects and clubs - she does drama without telling them!
But is Operation Major Tom the success James hope for?
Brilliantly written story about two children struggling to find their place in school and in their family. Both characters are wonderful. They fit the story beautifully.
5*, looking forward to taking the copy into school.
But is Operation Major Tom
Is it good? Absolutely it is! I just read a review on a blog I follow (librarylady) and her review blew me away, so this one of mine will not do the book justice!
James lives with his mum and dad in Australia. He thinks all is happy with his family. He has his room with the broken trundle bed in the house on the hill. His David Bowie, Major Tom poster is on the back of his bedroom door.
Then his parents announce they are splitting up. James runs to his room. They were happy, how can this be? Dad stays in the house and Mum moves to a flat which she fills with second hand furniture. He can walk to school still, and he can walk from one to the other if need be.
On the way to school one morning he sees a girl on the other side of the road. she's reading a book, She walks into a lamppost! She then examines it, she then looks in a bush very carefully. James calls her over. She's called Yan, her parents are Chinese (so is James Mum). They talk. James loves Space, Yan likes old books and computers. James helps the secretary at lunchtimes, Yan hides in the library with the old books (and helps the librarians).
The school Science Week project is Vehicles of the Future. James decides to do a Time Machine, rather than a flying car. Dad show James a kind of Time Machine on the computer, it show exactly what was happening on a day in the past. But Yan tell James she has a real time machine.
In between helping his Mum and Dad, making his Time Machine poster and becoming friends with Yan. His parents are so different when they are apart. Mum is even entering the school Cake Competition. Dad is mending an old motorbike, playing his instruments and suddenly doesn't care what James eats; takeaways and deconstructed desserts! James is on a countdown to when Yan can take him back to a time when his parents were happy. But when? He picks some times from their old photographs.
He also finds out about Yan who isn't sure where she fits, she is Australian but doesn't feel it, she has to be aware of her parents culture and wishes for her. They like her to do academic subjects and clubs - she does drama without telling them!
But is Operation Major Tom the success James hope for?
Brilliantly written story about two children struggling to find their place in school and in their family. Both characters are wonderful. They fit the story beautifully.
5*, looking forward to taking the copy into school.
But is Operation Major Tom
February 2, 2024
That was beautiful.
It hurt my heart for a long time which I found very bewildering and strange because I’ve never thought being a child of divorce is a bad thing. Rather the reverse. But of course Shirley Marr is as excellent a writer as ever and very much made me feel the sadness of being a child of divorce.
Which is why the plot trajectory was a lovely surprise, and I particularly loved how all the disparate elements of a kid’s school life converged to make for a beautifully satisfying conclusion. Poignant and mature and exquisitely attuned to small moments of huge change. The bit when Mum talks to Mrs Chen I read twice before moving on because its precision and elegance of language was a thing of fucken beauty.
It hurt my heart for a long time which I found very bewildering and strange because I’ve never thought being a child of divorce is a bad thing. Rather the reverse. But of course Shirley Marr is as excellent a writer as ever and very much made me feel the sadness of being a child of divorce.
Which is why the plot trajectory was a lovely surprise, and I particularly loved how all the disparate elements of a kid’s school life converged to make for a beautifully satisfying conclusion. Poignant and mature and exquisitely attuned to small moments of huge change. The bit when Mum talks to Mrs Chen I read twice before moving on because its precision and elegance of language was a thing of fucken beauty.
October 9, 2024
I'm not sure who, if anyone, I would recommend this book to. The message, while well intentioned, is badly executed. It's telling kids that their happy memories are not happy . . .and that everything in their life was always wrong. YIKES.
The story is about James, who learns very suddenly that his parents are divorcing and he'll be living in two different places. It's about him adjusting, wishing things could go back to how they were, but realizing ultimately that his parents are happier now and that he'll get to know them in ways they aren't. Fine message, but the execution is what ruins it.
The first 180 pages doesn't feel like it's written for kids. The book is about the adults and how it is hard for them to be separate. James has little to no agency and is getting bounced around from house to house. This was all setup for the time travel part.
Once we get to the time travel, the book reads like a kids book (finally), but it's so rushed that it feels like the message is being forced on James rather than him learning it. What James learns, by time traveling, is that the memories he thought were happy . . . weren't. Even though he enjoyed those times with his parents, his parents were miserable, and he blocked it out. That is grim.
So . . . I do know from talking to people who's parents are divorced that this is true - they end up liking that their parents are happier after separation and maybe didn't notice everything leading up to it that was wrong. But the way this book portrays this doesn't sit well with me. It feels like an adult reflecting on their memories and coming to terms with it . . . it just doesn't feel like it's being done in the way kids would think. I had adults try to give this message to me as a kid over other topics . . . I didn't listen and hated them for saying it because it's just the wrong way to approach it with them. You need empathy, which this book does not have.
And there goes my problem with recommending this book to kids. I do not think it is a good idea to tell kids that they should search their happiest memories to realize those memories were not good.
The idea was to say that living in memories is bad and living in the present is good. Fine message, but the execution is terrible. You don't have to hate your memories in order to not live in them. You can have good memories and still live in the present.
I wouldn't recommend this to a kid who's parents are married - it's going to make the kid paranoid and begin analyzing their whole life to find out if their parents are actually miserable and about to spring a divorce on the kid like James' parents did.
I wouldn't recommend this to a kid who is adjusted to their parent's divorce. They've learned the message already and don't need to be going back to their happy memories only to decide those memories are terrible.
And I wouldn't recommend this book to the target audience - the kid who is struggling to cope with divorce because of how little empathy is shown to James, the child and victim of changing circumstances.
The parents make so many mistakes in this book. They don't tell James they are getting divorced until the Mom is about to move out. They don't figure out how weekends are going to work out. They keep changing which place he's staying at and when. The Mom complains about the Dad to James (don't do that - he needs to love his father!) and violates the agreement on who picks him up from school.
And worst of all, the parents constantly look to James to validate the divorce. They want him to say he is fine, he's happy, and that nothing is wrong. They don't care if it's true - they feel bad and want him to make them feel better. This is terrible!
And I would be fine with this if the story ever once called the parents out on their behavior. It would have actually be a simple change that would have made a great message - adjusting is hard for everyone.
But this isn't what happens. The parents are never called out on their behavior, nor do they apologize to James. What happens is that James just ends up saying 'I guess this is fine because they are happier'. It's like his feeling don't matter to anyone. Kids in this situation deserve empathy - it's not their responsibility to make the parents feel better - IT IS THE PARENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP THE CHILD ADJUST!
The book never acknowledges the situation is hard for James. No one says 'I know this is hard for you'. There's a moment he gets in trouble for 'bullying' someone (he called the kid stupid after the kid picked on him), and no one askes 'could you be acting out due to the change in your life circumstances'? The way the book handles the message just seems to be saying: 'so, you're parents got divorced and you don't like it - well deal with it because they are happy now and the sooner you realize it you'll be happy, too.' The kids deserve to be recommended a book that will empathize with them.
Is the story, writing, characters in the book worth 1 star? Not at all. But because of the execution of the message, I cannot recommend this book to any child. The first 180 pages aren't written for kids. The part that is for them is too rushed to be effective. And the message places the onus of adjusting to the divorce on the child, not the parents, seems to say that it's the kids' responsibility to make their parents feel better about the situation, and tells kids that they should reexamine their lives and see that they've never really been happy.
There's also a few odd things as well - like how the book approaches gender stereotypes. It seems to think that saying 'men can cook' and 'boys don't need to be in sports' and 'women don't need to be submissive' is a new idea. These messages were standard 20 years ago when I was a kid. There's also a weird bit where the author is gatekeeping what it means to be Chinese . . . another character tells James that his mom isn't *really* Chinese because she was born in Australia whereas that character immigrated. Just . . . wow.
Maybe if you're an adult who wants a manual on how not to handle your divorce when speaking to your child this will work. The parents are clearly learning, and I wouldn't be so hard on them if they or the book ever admitted that they handled this situation terribly.
The story is about James, who learns very suddenly that his parents are divorcing and he'll be living in two different places. It's about him adjusting, wishing things could go back to how they were, but realizing ultimately that his parents are happier now and that he'll get to know them in ways they aren't. Fine message, but the execution is what ruins it.
The first 180 pages doesn't feel like it's written for kids. The book is about the adults and how it is hard for them to be separate. James has little to no agency and is getting bounced around from house to house. This was all setup for the time travel part.
Once we get to the time travel, the book reads like a kids book (finally), but it's so rushed that it feels like the message is being forced on James rather than him learning it. What James learns, by time traveling, is that the memories he thought were happy . . . weren't. Even though he enjoyed those times with his parents, his parents were miserable, and he blocked it out. That is grim.
So . . . I do know from talking to people who's parents are divorced that this is true - they end up liking that their parents are happier after separation and maybe didn't notice everything leading up to it that was wrong. But the way this book portrays this doesn't sit well with me. It feels like an adult reflecting on their memories and coming to terms with it . . . it just doesn't feel like it's being done in the way kids would think. I had adults try to give this message to me as a kid over other topics . . . I didn't listen and hated them for saying it because it's just the wrong way to approach it with them. You need empathy, which this book does not have.
And there goes my problem with recommending this book to kids. I do not think it is a good idea to tell kids that they should search their happiest memories to realize those memories were not good.
The idea was to say that living in memories is bad and living in the present is good. Fine message, but the execution is terrible. You don't have to hate your memories in order to not live in them. You can have good memories and still live in the present.
I wouldn't recommend this to a kid who's parents are married - it's going to make the kid paranoid and begin analyzing their whole life to find out if their parents are actually miserable and about to spring a divorce on the kid like James' parents did.
I wouldn't recommend this to a kid who is adjusted to their parent's divorce. They've learned the message already and don't need to be going back to their happy memories only to decide those memories are terrible.
And I wouldn't recommend this book to the target audience - the kid who is struggling to cope with divorce because of how little empathy is shown to James, the child and victim of changing circumstances.
The parents make so many mistakes in this book. They don't tell James they are getting divorced until the Mom is about to move out. They don't figure out how weekends are going to work out. They keep changing which place he's staying at and when. The Mom complains about the Dad to James (don't do that - he needs to love his father!) and violates the agreement on who picks him up from school.
And worst of all, the parents constantly look to James to validate the divorce. They want him to say he is fine, he's happy, and that nothing is wrong. They don't care if it's true - they feel bad and want him to make them feel better. This is terrible!
And I would be fine with this if the story ever once called the parents out on their behavior. It would have actually be a simple change that would have made a great message - adjusting is hard for everyone.
But this isn't what happens. The parents are never called out on their behavior, nor do they apologize to James. What happens is that James just ends up saying 'I guess this is fine because they are happier'. It's like his feeling don't matter to anyone. Kids in this situation deserve empathy - it's not their responsibility to make the parents feel better - IT IS THE PARENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP THE CHILD ADJUST!
The book never acknowledges the situation is hard for James. No one says 'I know this is hard for you'. There's a moment he gets in trouble for 'bullying' someone (he called the kid stupid after the kid picked on him), and no one askes 'could you be acting out due to the change in your life circumstances'? The way the book handles the message just seems to be saying: 'so, you're parents got divorced and you don't like it - well deal with it because they are happy now and the sooner you realize it you'll be happy, too.' The kids deserve to be recommended a book that will empathize with them.
Is the story, writing, characters in the book worth 1 star? Not at all. But because of the execution of the message, I cannot recommend this book to any child. The first 180 pages aren't written for kids. The part that is for them is too rushed to be effective. And the message places the onus of adjusting to the divorce on the child, not the parents, seems to say that it's the kids' responsibility to make their parents feel better about the situation, and tells kids that they should reexamine their lives and see that they've never really been happy.
There's also a few odd things as well - like how the book approaches gender stereotypes. It seems to think that saying 'men can cook' and 'boys don't need to be in sports' and 'women don't need to be submissive' is a new idea. These messages were standard 20 years ago when I was a kid. There's also a weird bit where the author is gatekeeping what it means to be Chinese . . . another character tells James that his mom isn't *really* Chinese because she was born in Australia whereas that character immigrated. Just . . . wow.
Maybe if you're an adult who wants a manual on how not to handle your divorce when speaking to your child this will work. The parents are clearly learning, and I wouldn't be so hard on them if they or the book ever admitted that they handled this situation terribly.
June 27, 2024
This is the book I never knew I needed.
It’s a fresh take on many things: a child’s view on divorce, memories, and Asian families.
Since I am not a child of divorce, it was an interesting world to delve into, since my marriage came close to that end line. Reading about how James felt living that memory and then reliving that same memory created something inside that feels significant but unnamable.
I’ve definitely felt like James did for most of the book. If I could just go back to that one time where I was truly happy, then everything will be perfect. But he comes to realize that his memories were unreliable. The memories he had were so layered that when he went back, they weren’t the perfect moment he once thought. This intriguing concept definitely will linger when my overly nostalgic brain starts veering into the morose territory.
Honestly, I was drawn to this book because of Yan’s name. I like reading stories with Asian characters because of representation. Growing up there weren’t many books with Asian characters that weren’t historical or horrendously stereotypical. But Yan is so real, so brilliantly truthful, it hurts. My mom is from Okinawa so in a lot of ways she’s like a combination of Yan’s mother and James’ mother. My dad was born and raised on Maui so he resembles my dad quite a bit. But James’ parents look and feel a lot like Alec and I do.
—————
“No wearing shoes inside the house, kiddo,” says Dad as he takes a sip of his black coffee and makes a face. I thought that was Mom’s rule because Mom is Chinese. When she first met Dad, she told me he’d happily wear shoes inside, and she had to train him out of it. I thought now that she didn’t live here anymore, he would revert to his old life. Guess some things take time to undo.
—————
I don’t know much about Ah Ma and Ah Gong, as Mom makes me call them. We only see them on the other side of a restaurant table at Lunar New Year, when Mom spends the whole time uncharacteristically saying nothing and staring down at the ends of her chopsticks.
—————
When she speaks English, Mom is no-nonsense, confident, opinionated. When she speaks Chinese, she becomes… Docile. Meek. Quiet. It’s like she changes into a completely different person.
—————
I turn to Yan, who stares at Mom in amazement. “There are activists, Nobel Prize winners, and people changing the planet whom I greatly admire,” says Yan quietly. “But that’s who I want to be when I grow up.” Once again, Yan makes me see things through different eyes. So that now I, too, believe I have X-ray eyes.
—————
“You don’t have to keep apologizing for stuff,” I tell her. “Maybe I want to,” replies Yan. “I come from a family that never says ‘sorry’ or ‘I love you’ or ‘putting that though the washing machine wasn’t a good idea, but that’s my fault.’ I’m making a version of myself that I want to be. The future me. Not the same old, same old my parents are.”
It’s a fresh take on many things: a child’s view on divorce, memories, and Asian families.
Since I am not a child of divorce, it was an interesting world to delve into, since my marriage came close to that end line. Reading about how James felt living that memory and then reliving that same memory created something inside that feels significant but unnamable.
I’ve definitely felt like James did for most of the book. If I could just go back to that one time where I was truly happy, then everything will be perfect. But he comes to realize that his memories were unreliable. The memories he had were so layered that when he went back, they weren’t the perfect moment he once thought. This intriguing concept definitely will linger when my overly nostalgic brain starts veering into the morose territory.
Honestly, I was drawn to this book because of Yan’s name. I like reading stories with Asian characters because of representation. Growing up there weren’t many books with Asian characters that weren’t historical or horrendously stereotypical. But Yan is so real, so brilliantly truthful, it hurts. My mom is from Okinawa so in a lot of ways she’s like a combination of Yan’s mother and James’ mother. My dad was born and raised on Maui so he resembles my dad quite a bit. But James’ parents look and feel a lot like Alec and I do.
—————
“No wearing shoes inside the house, kiddo,” says Dad as he takes a sip of his black coffee and makes a face. I thought that was Mom’s rule because Mom is Chinese. When she first met Dad, she told me he’d happily wear shoes inside, and she had to train him out of it. I thought now that she didn’t live here anymore, he would revert to his old life. Guess some things take time to undo.
—————
I don’t know much about Ah Ma and Ah Gong, as Mom makes me call them. We only see them on the other side of a restaurant table at Lunar New Year, when Mom spends the whole time uncharacteristically saying nothing and staring down at the ends of her chopsticks.
—————
When she speaks English, Mom is no-nonsense, confident, opinionated. When she speaks Chinese, she becomes… Docile. Meek. Quiet. It’s like she changes into a completely different person.
—————
I turn to Yan, who stares at Mom in amazement. “There are activists, Nobel Prize winners, and people changing the planet whom I greatly admire,” says Yan quietly. “But that’s who I want to be when I grow up.” Once again, Yan makes me see things through different eyes. So that now I, too, believe I have X-ray eyes.
—————
“You don’t have to keep apologizing for stuff,” I tell her. “Maybe I want to,” replies Yan. “I come from a family that never says ‘sorry’ or ‘I love you’ or ‘putting that though the washing machine wasn’t a good idea, but that’s my fault.’ I’m making a version of myself that I want to be. The future me. Not the same old, same old my parents are.”
February 18, 2024
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
James is 11, and things are tense in his house. His mother, who has never before made a cake for the school fundraiser, has decided to take on the most difficult one in the Australian Women's Weekly Children's Birthday Cake book for her first attempt. While her own mother, who had immigrated from China, didn't use this revered cookbook, she is determined to finally make James a cake. She makes James go to school early to get assigned that choice and everything. This is just one of the tell tale signs that something is wrong in his house. His mother and father seem at odds, so it's only slightly surprising when his mother says that she has found a new apartment. His father is staying in the house, with all of his computer equipment he uses for his job as well as his musical instruments. Around this time, James runs into Yan, who always has her nose in a vintage computer textbook, and the two commiserate about the difficulties with parents. They also hang out in the school library, in the room where the librarians stock pile old books and equipment, and come up with the idea of a time machine. Yan says she has created one, and even James' father claims that computers might make this possible. As things escalate with his mother's baking and her encounters with the mother of James' nemesis, who also wants to make the rocket cake, James becomes determined to travel to the past to revisit happy memories. When Yan and James make this happen, will James choose to remain in the past, or does revisiting it give him new insights?
Strengths: I'm a fan of time travel books, so enjoyed the combination of computers that James and Yan were able to cobble together in order to make time travel work. The idea of traveling through an Internet Archive "WayBack Machine", but to the actual place and time rather than a web site, was intriguing. I also enjoyed the birthday cake cookbook mentions, although I feel compelled to note that the US Baker's Coconut Cut-Up Cakes is very similar and predates this by a couple of decades. Yan and James work well together, and the depiction of the divorce and the new living arrangements will resonate with many young readers.
Weaknesses: While I personally enjoyed all of the cake details, there should have been fewer of those and more details about time travel for the target demographic, especially readers in the US for whom this book won't have any emotional connections.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Edge's The Many Worlds of Albie Bright or Welford's Time Traveling with a Hamster.
James is 11, and things are tense in his house. His mother, who has never before made a cake for the school fundraiser, has decided to take on the most difficult one in the Australian Women's Weekly Children's Birthday Cake book for her first attempt. While her own mother, who had immigrated from China, didn't use this revered cookbook, she is determined to finally make James a cake. She makes James go to school early to get assigned that choice and everything. This is just one of the tell tale signs that something is wrong in his house. His mother and father seem at odds, so it's only slightly surprising when his mother says that she has found a new apartment. His father is staying in the house, with all of his computer equipment he uses for his job as well as his musical instruments. Around this time, James runs into Yan, who always has her nose in a vintage computer textbook, and the two commiserate about the difficulties with parents. They also hang out in the school library, in the room where the librarians stock pile old books and equipment, and come up with the idea of a time machine. Yan says she has created one, and even James' father claims that computers might make this possible. As things escalate with his mother's baking and her encounters with the mother of James' nemesis, who also wants to make the rocket cake, James becomes determined to travel to the past to revisit happy memories. When Yan and James make this happen, will James choose to remain in the past, or does revisiting it give him new insights?
Strengths: I'm a fan of time travel books, so enjoyed the combination of computers that James and Yan were able to cobble together in order to make time travel work. The idea of traveling through an Internet Archive "WayBack Machine", but to the actual place and time rather than a web site, was intriguing. I also enjoyed the birthday cake cookbook mentions, although I feel compelled to note that the US Baker's Coconut Cut-Up Cakes is very similar and predates this by a couple of decades. Yan and James work well together, and the depiction of the divorce and the new living arrangements will resonate with many young readers.
Weaknesses: While I personally enjoyed all of the cake details, there should have been fewer of those and more details about time travel for the target demographic, especially readers in the US for whom this book won't have any emotional connections.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Edge's The Many Worlds of Albie Bright or Welford's Time Traveling with a Hamster.
February 21, 2024
A young read that packs a lot in that we've seen before – if it lacked any of this book's readability it would have been a struggle. Our hero is a boy suddenly woken up to the fact his parents are splitting up and divorcing, and so he has to get used to two one-parent households in which to share his time. At least he gains a new friend somehow at the same time – a girl who seems to like nothing more than reading out of date computer manuals, oddly enough. When tasked by the school to think of a transport vehicle of the future he demands the construction of a time machine, to take himself back to the more halcyon days of the nuclear family – so just how, and how close, will he get?
Yes, this jumbles the school-project-in-the-time-of-being-bullied, new friendship, a split family, the wish to get back to how it was when it seemed all great – as I say much of this can easily feel second-hand. But I liked the lightness of this. The girl could have been annoyingly over-quirky just for the sake of it, and isn't. The parents too could have been broad stereotypes, and even if the dad gets to have a swerve towards the mid-life crisis they both remain likeable. And as I say this has some distinctive flavours, oddly given by the computer manuals, and David Bowie – again, of all things. So all told this is probably four stars – it could well be new for the reader it's intended, and it does try harder than many to remain distinctive.
Yes, this jumbles the school-project-in-the-time-of-being-bullied, new friendship, a split family, the wish to get back to how it was when it seemed all great – as I say much of this can easily feel second-hand. But I liked the lightness of this. The girl could have been annoyingly over-quirky just for the sake of it, and isn't. The parents too could have been broad stereotypes, and even if the dad gets to have a swerve towards the mid-life crisis they both remain likeable. And as I say this has some distinctive flavours, oddly given by the computer manuals, and David Bowie – again, of all things. So all told this is probably four stars – it could well be new for the reader it's intended, and it does try harder than many to remain distinctive.
December 2, 2023
This is a touching middle grade novel about an experience that may seem - at least initially - all too familiar to many children in a time when divorce is so common. But any familiarity only applies initially, mind you, because this story goes in a very unusual direction...
James is struggling with his parents' break-up which has left him with two sets of almost everything, and yet, a life which feels lacking in so many ways. Two homes, two rooms, two changing adults do not make for a satisfactory outcome.
Longing to return to an easier time in his life, James revisits in his recollections his Top Six Memories of time spent with his parents. But why the memories bring him a degree of consolation, they also enhance his longing.
So, during Science Week, after he meets a mysterious girl called Yan, when unexpected possibilities open up, James is very tempted to test his options. Because it seems that it may even be possible to revisit those times in person. But is that really likely to give him what he longs for?
James' desire to change the present by changing the past is something most of us have experienced. He is a relatable character, and Yan is as interesting as she is unusual. This is an emotional story which will touch the hearts of readers.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
James is struggling with his parents' break-up which has left him with two sets of almost everything, and yet, a life which feels lacking in so many ways. Two homes, two rooms, two changing adults do not make for a satisfactory outcome.
Longing to return to an easier time in his life, James revisits in his recollections his Top Six Memories of time spent with his parents. But why the memories bring him a degree of consolation, they also enhance his longing.
So, during Science Week, after he meets a mysterious girl called Yan, when unexpected possibilities open up, James is very tempted to test his options. Because it seems that it may even be possible to revisit those times in person. But is that really likely to give him what he longs for?
James' desire to change the present by changing the past is something most of us have experienced. He is a relatable character, and Yan is as interesting as she is unusual. This is an emotional story which will touch the hearts of readers.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
February 21, 2024
Touching story of divorce, friendship, time travel and cakes.
This will hit home with a lot of readers. James' parents are splitting up, and quickly he finds he has two homes, two routines, a timetable between them, and a lot of sadness and yearning for the not-so-distant past when everything was wonderful.
Into this mix comes a new friend - Yan. Who reads books about 40 year old technology, talks about using computers to time travel, and whom James reveals his wish to return to younger years when his family were happy and complete.
As a cake competition at school speeds to a climax with parents vying for love and prestige, James is learning other lessons about the past and present, what makes a family, and coping with change.
It's wonderfully told. The fantasy elements with the time travel felt strange but also quite acceptable as part of the children's imaginations/real world experiences. The lessons learned were deep ones, and not just for children.
Loved this. A few cultural nods to James' family and acquaintances 'difference' in their Australian setting, a fab quirky friend in Yan who I wish I could see more of. And an all-too-common experience for many young people that this book could help them work through.
For ages 9-13.
With thanks to the publisher for providing a sample reading copy.
This will hit home with a lot of readers. James' parents are splitting up, and quickly he finds he has two homes, two routines, a timetable between them, and a lot of sadness and yearning for the not-so-distant past when everything was wonderful.
Into this mix comes a new friend - Yan. Who reads books about 40 year old technology, talks about using computers to time travel, and whom James reveals his wish to return to younger years when his family were happy and complete.
As a cake competition at school speeds to a climax with parents vying for love and prestige, James is learning other lessons about the past and present, what makes a family, and coping with change.
It's wonderfully told. The fantasy elements with the time travel felt strange but also quite acceptable as part of the children's imaginations/real world experiences. The lessons learned were deep ones, and not just for children.
Loved this. A few cultural nods to James' family and acquaintances 'difference' in their Australian setting, a fab quirky friend in Yan who I wish I could see more of. And an all-too-common experience for many young people that this book could help them work through.
For ages 9-13.
With thanks to the publisher for providing a sample reading copy.
April 24, 2024
James’ life is thrown in to turmoil when his parents announce they’re separating. Mum moves out into a small flat, meaning James’ week is now split between living in his family home with Dad and, in the mismatched furniture of mums flat. He’s torn between hurting each of their feelings, enjoying activities with one more than the other, whilst experiencing life at school and all that it brings.
When he meets Yan and learns of her interest in computers, technology and time travel, James wants to return back to a time when he and his parents were all happy. But, when Yan helps him to revisit the memories from his favourite photographs, James realises those times weren’t has happy has he recalls. Will he stay in the past or decide to live in the here and
Beautiful, gentle storytelling that navigates a difficult subject for young people. Exploring relationships, family dynamics, friendships and the importance of seeing the bigger picture.
When he meets Yan and learns of her interest in computers, technology and time travel, James wants to return back to a time when he and his parents were all happy. But, when Yan helps him to revisit the memories from his favourite photographs, James realises those times weren’t has happy has he recalls. Will he stay in the past or decide to live in the here and
Beautiful, gentle storytelling that navigates a difficult subject for young people. Exploring relationships, family dynamics, friendships and the importance of seeing the bigger picture.
February 28, 2024
I’m such a sucker for time travel *anything* and this is a particularly great middle grade contribution, also because - if I had to describe it - I’d say it’s like an Aussie and youth version of the Richard Curtis 2013 film ‘About Time.’ In all the best ways; a poignant and entertainingly throwback offering with powerfully big themes and topics … it’s ultimately about learning to live and appreciate the present, accepting that you just have to embrace and move through the chaos of life and stop trying to chase “perfect.”
A warm hug of a book that I think will stick with young reader’s in big and little, profound, and funny ways
A warm hug of a book that I think will stick with young reader’s in big and little, profound, and funny ways
August 15, 2024
This is such a gorgeous book! It shows happy/sad and some parts made me want to cry and some parts I wanted to jump for joy!
It was such an entertaining read.
James wants to so desperately cling on to the past only remembering the good times then building a time machine realizes that things weren't as good as he thought. This is the thing about past sometimes you think one day that trip to the amusement park was the best trip you ever went on. But then you remember that you puked after going on the roller-coaster. Life isn't always going to be good things but somtimes bad things can make some good things, remember that.
Love and a flock of doves
xxxxxx
It was such an entertaining read.
James wants to so desperately cling on to the past only remembering the good times then building a time machine realizes that things weren't as good as he thought. This is the thing about past sometimes you think one day that trip to the amusement park was the best trip you ever went on. But then you remember that you puked after going on the roller-coaster. Life isn't always going to be good things but somtimes bad things can make some good things, remember that.
Love and a flock of doves
xxxxxx
December 24, 2024
When a book combines ‘The Australian Women’s Weekly’ and a playlist by David Bowie it is impossible not to predict that this is going to be an imaginative and fun read. While this book is marketed to younger readers, it is so much more. With an estimated two thirds of marriages ending in separation this book should be recommended reading for prospective couples and their (often) innocent progeny. This book deals with ‘grown-up’ issues in a sensitive yet realistic manner that every reader could learn from. That it does this in a fun and engaging way is a credit to the skill of the writer. I’ll have to read more Shirley Marr. Highly recommended.
August 21, 2024
4.5/5
Shirley Marr absolutely blew me away with this one! This middle grade novel felt like a mix between Rebecca Stead's The List of Things that Will Not Change and Pixar's Inside Out. Marr's narrative voice is delightful, and I *loved* the characters, particularly the narrator. Marr also does a nice job tackling important middle grade themes such as friendship, loneliness, communicating emotions, and coping with changes in family structure.
Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced reader copy.
Shirley Marr absolutely blew me away with this one! This middle grade novel felt like a mix between Rebecca Stead's The List of Things that Will Not Change and Pixar's Inside Out. Marr's narrative voice is delightful, and I *loved* the characters, particularly the narrator. Marr also does a nice job tackling important middle grade themes such as friendship, loneliness, communicating emotions, and coping with changes in family structure.
Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced reader copy.
June 1, 2025
Yes, the underlying story is about time travel, and is imaginative and thoughtful. The component of this that I just loved was the reality of divorce from the perspective of an only child. An honest, hard, understanding that sometimes your parents just are not happy together, and divorce might be the best choice. Our main character James also is brave enough to work at a friendship with a new student, Yan, and is such a reflective and beyond his years kid that it was just a great read! A little family, a little fantasy, a little bit of the challenge of middle school, something for everyone.
November 8, 2025
What do you do when your parents divorce and you want to go back to a time when you were happy? You get a time machine!
While the book was slower on the plot. Our adventures with a time machine didn't start until later in the book, but I was kind of expecting a Back to the Future-esque plot. It is not that, folks! I think what shone about this book was that it showed that while your memories may seem happy, they actually may not be. Going back in time doesn't mean that all of your problems will be fixed.
While the book was slower on the plot. Our adventures with a time machine didn't start until later in the book, but I was kind of expecting a Back to the Future-esque plot. It is not that, folks! I think what shone about this book was that it showed that while your memories may seem happy, they actually may not be. Going back in time doesn't mean that all of your problems will be fixed.
June 30, 2024
Pure Magic
The sweet and “salty” moments of life melded together with sprinkles of golden life wisdom.
With the present of presence and the perspective of hindsight, Countdown to Yesterday is pure magic.
Thanks, Shirley for sharing your creative genius with the world and bringing this story to life.
It spoke to my heart and mind, as well as my kidlets. Kind of like the journey of life gave us a big dose of joy for all the tastes, colours and experiences it brings.
The sweet and “salty” moments of life melded together with sprinkles of golden life wisdom.
With the present of presence and the perspective of hindsight, Countdown to Yesterday is pure magic.
Thanks, Shirley for sharing your creative genius with the world and bringing this story to life.
It spoke to my heart and mind, as well as my kidlets. Kind of like the journey of life gave us a big dose of joy for all the tastes, colours and experiences it brings.
October 2, 2024
🖇️ A Countdown to Yesterday
🍁 Shirley Marr
📖 Libby
⭐ 4,5/5
Review: Bukunya bagus tapi slow burn parah. Adegan time travel nya mendekati akhir dan kayak gitu aja. Padahal kalau time travel nya di awal menuju tengah mungkin lebih seru. Lebih bisa di eksplor sisi emosional nya ☹️☹️☹️ tapi masih cukup oke untuk dibaca. Ini kan middle grade book. Cocok buat kalian yang bahasa Inggris nya standar kayak aku🫵🏻
🍁 Shirley Marr
📖 Libby
⭐ 4,5/5
Review: Bukunya bagus tapi slow burn parah. Adegan time travel nya mendekati akhir dan kayak gitu aja. Padahal kalau time travel nya di awal menuju tengah mungkin lebih seru. Lebih bisa di eksplor sisi emosional nya ☹️☹️☹️ tapi masih cukup oke untuk dibaca. Ini kan middle grade book. Cocok buat kalian yang bahasa Inggris nya standar kayak aku🫵🏻
June 7, 2025
I enjoyed this book immensely! The third by Shirley Marr and I think my favourite. I loved the developing friendship of James and Yan, both considered ‘different’ by their peers. James takes refuge at lunchtime in the front office, helping Mrs Tagliatelle and Yan seeks solace among the pieces of On the Way Out in the library. They bond over time travel; its meaning and purpose. And so begins an important life lesson for James…
Highly recommend this gem for ages 8+
Highly recommend this gem for ages 8+
January 10, 2024
Another great book by this author. It’s amazing when life changes how we feel it was always better before. I love how we can actually discovery things aren’t as we remember, and although the change is hard, it’s for the best.
September 1, 2024
James just wants to travel back to one of his favorite memories --to a time before his parents split -- and live there forever. With the help of a new friend who claims to have a time machine, he revisits those memories and starts to process the divorce. Bluey fans might enjoy the PTA contest.
September 3, 2024
Quite readable w/ touching storyline. The Aussie setting was nice too.
October 8, 2024
3.5. Entertaining and heartfelt, just wish there was more characterization
April 10, 2025
Solid book on a child learning to deal with his parent's divorce, how they are separate people, how to live in the moment and that nostalgia has it's place as well.
April 17, 2025
Very strange, with a very short timeline that didn't help the characters.
Nothing like I expected.
Nothing like I expected.
June 19, 2025
Sequoyah 2026
A science fiction read which can be hard to come by in children's literature. I think tying a modern story problem with time travel was well done.
A science fiction read which can be hard to come by in children's literature. I think tying a modern story problem with time travel was well done.
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