Stu and the Sketchy Time Stops

by Rebecca J. Chaney

A middle grade heist adventure about taking a chance on friendship while taking on time-stopping casino thieves.

What would you do if you could stop time?

Twelve-year-old Stu is new to Las Vegas, and he’s lonely.
His best friend back in Australia has dumped him, and his only friend here is his pet snake.
He wants more friends, but it hurts too much to lose them.
Then Stu runs into a pair of casino thieves with an amazing ability—they can stop time!
But when the whole world freezes in place, Stu keeps moving.
And when Stu discovers he can stop time too, the thieves come up with a criminal plan for him.
Can Stu master his new powers and stop the thieves, while finding the courage to make new friends?

Only time will tell.

218 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 23, 2024

About the author

Rebecca J. Chaney is an author of middle grade adventure books full of mystery, science, and laugh-out-loud moments.

Her debut novel "Stu and the Sketchy Time Stops" was the first children's book to be shortlisted for the Newcastle Writers Festival Fresh Ink Emerging Writers Prize. Rebecca was also awarded Runner Up for the Writing NSW Fellowship, and Honorable Mentions in the Kids' Choice Kidlit Writing Contest and Just Write for Kids' Pitch it! competition for this novel.

Rebecca has previously worked as a bookseller, publishing assistant, schools science program coordinator, and platypus monitor, among other things. Science is her jam!

Reviews

[Dawn M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first chapter, STU AND THE SKETCHY TIME STOPS had me laughing out loud. This humorous, time-stopping adventure follows 12-year-old and recent Australian transplant, Stu, as he navigates homesickness and loneliness in Las Vegas, NV. While attending a birthday party at the casino where his dad works security, time freezes everything and everyone, except Stu and two thieving magicians. The magic duo learns of Stu’s abilities and forces him to steal jewels from the casino using his little sister as a pawn. He enlists a motley crew of new friends with brains, brawn, and acting talents, to help stay one step ahead of the thieves as he races against time to rescue his sister and save his dad’s job.

This action-packed, fun story has a likeable, unlikely hero you’ll root for, whose dynamic inner voice hilariously narrates the book. Perfect for kids 10 and older.

[Kim Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Time-stopping adventure

Stu and the Sketchy Time Stops is such a fun read! And a really unique premise as well.
When Stu moves to Las Vegas from Sydney, he misses his best friend - who seems to have dumped him - and struggles to make new friends at his new school.
One day at a party for his dad’s new boss’s daughter, he finds time has stopped - but he hasn’t. Everyone around him has turned into a Stiff, except the two magicians hired to entertain the children at the party being held in a casino owned by the host’s father.
And so begins a fast-paced adventure, with Stu making new friends along the way, saving kidnapped people and being forced to steal jewels from the casino’s vault.
The reason Stu can Sketch is quite something. But you’ll have to read to find out for yourself.
Highly recommend for readers 8+

[Beth Gawlik · Rating 5 out of 5]

This humorous science fiction adventure has everything a kid could ask for: a loveable and funny hero you can't help rooting for, a fun and unique setting, a collection of helpful friends, and two dastardly villains you can't help rooting against. Twelve(and a half) year old Stu isn't happy about his family's move from Australia to Las Vegas, but when time stops at a birthday party at the casino his dad works at, his adventure begins. Two thieves are using their time stopping "magic" to rob the casino. Stu must work with this new friends to stop the thieves and save his dad's job. While he's at it, he just might realize his new home isn't that bad after all. I received an advance copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

STU AND THE SKETCHY TIME STOPS whisks middle-grade readers off on a whirlwind adventure. Uprooted from Australia to Las Vegas and missing his best friend, Stu feels completely out of place—until a birthday party unlike any other. There, time mysteriously stops, unveiling a superpower Stu never knew he had.

When two men plot to harness Stu's newfound ability for their own gain, he teams up with an unlikely band of friends to foil their plans and protect his family. Packed with humor and heart, this story explores middle-grade themes of identity and belonging. Through the witty and engaging narrative, Stu learns that home really isn't about a spot on the map, but about the people you share it with.

[Daria Pipkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

12-(and a half)-year-old Stu's story is laugh-out-loud funny and filled with action. Having recently moved to Las Vegas from Australia, he's navigating homesickness and a lost friendship when he discovers his ability to freeze time and becomes involuntarily embroiled in a jewelry heist at the casino where his father works in security. Working together with his new friends, he must rescue his sister while outwitting the antagonists in a battle fit for fans of Home Alone. A tight, fast-paced plot is brought to life with an engaging voice, filled with the humor kids are looking for. Highly recommended!

I received an eARC of this story and am looking forward to my own copy!

[Jenny Mattern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stu and the Sketchy Time Stops, the first book in the Sketcher Series, is a thoroughly enjoyable, laugh-out-loud-funny story that kids will love! Rebecca Chaney's debut novel follows Stu, a twelve (and a half) year old boy who has recently moved from Sydney, Australia, to Las Vegas for his mom's job. It's his dad's job at a casino, though, that soon gets Stu into a heap of trouble when he gets mixed up with a duo of time-hopping criminals. When the criminals kidnap Stu's only sibling, Stu has to rely on his wits and his new friends to get him out of a sticky situation and save his little sister before time runs out!

[Malia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun story! Perfect for 8-12 year olds, this funny story follows Stu, a kid who recently moved away from Australia and his best friend to the United States. When he goes to a birthday party and time seems to stop, he winds up in a wacky web of thievery and heroics. Will Stu manage to save the day, his dad's job, and maybe make a friend out of the scary tough girl who acts like she doesn't need anyone? Only time will tell!

[Ranjeeta Raam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one hilarious, fast-paced kid's adventure novel that had me laughing out loud at every single page! With its engaging narrator, unique concept, interesting characters and funny dialogues this book is the perfect fun read any middle grade would want. Great debut novel! Waiting to read Book no:2!

[Carolyn Ziegler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun middle grade adventure! This novel is perfect for 8-12 YOs who love action. Stu is a kind-hearted and quirky character with the ability to stop time. And he’s the only thing standing in the way of casino thieves pulling off an epic heist.

[Lisa Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. It's so fast-paced. Time might stop several times in Stu's story but the action never ends! What a rollercoaster! A great read for 9+ and I can't wait for book 2. I read it with my daughter and she loved the characters and the action. It's really clever and inventive.

[T.C. Kemper · Rating 5 out of 5]

A funny MG adventure with shady Vegas magicians and a lovable main character!

[Anna’s Favs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This debut is the first in a series, a humorous heist-adventure with a very relatable main character.

[Karyn Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Immensely enjoyable, action-packed, and laugh-out-loud funny! Stu is a hilarious and relatable kid and his adventures are highly entertaining.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool concept, engaging (and funny) narrator, wild ride! In a Las Vegas casino, time freezes for everyone except two phony magicians and one very surprised twelve-year-old from Australia. From there springs a fast-paced, twisty tale with a heart of gold. This book is fun, charming, and wholly original. Stu is a great underdog to root for as he figures out how to use his strange freezy powers and finds his courage in an unfamiliar place where everything goes wrong.