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Timelight
Can a mysterious power help a thirteen-year-old boy solve the disappearance that has fractured his family?
Seventh grader Charlie Winter has never stopped believing he can find his missing mom, even when his dad has given up hope. Three years after she vanished on Charlie’s birthday, his mom’s disappearance remains a mystery no one wants to talk about. No one, that is, except Charlie’s grandmother. Then, during a strange snowstorm, his grandmother is injured and Charlie learns a she’s a time traveler. And so is he.
Soon Charlie embarks on a dangerous adventure with his three best friends, searching the past for a magical silver amulet he believes is the key to finding his mom. As they cross continents and centuries, rescuing animal companions along the way, Charlie and his friends discover they aren’t alone. Malcolm Mordrex, a vengeful time traveler seeking the same amulet for darker purposes, is chasing them.
With harrowing obstacles at every turn and his friends thrust into a terrible trap, Charlie must find a way to defeat Malcolm and face a choice about his own past—a choice that could mean life or death. And time is ticking down . . .
Seventh grader Charlie Winter has never stopped believing he can find his missing mom, even when his dad has given up hope. Three years after she vanished on Charlie’s birthday, his mom’s disappearance remains a mystery no one wants to talk about. No one, that is, except Charlie’s grandmother. Then, during a strange snowstorm, his grandmother is injured and Charlie learns a she’s a time traveler. And so is he.
Soon Charlie embarks on a dangerous adventure with his three best friends, searching the past for a magical silver amulet he believes is the key to finding his mom. As they cross continents and centuries, rescuing animal companions along the way, Charlie and his friends discover they aren’t alone. Malcolm Mordrex, a vengeful time traveler seeking the same amulet for darker purposes, is chasing them.
With harrowing obstacles at every turn and his friends thrust into a terrible trap, Charlie must find a way to defeat Malcolm and face a choice about his own past—a choice that could mean life or death. And time is ticking down . . .
- GenresFantasy
233 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 29, 2024
7 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 19, 2024
Charlie can't figure out why his nana has given him a necklace with the instruction to wear it under his shirt at all times. Then, when a stranger tells Charlie that he knows where Charlie's mom is, and that he can take Charlie to see her, Charlie is all in, as are his three best friends. What follows is a mystery filled with lots of action as Charlie searches for his mom and tries his best to figure out how this whole time travel thing works!
I confess I struggled when the kids and adults weren't open with each other, even when it seemed like there was no reason for them not to be. I felt fewer secrets and more camaraderie would have made Timelight even more of a fun read.
On the other hand, the animal characters were sometimes funny, very smart, and always sweet. I loved them!
Many thanks to both #Flashpoint and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Timelight. I suspect this book will turn out to be the first of a series and I hope that will be true! It has the expected publication date of October 29, 2024.
#TimeTravel #Friendship
I confess I struggled when the kids and adults weren't open with each other, even when it seemed like there was no reason for them not to be. I felt fewer secrets and more camaraderie would have made Timelight even more of a fun read.
On the other hand, the animal characters were sometimes funny, very smart, and always sweet. I loved them!
Many thanks to both #Flashpoint and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Timelight. I suspect this book will turn out to be the first of a series and I hope that will be true! It has the expected publication date of October 29, 2024.
#TimeTravel #Friendship
August 19, 2024
*I got a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley, this in no way affected my review*
Timelight would have been an amazing 5 star read and I would have been obsessed with it if 13 year old me had read this, but since I’m pushing 30, I’m keeping it at a demure 4 stars
We follow Charlie, who finds out he’s a time traveller after his grandma ends up at the hospital. We go on this wild journey with him and his friends and the book never slows down right until the end.
The animal companions were definitely my favourite and now I also want a dog, cat and a French speaking parrot, thank you very much.
The overall plot wasn’t too heavy, so I wish we could’ve had some more of that, but since this is the start of a series for younger readers, I can imagine we get a glimpse of that and more reveals as the next books come out
So definitely pick this up if you’re in the mood for some light middle grade fantasy.
Timelight would have been an amazing 5 star read and I would have been obsessed with it if 13 year old me had read this, but since I’m pushing 30, I’m keeping it at a demure 4 stars
We follow Charlie, who finds out he’s a time traveller after his grandma ends up at the hospital. We go on this wild journey with him and his friends and the book never slows down right until the end.
The animal companions were definitely my favourite and now I also want a dog, cat and a French speaking parrot, thank you very much.
The overall plot wasn’t too heavy, so I wish we could’ve had some more of that, but since this is the start of a series for younger readers, I can imagine we get a glimpse of that and more reveals as the next books come out
So definitely pick this up if you’re in the mood for some light middle grade fantasy.
November 26, 2024
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Timelight by Faith Conlon has Charlie discover that he can time travel and how Malcolm wants to use him.
Will Charlie's choice be the best one?
Charlie Winter
Charlie Winter was raised by his father for the last three years, with the help of his maternal grandma. He plays soccer and is trying to do well in school. Charlie has two amazing friends, and then he gets a new friend that ends up being as good as the others. Charlie's world gets thrown for a loop when his Nana gets injured. He is a great kid who wants to find his mom, learn about his new gift, and do well in school. Charlie has a great head on his shoulders and will do fantastic things with his ability, unlike Malcolm.
His Friends
Zach, Skye, and Lia are Charlie's friends. Charlie's soccer teammate is Zach, and he has been helping Charlie get better at practices and games. Zach is also great at learning languages and can speak quite a few already. He proves to be very useful when going back in time to locations that don't speak English as a language. Skye is Charlie's next-door neighbor, loves animals, and is a great soccer player. She is excellent at helping to coax animals out of hiding if they decide to bring them forward. Lia is the last friend, and she is new. They are marine science partners and are accidentally pulled with the others into time.
These three have their own excellent skills to bring to Charlie's travels. Well, that is if they are even allowed to go next time.
Five Stars
My rating for Timelight by Faith Conlon is five stars. I also recommend this book, as it hooked me from the first line. Ms. Conlon had a great way of bringing history to life when Charlie and his friends went back to specific time periods. Timelight by Faith Conlon is an excellent start to a new series.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Timelight by Faith Conlon.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
Timelight by Faith Conlon has Charlie discover that he can time travel and how Malcolm wants to use him.
Will Charlie's choice be the best one?
Charlie Winter
Charlie Winter was raised by his father for the last three years, with the help of his maternal grandma. He plays soccer and is trying to do well in school. Charlie has two amazing friends, and then he gets a new friend that ends up being as good as the others. Charlie's world gets thrown for a loop when his Nana gets injured. He is a great kid who wants to find his mom, learn about his new gift, and do well in school. Charlie has a great head on his shoulders and will do fantastic things with his ability, unlike Malcolm.
His Friends
Zach, Skye, and Lia are Charlie's friends. Charlie's soccer teammate is Zach, and he has been helping Charlie get better at practices and games. Zach is also great at learning languages and can speak quite a few already. He proves to be very useful when going back in time to locations that don't speak English as a language. Skye is Charlie's next-door neighbor, loves animals, and is a great soccer player. She is excellent at helping to coax animals out of hiding if they decide to bring them forward. Lia is the last friend, and she is new. They are marine science partners and are accidentally pulled with the others into time.
These three have their own excellent skills to bring to Charlie's travels. Well, that is if they are even allowed to go next time.
Five Stars
My rating for Timelight by Faith Conlon is five stars. I also recommend this book, as it hooked me from the first line. Ms. Conlon had a great way of bringing history to life when Charlie and his friends went back to specific time periods. Timelight by Faith Conlon is an excellent start to a new series.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Timelight by Faith Conlon.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
January 4, 2025
This exciting and propulsive book hits multiple sweet spots for its suggested audience of about ages 10 -14. Middle-school soccer player, Charlie, has been trying to adjust to life alone with his dad since the unexplained disappearance of his mother. When his beloved grandmother -- one of several multi-generational relationships important in the story -- gives him a powerful amulet, his diverse group of friends are drawn into a time-traveling adventure to find his mom. Their destinations are far-flung, in different time periods, and risky. Accompanied by a rescue dog, resilient cat, and French-speaking parrot, they must evade a threatening wizard, too.
The details of this plot are inventive and intriguing, but the friendships and family connections, not all perfect, make the reader really care about the characters. TimeLight stands on its own, but I hope there will be a sequel!
The details of this plot are inventive and intriguing, but the friendships and family connections, not all perfect, make the reader really care about the characters. TimeLight stands on its own, but I hope there will be a sequel!
October 4, 2024
I love a good time-travel story, and Timelight didn’t disappoint. I’m always fascinated by the new ways authors get their characters to travel through time and this story had a very unique way of doing it.
Charlie and three friends, along with a menagerie of animals collected along the way, travel to different times in history searching for an object he believes will lead him to his missing mum. Of course there’s a villainous villain out to stop him, and there’s plenty of non stop action throughout to keep even the most reluctant reader glued to the pages.
I would’ve loved a little more interaction with the people of the past, but this is a small nitpick of a wonderful book that really held my interest from start to finish.
Highly recommend for ages 8+.
Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to give my honest review of Timelight.
Charlie and three friends, along with a menagerie of animals collected along the way, travel to different times in history searching for an object he believes will lead him to his missing mum. Of course there’s a villainous villain out to stop him, and there’s plenty of non stop action throughout to keep even the most reluctant reader glued to the pages.
I would’ve loved a little more interaction with the people of the past, but this is a small nitpick of a wonderful book that really held my interest from start to finish.
Highly recommend for ages 8+.
Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to give my honest review of Timelight.
May 26, 2024
Rating: ****
Timelight is a book for a younger audience, say 8 and up, though I as a 22-year-old quite enjoyed it.
It was an interesting read that keeps you guessing, I really liked that animals are a big part of the whole story.
It is definitely something I would recommend to young readers, that love fantasy and the thought of time travel.
It leaves off on a sort of cliff hanger, so I believe this might be a series, but this is the first one. Timelight gets published in October of this year. So be on the look out for this great read for your children or maybe, if you are like me and you like stories of time travel, mystery and adventure, for yourself this October!!!!
Timelight is a book for a younger audience, say 8 and up, though I as a 22-year-old quite enjoyed it.
It was an interesting read that keeps you guessing, I really liked that animals are a big part of the whole story.
It is definitely something I would recommend to young readers, that love fantasy and the thought of time travel.
It leaves off on a sort of cliff hanger, so I believe this might be a series, but this is the first one. Timelight gets published in October of this year. So be on the look out for this great read for your children or maybe, if you are like me and you like stories of time travel, mystery and adventure, for yourself this October!!!!
August 21, 2024
Timelight is an exciting adventure that follows Charlie and his friends as they discover the necklace, given to Charlie by his grandmother, allows him to travel in time. Their adventure takes them to different places in the world and in time.
Timelight is perfect for kids 8 and up. The story is adventurous but is also educational. As the group travels in time, they land in places to see historical events happens like Galileo or V-E Day. I think it was a great story but I did find the situation with Excalibur and Arthur to be a little confusing. Overall this was a fun book and would love to see where the story leads.
Timelight is perfect for kids 8 and up. The story is adventurous but is also educational. As the group travels in time, they land in places to see historical events happens like Galileo or V-E Day. I think it was a great story but I did find the situation with Excalibur and Arthur to be a little confusing. Overall this was a fun book and would love to see where the story leads.
June 14, 2024
What worked:
Readers can immediately speculate about what’s to come when Charlie’s grandmother gives him a necklace with a magical stone attached. He has no idea what makes it so special and then he notices a dark shadow following him around town. This is all coupled with the bad dreams he’s been having and the strange behavior of a dog and a cat. Charlie then discovers a letter from Malcolm Mordrex inside his soccer bag saying he knows where to find Charlie’s missing mother. She disappeared years ago and promised to return. Charlie doesn’t know what it all means so readers can wonder about what will happen when he realizes he can travel through time. However, Mordrex constantly appears at inopportune times and he has diabolical plans that involve Charlie.
Charlie is told he must travel with his mentor before trying it on his own but his grandmother/mentor is still in the hospital. Of course, readers know that’s not going to happen. He unexpectedly finds himself several centuries in the past in Italy without knowing how he did it. He hasn’t finished reading the manual on using the Winter Stone and he doesn’t know why his grandmother left certain objects in her travel bag. Readers, Charlie, and his friends will learn about using the amulet for time travel by trial and error. This creates uncertainty and anticipation in the story. What happens if Charlie loses the Winter Stone while he’s in the past?
The author doesn’t spend much time addressing the paradox of time travel regarding what happens if Charlie changes an event that affects the future. One of the rules for time travelers is that they’re only observers. Readers are also informed that Charlie can only travel on his birthday or half birthday and he must travel to fixed locations in time. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the first place he travels and the Seattle Space Needle is another. Somehow, clothing for Charlie and his friends magically changes whenever they visit another time period. An innovative twist concerns animals and how they interact with portals which Charlie learns along the way.
What didn’t work as well:
These kinds of books often have the characters interacting with famous historical personalities but Galileo only makes a brief appearance this time. There really aren’t any suspenseful moments when they might have altered history which is a surprise since Charlie doesn’t know what he’s doing. Also, it’s not clear why there are time travelers in the first place.
The final verdict:
This book offers an innovative take on time travel with printed rules to be followed. Charlie has ulterior motives to locate his mother so that adds some heart to the story. Overall, this is a fun book of time-traveling adventure and I recommend you give it a shot.
Readers can immediately speculate about what’s to come when Charlie’s grandmother gives him a necklace with a magical stone attached. He has no idea what makes it so special and then he notices a dark shadow following him around town. This is all coupled with the bad dreams he’s been having and the strange behavior of a dog and a cat. Charlie then discovers a letter from Malcolm Mordrex inside his soccer bag saying he knows where to find Charlie’s missing mother. She disappeared years ago and promised to return. Charlie doesn’t know what it all means so readers can wonder about what will happen when he realizes he can travel through time. However, Mordrex constantly appears at inopportune times and he has diabolical plans that involve Charlie.
Charlie is told he must travel with his mentor before trying it on his own but his grandmother/mentor is still in the hospital. Of course, readers know that’s not going to happen. He unexpectedly finds himself several centuries in the past in Italy without knowing how he did it. He hasn’t finished reading the manual on using the Winter Stone and he doesn’t know why his grandmother left certain objects in her travel bag. Readers, Charlie, and his friends will learn about using the amulet for time travel by trial and error. This creates uncertainty and anticipation in the story. What happens if Charlie loses the Winter Stone while he’s in the past?
The author doesn’t spend much time addressing the paradox of time travel regarding what happens if Charlie changes an event that affects the future. One of the rules for time travelers is that they’re only observers. Readers are also informed that Charlie can only travel on his birthday or half birthday and he must travel to fixed locations in time. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the first place he travels and the Seattle Space Needle is another. Somehow, clothing for Charlie and his friends magically changes whenever they visit another time period. An innovative twist concerns animals and how they interact with portals which Charlie learns along the way.
What didn’t work as well:
These kinds of books often have the characters interacting with famous historical personalities but Galileo only makes a brief appearance this time. There really aren’t any suspenseful moments when they might have altered history which is a surprise since Charlie doesn’t know what he’s doing. Also, it’s not clear why there are time travelers in the first place.
The final verdict:
This book offers an innovative take on time travel with printed rules to be followed. Charlie has ulterior motives to locate his mother so that adds some heart to the story. Overall, this is a fun book of time-traveling adventure and I recommend you give it a shot.
May 2, 2024
Timelight"by Faith Conlon is a riveting fictional novel that takes readers on a exhilarating journey through time. The story follows the adventures of thirteen year old Charlie and his three friends who follows him on his search for his mother who has been lost.. In their quest they travel through different historical times & meet different people in history about whom they had read in their books. They also manage to witness some historical events happening in front of their eyes.
As they travel through different eras & historical events, the friends have a wonderful adventure, headed by Charlie who has discovered that he has inherited his family magic of time travel on his thirteenth birthday.. But here they have to face another time traveller who is following them & trying to destroy Charlie & get hold of his family heirloom.. Timelight explores the themes of destiny & the concept of time travel.
With its blend of thrilling action, thought provoking concepts & poignant human drama, Timelight is sure to captivate readers who enjoy imaginative tales of time travel & adventure.. Faith Conlon's masterful storytelling keeps readers on their seat until the very end.
As they travel through different eras & historical events, the friends have a wonderful adventure, headed by Charlie who has discovered that he has inherited his family magic of time travel on his thirteenth birthday.. But here they have to face another time traveller who is following them & trying to destroy Charlie & get hold of his family heirloom.. Timelight explores the themes of destiny & the concept of time travel.
With its blend of thrilling action, thought provoking concepts & poignant human drama, Timelight is sure to captivate readers who enjoy imaginative tales of time travel & adventure.. Faith Conlon's masterful storytelling keeps readers on their seat until the very end.
September 27, 2024
I was lucky to get an advanced reading copy of Timelight. Ever since I read Connie Willis’s Doomsday Book, I’ve been a sucker for time travel stories. I also love realistic novels with elements of fantasy and magic.
Timelight, for middle-grade readers, has all of these, plus some very cool locations. It’s part time travel, part mystery, part adventure, and all pure fun. It’s also a family story, with Charlie Winter’s search for his missing mom at the heart of the novel. When Charlie discovers he’s a time traveler, just like his grandmother, he sets off to solve the mystery of his mom’s disappearance. Best of all, Charlie gets to go back in time with his buddies: best friends Zach and Skye, new school friend Lia, and their furry and feathered animal companions. (The animal characters are awesome!)
I loved how Charlie’s friends stick together and support him, even when danger—in the form of villain Malcolm Mordrex—threatens their lives. I was captivated by Charlie’s quest, and I think young readers will be, too. Looking forward to the October release date!
Timelight, for middle-grade readers, has all of these, plus some very cool locations. It’s part time travel, part mystery, part adventure, and all pure fun. It’s also a family story, with Charlie Winter’s search for his missing mom at the heart of the novel. When Charlie discovers he’s a time traveler, just like his grandmother, he sets off to solve the mystery of his mom’s disappearance. Best of all, Charlie gets to go back in time with his buddies: best friends Zach and Skye, new school friend Lia, and their furry and feathered animal companions. (The animal characters are awesome!)
I loved how Charlie’s friends stick together and support him, even when danger—in the form of villain Malcolm Mordrex—threatens their lives. I was captivated by Charlie’s quest, and I think young readers will be, too. Looking forward to the October release date!
January 12, 2025
Timelight had all the right ingredients to captivate and hold me from beginning to end—an imaginative story, wonderful characters, adorable animal rescues, and a plot that kept me turning the page. There’s a boy named Charlie whose mother mysteriously vanished three years ago. There’s a powerful grandmother, who lets Charlie know a secret—she’s a time traveler and so is he. And Charlie is so endearing in his relatability, but he also becomes courageous and lion-hearted as he fumbles through his newly discovered time travel powers on his quest to find his missing mom. He has vibrant friendships with three distinct characters who all play fun and surprising roles in this time travel tale. Escapades, suspense and animal rescues abound. Timelight also offers enlightening insights into history while still being highly entertaining. I laughed out loud and cried in many places. This one really impressed me. I have since passed it on to my daughter who adored the story and has passed it on to children in the neighborhood.
October 30, 2024
Time travel, magical artefacts, and endearing animal companions bound together with a missing mother and a villain out for vengeance makes this an entertaining middle grade fantasy adventure.
I particularly liked the documented rules of time travel, and I loved the animal companions! Charlie and his group of friends, best friend Skye, Francophile Zach, and new friend Lia, are likeable and believable. Charlie is sworn to secrecy about the family secret but I did enjoy him immediately telling his friends he was a time traveller, it seems very realistic!
This book is obviously the start of a series, and while the main plot in Timelight is resolved, the story is far from over. I like the thread about Charlie’s mother who seems to be lost in time. It was a nice touch also to include Mr Tanaka who was interred with his family during World War two like so many Japanese-Americans.
I highly recommend this story for those who like time travel, family heirlooms, and animal companions!
I particularly liked the documented rules of time travel, and I loved the animal companions! Charlie and his group of friends, best friend Skye, Francophile Zach, and new friend Lia, are likeable and believable. Charlie is sworn to secrecy about the family secret but I did enjoy him immediately telling his friends he was a time traveller, it seems very realistic!
This book is obviously the start of a series, and while the main plot in Timelight is resolved, the story is far from over. I like the thread about Charlie’s mother who seems to be lost in time. It was a nice touch also to include Mr Tanaka who was interred with his family during World War two like so many Japanese-Americans.
I highly recommend this story for those who like time travel, family heirlooms, and animal companions!
August 22, 2024
I got an eArc for this book and I was really excited. MG and Time Travel is one of my favorite combinations, this one did not disappoint, the rules of the universe were weird at first but kinda interesting. Only being able to travel from six to six months. It kinda makes sense, for storytelling and the next book being six months later.
The book was slow in some parts but this is an early copy so this might change in the finished version, but the story is really interesting and also good for middle graders, being able to teach kids about history and also the erasure of people of color in western history, I really apreciate the focus on the japanese americans fighting in World War II + the racism they faced because of Japan being part of the Third Reich. Really hope that the next books focus on similar events.
The book was slow in some parts but this is an early copy so this might change in the finished version, but the story is really interesting and also good for middle graders, being able to teach kids about history and also the erasure of people of color in western history, I really apreciate the focus on the japanese americans fighting in World War II + the racism they faced because of Japan being part of the Third Reich. Really hope that the next books focus on similar events.
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June 15, 2024Get a head start on CYBILS 2025 with this book. https://buxfantasy.blogspot.com/2024/...
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews