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Time Surfers
A fast-paced illustrated time-travel adventure, from the author of Apartment 713 and the MiNRS series, about a father and son who are part of an elite team from the future who dive into the past to save lost treasures—and who end up in life-changing trouble
Caleb Fisher is the right-hand to his time-surfer, scientist father, John. Together on their thick metallic ship, they travel at super speed into the past and rescue treasures that have otherwise been lost—priceless works of art from the torpedoed RMS Lusitania, a crown jewel threatened by a flood in 1216 CE England—all for the good of humanity and for the glory of the ruling Global Council. But there are rules for time surfers. Never bring back anything that could change the course of history. And never, under penalty of death, bring back another human being.
John Fisher is haunted by the loss of his wife in a mysterious incident, and he is always looking for a way to go deeper into the past and stay longer. John forbids Caleb to come on one particularly dangerous mission—to save ancient scrolls from the burning Great Library of Alexandria. But Caleb sneaks on board and what happens in 48 BCE returns with the Fishers into the future and changes their lives forever.
Caleb Fisher is the right-hand to his time-surfer, scientist father, John. Together on their thick metallic ship, they travel at super speed into the past and rescue treasures that have otherwise been lost—priceless works of art from the torpedoed RMS Lusitania, a crown jewel threatened by a flood in 1216 CE England—all for the good of humanity and for the glory of the ruling Global Council. But there are rules for time surfers. Never bring back anything that could change the course of history. And never, under penalty of death, bring back another human being.
John Fisher is haunted by the loss of his wife in a mysterious incident, and he is always looking for a way to go deeper into the past and stay longer. John forbids Caleb to come on one particularly dangerous mission—to save ancient scrolls from the burning Great Library of Alexandria. But Caleb sneaks on board and what happens in 48 BCE returns with the Fishers into the future and changes their lives forever.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 30, 2025
About the author
Kevin Sylvester
55 books157 followersKEVIN SYLVESTER is an award winning illustrator, writer and broadcaster.
His new sci-fi series MiNRs is now out from Simon and Schuster. MINRs was named a 2017 Honour Red Maple and Manitoba Reader's Honour book and a 2015 CLA Honour Book. MINRs2 is out. MINRs3 will be released in 2018.
His series The Neil Flambé Capers is already a bestseller and critical success. Students across Ontario picked 'Neil Flambé and the Marco Polo Murders' as the Silver Birch winner for fiction in 2011!
There are 6 books in the series so far, Neil Flambé and the Duel in the Desert is the latest.
Super-chef Gordon Ramsay calls the series “Good Fun”.
Kevin also does picture books - "Super-Duper Monster Viewer" is out from Groundwood. GREAT (with the Gretzky family) is out from Penguin.
Kevin’s first picture book 'Splinters' was published in fall 2010 by Tundra. It’s about a young girl who only wants to play hockey, but the mean coach and her daughters won’t let her. Can her fairy goaltender come to the rescue?
Kevin non-fiction titles include Follow Your Money, Baseballogy, Basketballogoy, Sports Hall of Weird and Gold Medal for Weird.
Kevin has been a broadcaster on national radio in Canada for years and years and has covered eight Olympic Games. He also produced documentaries on topics ranging from racism in hockey to the history of church bells in Canada.
He now splits his time between his attic studio in Toronto and the radio. He was named a Massey Journalism Scholar in 2007 and used the time to study theology at the University of Toronto.
His new sci-fi series MiNRs is now out from Simon and Schuster. MINRs was named a 2017 Honour Red Maple and Manitoba Reader's Honour book and a 2015 CLA Honour Book. MINRs2 is out. MINRs3 will be released in 2018.
His series The Neil Flambé Capers is already a bestseller and critical success. Students across Ontario picked 'Neil Flambé and the Marco Polo Murders' as the Silver Birch winner for fiction in 2011!
There are 6 books in the series so far, Neil Flambé and the Duel in the Desert is the latest.
Super-chef Gordon Ramsay calls the series “Good Fun”.
Kevin also does picture books - "Super-Duper Monster Viewer" is out from Groundwood. GREAT (with the Gretzky family) is out from Penguin.
Kevin’s first picture book 'Splinters' was published in fall 2010 by Tundra. It’s about a young girl who only wants to play hockey, but the mean coach and her daughters won’t let her. Can her fairy goaltender come to the rescue?
Kevin non-fiction titles include Follow Your Money, Baseballogy, Basketballogoy, Sports Hall of Weird and Gold Medal for Weird.
Kevin has been a broadcaster on national radio in Canada for years and years and has covered eight Olympic Games. He also produced documentaries on topics ranging from racism in hockey to the history of church bells in Canada.
He now splits his time between his attic studio in Toronto and the radio. He was named a Massey Journalism Scholar in 2007 and used the time to study theology at the University of Toronto.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 6, 2026
Time Surfers by Kevin Sylvester is one of those rare middle-grade adventures that manages to be incredibly fun while also exploring surprisingly deep emotional themes. What begins as an exciting journey through history quickly evolves into a story about grief, family, responsibility, and the consequences of changing the past.
The premise immediately grabbed me. Caleb Fisher and his father, John, are part of an elite team that travels through time to recover priceless treasures before they are lost forever. From the wreck of the Lusitania to the burning Great Library of Alexandria, every mission feels exciting and vividly imagined. Sylvester clearly has a talent for making history feel alive, and I found myself completely immersed in each destination.
What elevates this book beyond a standard time-travel adventure is the relationship between Caleb and his father. Beneath all the action lies a touching story about loss. John's obsession with pushing the limits of time travel stems from the disappearance of his wife, and that emotional weight gives the story real depth. Caleb isn't just a sidekick tagging along for adventures he's a relatable, courageous character trying to understand his father while finding his own place in a complicated world.
The pacing is excellent. The story moves quickly, but it never feels rushed. Every mission adds something meaningful to the plot, and the tension steadily builds as the consequences of one fateful decision begin to unfold. Once Caleb sneaks aboard the mission to Alexandria, the novel takes a fascinating turn that kept me turning pages late into the night.
I also appreciated how the book tackles classic time-travel questions without becoming overly complicated. The rules are clear, the stakes are high, and the moral dilemmas feel genuine. The prohibition against bringing people from the past into the future creates an especially compelling conflict, forcing characters to make difficult choices that linger long after the final page.
Kevin Sylvester balances adventure, science fiction, history, and emotion remarkably well. The illustrations add energy to the story, making it even more accessible and engaging for younger readers while still offering enough complexity to keep older readers invested.
Overall, Time Surfers is an exciting, imaginative, and heartfelt novel that combines the wonder of time travel with a deeply human story about family and loss. Whether you're a fan of historical adventures, science fiction, or character-driven stories, this book delivers on all fronts. It's the kind of novel that entertains you while also making you think about how even the smallest choices can ripple through time.
The premise immediately grabbed me. Caleb Fisher and his father, John, are part of an elite team that travels through time to recover priceless treasures before they are lost forever. From the wreck of the Lusitania to the burning Great Library of Alexandria, every mission feels exciting and vividly imagined. Sylvester clearly has a talent for making history feel alive, and I found myself completely immersed in each destination.
What elevates this book beyond a standard time-travel adventure is the relationship between Caleb and his father. Beneath all the action lies a touching story about loss. John's obsession with pushing the limits of time travel stems from the disappearance of his wife, and that emotional weight gives the story real depth. Caleb isn't just a sidekick tagging along for adventures he's a relatable, courageous character trying to understand his father while finding his own place in a complicated world.
The pacing is excellent. The story moves quickly, but it never feels rushed. Every mission adds something meaningful to the plot, and the tension steadily builds as the consequences of one fateful decision begin to unfold. Once Caleb sneaks aboard the mission to Alexandria, the novel takes a fascinating turn that kept me turning pages late into the night.
I also appreciated how the book tackles classic time-travel questions without becoming overly complicated. The rules are clear, the stakes are high, and the moral dilemmas feel genuine. The prohibition against bringing people from the past into the future creates an especially compelling conflict, forcing characters to make difficult choices that linger long after the final page.
Kevin Sylvester balances adventure, science fiction, history, and emotion remarkably well. The illustrations add energy to the story, making it even more accessible and engaging for younger readers while still offering enough complexity to keep older readers invested.
Overall, Time Surfers is an exciting, imaginative, and heartfelt novel that combines the wonder of time travel with a deeply human story about family and loss. Whether you're a fan of historical adventures, science fiction, or character-driven stories, this book delivers on all fronts. It's the kind of novel that entertains you while also making you think about how even the smallest choices can ripple through time.
April 24, 2026
Time Surfers is a thrilling and imaginative time-travel adventure that combines historical events with high-stakes storytelling.
Kevin Sylvester crafts a fast-moving narrative as Caleb and his father journey through pivotal moments in history, retrieving lost treasures while navigating strict rules that govern time travel. The missions are exciting, but it’s the emotional core centered on family, loss, and difficult choices that adds depth.
What stands out most is the blend of action and consequence. The story doesn’t just explore where time travel can take you, but what happens when those boundaries are pushed too far.
Engaging, adventurous, and emotionally grounded, Time Surfers is a strong read for fans of sci-fi with a historical twist.
Kevin Sylvester crafts a fast-moving narrative as Caleb and his father journey through pivotal moments in history, retrieving lost treasures while navigating strict rules that govern time travel. The missions are exciting, but it’s the emotional core centered on family, loss, and difficult choices that adds depth.
What stands out most is the blend of action and consequence. The story doesn’t just explore where time travel can take you, but what happens when those boundaries are pushed too far.
Engaging, adventurous, and emotionally grounded, Time Surfers is a strong read for fans of sci-fi with a historical twist.
January 20, 2026
Caleb and his father John are part of an exclusive team that surf into the past to save doomed treasures. These trips are so dangerous Caleb’s mom never returned from one. When Caleb sneaks onto one of his father’s excursions to find ancient scrolls from the Great Library of Alexandria, a stow-a-way returns with them. It is forbidden to bring back another human being, and his father’s career and all their lives are put in danger. As they try to hide and then defend their actions, shocking family secrets are revealed. This fast-paced, time-travelling novel will keep science fiction lovers intrigued and entertained.
August 10, 2025
4.5 / 5 stars. A super fun middle grade romp that mixes adventure with history. This fast paced action packed read will pull young readers in right away.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews