What do you think?
Rate this book
Stranded in Time
College student and art major Samantha Harper has been tracing her family tree for quite some time. Her mother, Rebecca, died when Sam was sixteen and she never talked much about her past. Samantha is thrilled to hear that she will be allowed to research her mother's past for a school assignment. Upon arriving in Rebecca's childhood neighborhood, Sam arranges to have a tour of her mother's grade school. She finds an area inside the school that had been damaged and at first, thinking a ghost was inhabiting the gymnasium, she accidentally crosses over into the year 1975; the year when her mother is in kindergarten. Fascinated and scared at the same time, Sam gets to witness her mother's childhood up front as she inadvertently gets involved in an old case of a young girl's accidental death. Little Josie Baker, a classmate of Sam's mother, died that year inside the school's gymnasium. But, was it an accident? After uncovering the dark secret surrounding Josie's death, Samantha wonders if she'll ever find her way back home where her father and best friend, Josh, have been waiting for her return. Will she return to the present or will she have to live the rest of her life in the past?
196 pages, Hardcover
First published May 31, 2014
5 people want to read
About the author
Kelli Sue Landon
12 books36 followersKelli Sue Landon is from Peoria IL. Her published short stories include The Diary, Pizza Night, Campfire Dreams, and The Assignment. She has been writing short stories since the age of sixteen. Her collection of short stories entitled Short Tales is available through Amazon. She has published five novels: Stranded in Time, Sudden Moves, Nightmare At Camp Forrestwood, Summer Shack and The Henderson Harbor Killings (Summer Shack Prequel). Christmas Past and Stranded in Time (her first time travel novel taking place in the 70's) is a favorite among fans. Her novels all center around a trip of some sort and are written for the New Adult genre, with characters in late high school/early college.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 10, 2014
Stranded In Time - Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds, A Book and A Dish
"You know how it started? There was a crack in that wall. I didn't discover it until I worked there for about six months. I subbed for the teacher, and I just had to use the bathroom. Normally I used the one we had in the teachers' lounge, but we had a fire drill that day. We had to stand outside longer than I thought, after getting all those kids out of the building. On our way back in, I excused myself form the class to use the bathroom. I had one of the more responsible girls watch the others, which made it fun for her. She loved playing teacher, you know. I knew it wouldn't take me long to pop in and out. And there it was. I could hear cheers.. I could eve hear a coach training them. I tried to look through the crack, but all I saw was light coming form the gymnasium floor... I kept going back to that room. I'd sneak in after school was out. Sometimes I heard nothing. Other times, there were kids shooting hoops before a practice and setting up for school plays. I was becoming obsessed. I would watch through the crack, and the only time I saw any kids was when someone was on the stage.... I made sure the place was empty before I started knocking down the wall with my hammer."
Samantha (Sam) has a paper to write for school. Her professor told the class it could be anything as long as it wasn't something that had been covered in the news. Sam decided to write her paper on her mother's family, which she actually knew very little about. She knew her mother had gone to Lotus School for just a few years and then she and her mother had moved away. Her mother had never been married to her father who had been just a one night stand. After her mother's death due to a wreck, Sam had met and gone to live with her father. She now wanted to know more about her mother and the relatives she never knew.
Sam's adventure starts when she goes to Lotus School, which is no longer in use, just to be closer to where her mother grew up. It was at the school that she discovered a little girl playing on the stage behind the wall that had a hole in it. As she stepped through the hole, she found herself in another time. Sam had just stepped back into the 1970's. Her great-grandmother was still alive, as was her grandmother and her own mother was just a child. Then she meets Suzanne.
Sam came into this past world with knowledge of what the future holds. She, along with Suzanne, can make changes and correct some of the events to happen... but will they?... should they? There is a child that will die, unless Sam and Suzanne can prevent it from happening but if they do what will it change in the future? What will any events that take place in the 1970's change in the future if they try to make changes?
This book took me just a few pages to become involved in the story but when I did, I didn't want to stop reading. As each event is to take place, I find myself wondering how this is going to affect Sam's life if she ever makes it back to her own time. And if she doesn't, what will happen when her mother grows up and gives birth to her? Will there be 2 Sams in the world or will she not be born at all? This book was a very entertaining read that I really enjoyed.
"You know how it started? There was a crack in that wall. I didn't discover it until I worked there for about six months. I subbed for the teacher, and I just had to use the bathroom. Normally I used the one we had in the teachers' lounge, but we had a fire drill that day. We had to stand outside longer than I thought, after getting all those kids out of the building. On our way back in, I excused myself form the class to use the bathroom. I had one of the more responsible girls watch the others, which made it fun for her. She loved playing teacher, you know. I knew it wouldn't take me long to pop in and out. And there it was. I could hear cheers.. I could eve hear a coach training them. I tried to look through the crack, but all I saw was light coming form the gymnasium floor... I kept going back to that room. I'd sneak in after school was out. Sometimes I heard nothing. Other times, there were kids shooting hoops before a practice and setting up for school plays. I was becoming obsessed. I would watch through the crack, and the only time I saw any kids was when someone was on the stage.... I made sure the place was empty before I started knocking down the wall with my hammer."
Samantha (Sam) has a paper to write for school. Her professor told the class it could be anything as long as it wasn't something that had been covered in the news. Sam decided to write her paper on her mother's family, which she actually knew very little about. She knew her mother had gone to Lotus School for just a few years and then she and her mother had moved away. Her mother had never been married to her father who had been just a one night stand. After her mother's death due to a wreck, Sam had met and gone to live with her father. She now wanted to know more about her mother and the relatives she never knew.
Sam's adventure starts when she goes to Lotus School, which is no longer in use, just to be closer to where her mother grew up. It was at the school that she discovered a little girl playing on the stage behind the wall that had a hole in it. As she stepped through the hole, she found herself in another time. Sam had just stepped back into the 1970's. Her great-grandmother was still alive, as was her grandmother and her own mother was just a child. Then she meets Suzanne.
Sam came into this past world with knowledge of what the future holds. She, along with Suzanne, can make changes and correct some of the events to happen... but will they?... should they? There is a child that will die, unless Sam and Suzanne can prevent it from happening but if they do what will it change in the future? What will any events that take place in the 1970's change in the future if they try to make changes?
This book took me just a few pages to become involved in the story but when I did, I didn't want to stop reading. As each event is to take place, I find myself wondering how this is going to affect Sam's life if she ever makes it back to her own time. And if she doesn't, what will happen when her mother grows up and gives birth to her? Will there be 2 Sams in the world or will she not be born at all? This book was a very entertaining read that I really enjoyed.
July 13, 2014
Stranded in time is a mixture of mystery and time travel. I was hooked from the first chapter and just found the story to be really interesting and fun.
Samantha aka Sam is a college student living with her dad who she is still getting to know. Her mother was killed in a car accident when Sam was sixteen. She is thrilled to hear that she can write a paper on her family history, which she knows little about. While on a break from school she decides to go to the town where her mom grew up. She wants to explore the town, school and see what she can find out about her family history.
While there she meets Thomas, a former custodian at the school that knew her mom, grandmother and great-grandmother. He lets her into the school, which has been closed for years to have a look around. It's there that she discovers a hole in a wall and while looking through sees a little girl on the stage. Wondering if she is seeing a ghost she steps through the hole and into the year 1975. It's here that everything changes and the story gets very interesting. Sam meets Thomas and some others that will change her life forever. One interesting person that she meets is Suzanne. She has a unique story that will not only help Sam but could possibly change events that have happened. Together they want to figure out if little Josie Baker's death was an accident or something else. Can they save her from dying or what will the outcome be for the future?
I loved Sam in the 1970's. I liked how she became her own person, didn't back down to anyone. She is able to interact with her family, some of whom she has never met. I felt her happiness and sadness about seeing her mom as a child. The friends she makes and the events that transform just made this story such a great read. If I could have the chance to time travel this is one place I would love to go. Sam gets to experience a time when things were much calmer and laid back. The story is well written and I enjoyed getting to explore the 70's through Sam's eyes. The ending was a bit confusing to me. I am still thinking about it. Overall an interesting, fun and charming read.
This book was provided to me by the author for review. This did not affect my review in any way.
Samantha aka Sam is a college student living with her dad who she is still getting to know. Her mother was killed in a car accident when Sam was sixteen. She is thrilled to hear that she can write a paper on her family history, which she knows little about. While on a break from school she decides to go to the town where her mom grew up. She wants to explore the town, school and see what she can find out about her family history.
While there she meets Thomas, a former custodian at the school that knew her mom, grandmother and great-grandmother. He lets her into the school, which has been closed for years to have a look around. It's there that she discovers a hole in a wall and while looking through sees a little girl on the stage. Wondering if she is seeing a ghost she steps through the hole and into the year 1975. It's here that everything changes and the story gets very interesting. Sam meets Thomas and some others that will change her life forever. One interesting person that she meets is Suzanne. She has a unique story that will not only help Sam but could possibly change events that have happened. Together they want to figure out if little Josie Baker's death was an accident or something else. Can they save her from dying or what will the outcome be for the future?
I loved Sam in the 1970's. I liked how she became her own person, didn't back down to anyone. She is able to interact with her family, some of whom she has never met. I felt her happiness and sadness about seeing her mom as a child. The friends she makes and the events that transform just made this story such a great read. If I could have the chance to time travel this is one place I would love to go. Sam gets to experience a time when things were much calmer and laid back. The story is well written and I enjoyed getting to explore the 70's through Sam's eyes. The ending was a bit confusing to me. I am still thinking about it. Overall an interesting, fun and charming read.
This book was provided to me by the author for review. This did not affect my review in any way.
July 15, 2014
Kelli Sue Landon is a YA mystery writer and an brilliant one at that!
I've enjoyed Kelli's writing since I first read and reviewed Sudden Moves, her first novel) but I believe she's topped herself with Stranded In Time. It has all of the elements necessary for mystery and suspense, like a detailed plot and well-developed characters; it's also it's also a fast entertaining read.
I think the fast part is because it is literally a real page-turner (and to me that phrase has become so cliche I hate using it).
I've enjoyed Kelli's writing since I first read and reviewed Sudden Moves, her first novel) but I believe she's topped herself with Stranded In Time. It has all of the elements necessary for mystery and suspense, like a detailed plot and well-developed characters; it's also it's also a fast entertaining read.
I think the fast part is because it is literally a real page-turner (and to me that phrase has become so cliche I hate using it).
August 18, 2014
Usually I am not a big fan of mystery novels, but I do love mystery movies and series.
But my experience with Mystery novel is really bad; I either drop the book half-way, or just after a single chapter. Why??? Because I get lost with all of these characters and suspects and theories etc etc.
But here the case is different, I loved this book. Actually, I could thank Kelli Sue Landon for making me love this genre again. She gives an adequate amount of pages to make you feel all settled in with all of the characters and who they are and how they fit in in all of this. Then she begins unleashing many mysteries and with each solved one, another one resurfaces the plot.
I loved how Samantha got trapped in the seventies and the description was so beautiful. My only comment is a few typos that i have found, but other than that, the writing was beautiful. You will get stranded in time with Samantha and you will fear it, enjoy it, and love it.
But my experience with Mystery novel is really bad; I either drop the book half-way, or just after a single chapter. Why??? Because I get lost with all of these characters and suspects and theories etc etc.
But here the case is different, I loved this book. Actually, I could thank Kelli Sue Landon for making me love this genre again. She gives an adequate amount of pages to make you feel all settled in with all of the characters and who they are and how they fit in in all of this. Then she begins unleashing many mysteries and with each solved one, another one resurfaces the plot.
I loved how Samantha got trapped in the seventies and the description was so beautiful. My only comment is a few typos that i have found, but other than that, the writing was beautiful. You will get stranded in time with Samantha and you will fear it, enjoy it, and love it.
April 12, 2016
I loved this book full of mystery and suspense. It's fast paced and the characters are real and believable. This is the first book that I've read by Kelli Sue Landon and I can't wait yo read more. And Nancy Peterson does an awesome job as narrator! She voices the excitement and mystery so that you feel that you're there with them.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews