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Time Travelers #1-2
The Time Travelers: Volume One
Imagine changing centuries - and making things worse, not better, on both sides of time.
Imagine being involved in two love triangles in two different centuries.
Imagine discovering that, no matter which direction you travel in time, you must abandon someone you love.
Meet fifteen-year-old Annie Lockwood, a romantic living in the wrong century. When she travels back a hundred years and lands in 1895, she at last finds romance.
But she is a trespasser in time. Will she choose to stay in the past? And if she does, will she be allowed to stay?
Imagine being involved in two love triangles in two different centuries.
Imagine discovering that, no matter which direction you travel in time, you must abandon someone you love.
Meet fifteen-year-old Annie Lockwood, a romantic living in the wrong century. When she travels back a hundred years and lands in 1895, she at last finds romance.
But she is a trespasser in time. Will she choose to stay in the past? And if she does, will she be allowed to stay?
420 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 10, 2006
51 people are currently reading
346 people want to read
About the author
Caroline B. Cooney
129 books1,770 followersCaroline Cooney knew in sixth grade that she wanted to be a writer when "the best teacher I ever had in my life" made writing her main focus. "He used to rip off covers from The New Yorker and pass them around and make us write a short story on whichever cover we got. I started writing then and never stopped!"
When her children were young, Caroline started writing books for young people -- with remarkable results. She began to sell stories to Seventeen magazine and soon after began writing books. Suspense novels are her favorites to read and write. "In a suspense novel, you can count on action."
To keep her stories realistic, Caroline visits many schools outside of her area, learning more about teenagers all the time. She often organizes what she calls a "plotting game," in which students work together to create plots for stories. Caroline lives in Westbrook, Connecticut and when she's not writing she volunteers at a hospital, plays piano for the school musicals and daydreams!
- Scholastic.com
When her children were young, Caroline started writing books for young people -- with remarkable results. She began to sell stories to Seventeen magazine and soon after began writing books. Suspense novels are her favorites to read and write. "In a suspense novel, you can count on action."
To keep her stories realistic, Caroline visits many schools outside of her area, learning more about teenagers all the time. She often organizes what she calls a "plotting game," in which students work together to create plots for stories. Caroline lives in Westbrook, Connecticut and when she's not writing she volunteers at a hospital, plays piano for the school musicals and daydreams!
- Scholastic.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
November 23, 2010
Sometimes you have to not read for a loooooong time (like 6 months) to appreciate the goodness that is dipping yourself into a fictitious world and getting lost in pages of words. Looking at the reviews on Amazon it seems that not many are as fond of Caroline B. Cooney's "Time Travelers" quartet compared to her other books. It could be that I have not had the chance to read her other more popular series or that not having read anything except university textbooks for the past 6 months I was desperate to read any book that did not involve Calculus, Programming or Engineering Fundamentals. Either way I bought both volume 1 and 2 of The Time Travelers series on a whim after my exams and having just finished reading the quartet have fallen in love with it! It was all that I hoped it would be and more. Drama, action,history, romance, mystery and dollops of time travelling: can a girl ask for anything more?
In Both Sides of Time we are introduced to Annie Lockwood currently living in the summer of 1995. A romantic at heart she loves visiting the Stratton Mansion -- a century old house with its shimmering triangular mirrors, marble floors, double oak doors and ballroom but which is sadly in disrepair and about to be demolished. A fall through time takes her back a 100 years to a time when the Stratton's are yet alive (1890s) and here she meets (and falls in love) with Strat, his sister Devonny and Harriett (who everyone knows will be wed to Strat one day). And thus begins our journey through heartache and happiness. We see how Annie's arrival affects everyone and at first it seems that all her arrival has done is set in motion a chain of events that seem to lead only to pain for all involved. I won't go through the events because it's much more fun being surprised at all the turn of events (like eating a chocolate not knowing what the inside filling is). But I have to mention Florinda who everyone dismissed as a airy-fairy woman who faints from 'vapours' so often that she needs her own Fainting Couch -- she surprises everyone by shooting Mr. Rowwells when he tries to kill Harriett. That has got to be one of my favourite scenes from the book!
Harriett's story is simply heart-breaking and the most tragic of all. She loves Strat knowing that he loves Annie. Smarter than most men, she is not allowed to go to university because it was unseemly for women of her status in her era to do so. All she wants from life is to have a happy household with Strat but instead she contracts consumption and is stuck in the Adirondack Mountains believing herself to be abandoned by her fiancé Strat (who is stuck in an insane asylum by his father and in turn believes himself to be abandoned as well) . The most heart-wrenching imagery comes when Harriett, who was always considered plain, smiles at how beautiful she looks now because of the flush in her cheeks and her small waistline, the results of the fatal disease that is eating her from the inside. In Out of Time Annie does manage to bring Strat to Harriett in her dying moments and crying Strat realises how much he loved Harriett despite his deep love for Annie (confusing isn't it?) and Harriett gets to die in the arms of her beloved. However, I'm too cynical and I'd rather Charlie had gotten the chance to confess and live happily ever after with Harriett than Strat redeeming himself in my eyes by ignoring Annie completely (in the romantic sense) when he hears how his childhood best friend is suffering. Ah I loved it when Annie feels jealous of Harriett! You can tell that I'm not as invested in the main couple Annie and Strat as I am in the rest of the characters but it's nothing personal against them: Strat is a gentleman, kind and courteous while Annie is strong, full of courage and determination, but I just happen to always love the ones who don't get as much attention as they deserve.
Fortunately the third book Prisoner of Time remedies that! No Annie or Strat in sight, instead the book focusses on Tod Lockwood and Devonny, their respective siblings. It is hilarious and refreshing to see Tod deal with the same 'falling through time' thing as his sister. Mostly because he reacts in completely the opposite way to Annie. Disbelieving, he doesn't want to do do any falling (in love or through time) and fights it all the way. But what I enjoyed the most was his scolding of Devonny every time she said that he or Strat should save her. His mother having drilled in the whole self-made woman principles in his head he encourages Devonny to save herself and fight back no matter what era she is stuck in. And how can one not love the cute little girl's soccer team that he coaches! Another favourite of mine is Hugh-David, seemingly misogynistic and arrogant he realises what his character really is like when Devonny disappears right before their wedding. His true strength of character is revealed when he has to deal with the aftermath of the scandal and he redeems himself in the readers eyes and then some!
The last book For All Time takes a departure from the structure of its predecessors: the book is divided into parts with titles like Time to Fall,Time to Fear, Time to Die etc and within each of these parts the narrations are split between the various characters. Neat concept. I have to admit I was less engaged in this last book but only because the focus seemed to be on Strat and Annie. And Renifer a girl living in the 20th year of the reign of Khufu. Yes this time Annie and Strat get to travel to ancient Egypt when the pyramids were being constructed! The book ends on a vague and confusing note which I guess is as it should be because the whole time travelling thing is confusing anyway.
Overall I give this series a double thumbs-up with book 2 and 3 being my personal favourites.
In Both Sides of Time we are introduced to Annie Lockwood currently living in the summer of 1995. A romantic at heart she loves visiting the Stratton Mansion -- a century old house with its shimmering triangular mirrors, marble floors, double oak doors and ballroom but which is sadly in disrepair and about to be demolished. A fall through time takes her back a 100 years to a time when the Stratton's are yet alive (1890s) and here she meets (and falls in love) with Strat, his sister Devonny and Harriett (who everyone knows will be wed to Strat one day). And thus begins our journey through heartache and happiness. We see how Annie's arrival affects everyone and at first it seems that all her arrival has done is set in motion a chain of events that seem to lead only to pain for all involved. I won't go through the events because it's much more fun being surprised at all the turn of events (like eating a chocolate not knowing what the inside filling is). But I have to mention Florinda who everyone dismissed as a airy-fairy woman who faints from 'vapours' so often that she needs her own Fainting Couch -- she surprises everyone by shooting Mr. Rowwells when he tries to kill Harriett. That has got to be one of my favourite scenes from the book!
Harriett's story is simply heart-breaking and the most tragic of all. She loves Strat knowing that he loves Annie. Smarter than most men, she is not allowed to go to university because it was unseemly for women of her status in her era to do so. All she wants from life is to have a happy household with Strat but instead she contracts consumption and is stuck in the Adirondack Mountains believing herself to be abandoned by her fiancé Strat (who is stuck in an insane asylum by his father and in turn believes himself to be abandoned as well) . The most heart-wrenching imagery comes when Harriett, who was always considered plain, smiles at how beautiful she looks now because of the flush in her cheeks and her small waistline, the results of the fatal disease that is eating her from the inside. In Out of Time Annie does manage to bring Strat to Harriett in her dying moments and crying Strat realises how much he loved Harriett despite his deep love for Annie (confusing isn't it?) and Harriett gets to die in the arms of her beloved. However, I'm too cynical and I'd rather Charlie had gotten the chance to confess and live happily ever after with Harriett than Strat redeeming himself in my eyes by ignoring Annie completely (in the romantic sense) when he hears how his childhood best friend is suffering. Ah I loved it when Annie feels jealous of Harriett! You can tell that I'm not as invested in the main couple Annie and Strat as I am in the rest of the characters but it's nothing personal against them: Strat is a gentleman, kind and courteous while Annie is strong, full of courage and determination, but I just happen to always love the ones who don't get as much attention as they deserve.
Fortunately the third book Prisoner of Time remedies that! No Annie or Strat in sight, instead the book focusses on Tod Lockwood and Devonny, their respective siblings. It is hilarious and refreshing to see Tod deal with the same 'falling through time' thing as his sister. Mostly because he reacts in completely the opposite way to Annie. Disbelieving, he doesn't want to do do any falling (in love or through time) and fights it all the way. But what I enjoyed the most was his scolding of Devonny every time she said that he or Strat should save her. His mother having drilled in the whole self-made woman principles in his head he encourages Devonny to save herself and fight back no matter what era she is stuck in. And how can one not love the cute little girl's soccer team that he coaches! Another favourite of mine is Hugh-David, seemingly misogynistic and arrogant he realises what his character really is like when Devonny disappears right before their wedding. His true strength of character is revealed when he has to deal with the aftermath of the scandal and he redeems himself in the readers eyes and then some!
The last book For All Time takes a departure from the structure of its predecessors: the book is divided into parts with titles like Time to Fall,Time to Fear, Time to Die etc and within each of these parts the narrations are split between the various characters. Neat concept. I have to admit I was less engaged in this last book but only because the focus seemed to be on Strat and Annie. And Renifer a girl living in the 20th year of the reign of Khufu. Yes this time Annie and Strat get to travel to ancient Egypt when the pyramids were being constructed! The book ends on a vague and confusing note which I guess is as it should be because the whole time travelling thing is confusing anyway.
Overall I give this series a double thumbs-up with book 2 and 3 being my personal favourites.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2021
Loved this. Couldn't put it down!
One of my favourite travel novels of all time. I love how meticulously Caroline b. Cooney described the nineteenth century and all its differences.
One of my favourite travel novels of all time. I love how meticulously Caroline b. Cooney described the nineteenth century and all its differences.
March 24, 2010
wow what a great book beautifully written. This book is a story about a 15 year old girl hopeless romantic named Annie Lockwood. Annie dreams of living in a century where women are courted and only wear the most divine clothing. one day as Annie is think about such a world she falls through time. one moment the year was 1995 the next it was 1895. Annie finds herself falling in luv with a man in this century and soon the time comes to choose where to stay Annie wishes to stay in the 1890s but time doesn't seem willing to let her. this is a great story and has become a favorite of mine.
October 2, 2017
Two good stories by one of my favorite authors. The first story is about Anna Sophia Lockwood and her love of an old mansion. One day while in that mansion, she fell through a portal and ended up at that mansion 100 years earlier.
The time and the family reminds me of the Alyssa Maxwell Newport Murder series, although the this book predates those books.
Strat, Devonney, Brigit and Harriet are all captivating characters. I liked Anna's torment of learning the good and the bad of that era and her desire to go home. She and I learned a lot about the sexists views of that time.
The story shows the consequences of Anna's travels. It made a complete tale.
The second story didn't pick up right at the end of the first story. Some time has lapsed in Anne's time. She can't find records of what happens to Strat in his future but her past. Then it's once more to the past. This time we didn't have a murder mystery. I wasn't sure what the story was until halfway into it.
Cooney makes up for it in that second half. This story resolves a lot of storylines. Strat. Devonney. Anna's father.
I'm interested enough to want to find the next book, even though the stories seem wrapped up.
The time and the family reminds me of the Alyssa Maxwell Newport Murder series, although the this book predates those books.
Strat, Devonney, Brigit and Harriet are all captivating characters. I liked Anna's torment of learning the good and the bad of that era and her desire to go home. She and I learned a lot about the sexists views of that time.
The story shows the consequences of Anna's travels. It made a complete tale.
The second story didn't pick up right at the end of the first story. Some time has lapsed in Anne's time. She can't find records of what happens to Strat in his future but her past. Then it's once more to the past. This time we didn't have a murder mystery. I wasn't sure what the story was until halfway into it.
Cooney makes up for it in that second half. This story resolves a lot of storylines. Strat. Devonney. Anna's father.
I'm interested enough to want to find the next book, even though the stories seem wrapped up.
December 3, 2020
2.5 stars
Let’s sum this up: Outlander for Teens.
I had a hard time swallowing the premise. Ok, time travel is far-fetched enough, and I’m not even talking about time travel. I’m talking about that after Annie Lockwood gets thrown back into time 100 years, she falls in love with Strat within 5 pages. There needed to be more there because there’s really no foundation for this love / relationship / whatever it is. At least in Outlander they have some foundation.
The melodrama in the second book surrounding Harriet was too much.
A few books ago I had gushed about this author, who I grew up reading. I had really liked anything she had written. This was her foray into science fiction/time travel romance. I’m thinking that this was her pitching an Outlander for teens. I haven’t looked at publication dates, but I really think Outlander came first. I’m not really into science fiction or romance, so it could be that my disdain for both genres set myself up to fail.
If you liked Outlander, you might want to give this a try.
Let’s sum this up: Outlander for Teens.
I had a hard time swallowing the premise. Ok, time travel is far-fetched enough, and I’m not even talking about time travel. I’m talking about that after Annie Lockwood gets thrown back into time 100 years, she falls in love with Strat within 5 pages. There needed to be more there because there’s really no foundation for this love / relationship / whatever it is. At least in Outlander they have some foundation.
The melodrama in the second book surrounding Harriet was too much.
A few books ago I had gushed about this author, who I grew up reading. I had really liked anything she had written. This was her foray into science fiction/time travel romance. I’m thinking that this was her pitching an Outlander for teens. I haven’t looked at publication dates, but I really think Outlander came first. I’m not really into science fiction or romance, so it could be that my disdain for both genres set myself up to fail.
If you liked Outlander, you might want to give this a try.
July 18, 2024
I ate this series up as a tween, and reading this as an adult was so nostalgic. Is it the best written YA ever? No. Is Annie a pretty annoying main character? Yes. But the plot is such a fun rollercoaster ride, and I’m a sucker for historical time travel romance. I was pleasantly surprised by how much the first two books in the series blatantly called out misogyny (and even classism and xenophobia and the treatment of mentally and physically ill people, though maybe a bit less successfully), too, both in the 1890s and in Annie’s 1990s world. Honestly bless Caroline B. Cooney for supporting my early feminism 🫡
October 28, 2017
Always a good read.
As good as it was when I was young! Love reading about Annie and Strat. Two “Times” to visit and two hearts linked together. Thanks Ms Cooney for these wonderful stories.
As good as it was when I was young! Love reading about Annie and Strat. Two “Times” to visit and two hearts linked together. Thanks Ms Cooney for these wonderful stories.
December 24, 2018
A middle school favorite I still enjoy re-reading from time to time.
January 24, 2019
Wow. Why do I remember this series being so good when it is sooooo bad?
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December 31, 2019The Time Travelers Review!
I found this book very interesting. I love the characters in this book. The concept of time travel was very interesting to read about.
I found this book very interesting. I love the characters in this book. The concept of time travel was very interesting to read about.
February 7, 2020
The intended audience is definitely a teenage girl. I enjoyed it nonetheless.
May 21, 2023
I read this book many years ago when I was in high school and I am so glad I remembered it. It’s just as good as when I read it back then.
February 23, 2011
As a huge fan of time travel stories, YA literature and somewhat romantic plots, I figured this should be a literary 'hole-in-one' for me... unfortunately it was less than so.
For me, (some of) the faults are as follows:
- Walker Walkley has got to be one of the worst character names I have ever read
- While I do understand that most teenage girls will find the plot hopelessly romantic, I was often irratated at the lack of any kind of logic or forethought by the characters. Often I found them lacking maturity... which in all fairness this is a YA book and the characters should grow over the series... maybe I just need to read further.
- Huge plot hole! At the end of the first book, Both Sides of Time, Annie is pulled further backwards by Time rather than returning to 1995, yet rather than address this in the sequel, Cooney just pretends that never happened. Laziness!
Having aired those issues, I have to admit that by the end of book two I was enjoying the storyline. Strat has redeemed himself in my eyes (so has Annie to an extent), Walk is gone, and as for Harriet... well I won't spoil it. While it's definitely not at the top of my TBR pile, I will probably continue with the series at a later date.
For me, (some of) the faults are as follows:
- Walker Walkley has got to be one of the worst character names I have ever read
- While I do understand that most teenage girls will find the plot hopelessly romantic, I was often irratated at the lack of any kind of logic or forethought by the characters. Often I found them lacking maturity... which in all fairness this is a YA book and the characters should grow over the series... maybe I just need to read further.
- Huge plot hole! At the end of the first book, Both Sides of Time, Annie is pulled further backwards by Time rather than returning to 1995, yet rather than address this in the sequel, Cooney just pretends that never happened. Laziness!
Having aired those issues, I have to admit that by the end of book two I was enjoying the storyline. Strat has redeemed himself in my eyes (so has Annie to an extent), Walk is gone, and as for Harriet... well I won't spoil it. While it's definitely not at the top of my TBR pile, I will probably continue with the series at a later date.
December 27, 2011
I read this book with higher expectations,and it half satisfied me. The audience Ms. Cooney chose was not definite,for it seemed to be written for kids or pre teens,while some subject matters seemed YA. While interesting,I think it could have been improved by centering more on the main characters, Annie and Strat's story instead of about ,what six characters? While I sympathized for each character, when reading about other than Strat or Annie I would feel impatient and not want to read about the others,flip pages to see when Annie or Strat was up next,etc.While the main characters were clear,they did not get as much time as I would have liked. While the story still enticed me(sorry about all of the negative I just had to get it out)I didn't finish it. It had promise and created a beautiful romance and questioning mystery but just wasn't my cup of tea. Perhaps the ending is better,but I have other books to attend to. I admire Cooney's writing style that isn't seen much today,but I thought she should have limited the other characters. Overall,three stars for a nice story, pretty romance, and mystery.
September 19, 2010
Out of Time, the second half of this volume, was a better read for me than Both Sides of Time (book one contained here) so keep turning the pages -Annie gets less repetitive, Sean disappears into the background, and the second book is action packed compared to the first, with a very tidy/Shakespearean conclusion.
December 24, 2010
I really liked this book, and the whole time I was reading, I felt like a sap for liking it, but I still totally did, because I love the whole old-fashioned-and-well-manored-guy-woos-the-girl-who-is-just-not-having-any-luck-in-that-department stories. And yes, the time traveling thing is COMPLETELY random, but hey-it's a fantasy book, right?...The romance is very sweet, and then it becomes action and mystery and thriller and star-crossed lovers...satisfying ending too
July 8, 2007
This is probably my favorite book of 2006. The author takes you on an incredible journey through time, sequencing the events of Clare and Henry's unique love story. Don't let the number of pages scare you. Once you get a grip on the time travels, you'll be sucked into Henry's incredible journey through his life.
April 10, 2008
I loved the romance of loving someone who doesn't live in the same time period as you! There are a whole series about these books. The last is my favorite, and then this one, the first, is my second. Annie is the main character, and she has kind of a wanting to her. Time pulls her back in time, and she finally finds romance. But she doesn't belong in that time, so will she be allowed to stay?
April 12, 2011
Caroline B. Cooney creates an enchanting story dripping with romance and adventure. From the moment I held her novel in my hands it was impossible to put down until the second I turned the last page. Time Travelers is a captivating drama about two star-crossed lovers born in two different centuries yet they come together through mystical events. A must read.
June 30, 2011
I liked the characters and I enjoyed the time period representation, though I honestly don't know much about 1890s.
However, I wasn't fond of the writing style, nor the plot, particularly. I found that the characters were too ready to fall for each other, to jump on bandwagons, and to just do everything that happened pretty much.
An alright quick read, though I probably won't pursue sequels.
However, I wasn't fond of the writing style, nor the plot, particularly. I found that the characters were too ready to fall for each other, to jump on bandwagons, and to just do everything that happened pretty much.
An alright quick read, though I probably won't pursue sequels.
July 27, 2014
Two novels (or novellas) in one, and as I read the second I recalled having read it before, out of sequence. Now I want to find and read the third!
Atmospheric, harsh on the fate of women in both centuries (the 20th and the 19th) and without quite the cozy happy ending one might wish for, these are strong books and among the best of the popular "oops, I slipped through time again" genre.
Atmospheric, harsh on the fate of women in both centuries (the 20th and the 19th) and without quite the cozy happy ending one might wish for, these are strong books and among the best of the popular "oops, I slipped through time again" genre.
August 23, 2007
The choices that "Anna Sophia" has to make throughout this book kept me very interested. When she has to choose between family and someone from another century she has fallen in love with, things really get interesting. This volume contains the first two books of the series.
December 29, 2008
I thought it had a good story line. There was sweet, innocent romance that kept it going. It didn't end as I would have wished, but still ended well. I'm curious to see if the others continue on with the same main character or not.
January 22, 2010
It was a great book and I'm surprized that Annie still left after everything in Both Sides of Time. And in Out of Time she almost dies for Strat and he leaves her, then Walker comes and then gets killed by a shot to the head from Charlie and if his shot wasn't perfect he could have shot Annie.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2010
A modern-day high schooler finds herself thrown back in forth between her century and the 1800s. Cute love story for a teenage girl (12 or 13+). Writing is simple and informative - I liked all of the historical Victorian details.
September 15, 2010
It talks about how such actions can be on love, and that sometimes that it can be good or bad. The good can also result to bad, but you don't know the future. Oh, well. Some things you cannot change.
March 24, 2007
the title doesn't do this book justice. It was actually a great book!
March 16, 2009
I liked it - kind of cheesy in some places but nice and clean. Volume two is also pretty good. Yay for clean, entertaining books!
June 16, 2009
The Time Travelers: Volume One by Caroline B. Cooney (2006)
February 8, 2011
A really interesting book, it's like I'm actually watching it happen when I'm reading it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews