The Reluctant Time Traveller

by Janis Mackay

If Saul and Agnes don't do something their den will be destroyed. But the title deeds that could save it were lost in 1914. Good job they know the secret of time travel! Still, is traveling back in time to a world on the verge of war really a good idea? When Agnes disappears Saul has no choice -- he can't let her go to the past on her own. 100 years before their own time, Saul and Agnes meet a brother and sister, servants at a big house where a sinister visitor is expected. Together the new friends try to uncover the mystery but Saul and Agnes know time is running out. Soon a war will can they risk altering the past, the present and their future? This fun, time-twisting sequel to The Accidental Time Traveller -- winner of the Scottish Children's Book Award 2013 -- is full of historical details about World War One and will bring early-twentieth-century Scotland to life for young readers.

240 pages, Paperback

First published September 8, 2014

About the author

I am from Edinburgh, have travelled a lot, lived in France, Palestine, Greece, London, Sussex, the far north of Scotland, and am now living in the beautiful Scottish Borders with a partner, a writing hut and a river in my garden. I always wanted to be a writer but following advice to get ‘a proper job’ I took myself off to the big city of London when I was just nineteen and trained to be a journalist. By 21 I was a journalist on Fleet Street – but soon realised this wasn’t the kind of writing I wanted to do. So off I went – round the world having all kinds of adventures – sailing yachts, sleeping on beaches, looking after children, working on kibbutz…then back to Scotland for more adventures – looking after children with learning disabilities then studying speech and drama. I became a storyteller, drama teacher and voice teacher. I did this for a long while – which was a great learning for a writer, then I remembered my childhood dream – to be a writer. So I took myself off to university, did an MA in creative writing at Sussex University – and wrote!

The Scottish Arts Council sent me up to the far north of Scotland to be a writer in residence. I didn’t even know where Caithness was but that’s where I went, and soon realised Scotland wasn’t as small as I had thought. It’s miles away! I lived there for five years – in a cottage on the beach writing books about the sea and seals and was lucky to win the Kelpies prize 2009 for my first novel – Magnus Fin and the Ocean Quest. (I say first novel but actually I had several other novels gathering dust in drawers.) So since 2007 I have been what you might call ‘a writer.’ And sometimes doing other related things like storytelling and voice teaching.

I went to Duddingston primary school and Portobello High school where I learnt to touch type, speak French, a bit of German, play squash and spell. I suppose I must have learnt a few social skills as there were two and a half thousand of us at Portobello High school!

I was a child and teenage athlete and I am really glad about that. The Commonwealth Games came to Edinburgh when I was about ten and it was very inspiring and I went along to the races with my dad. Then I joined the Edinburgh Southern harriers and spent the next five years running and jumping and throwing a discus, but mostly running and going off all over Scotland on Saturdays to run up hills cross country. I am pretty fit and healthy now and I think that gave me a good boost.

When I visit schools with my Magnus Fin novels children often ask what books I read as a child and I usually answer (rather embarrassed) Mallory Towers! I wanted to be that girl in the attic who wrote stories. But before that, when I was very wee, I loved nursery rhymes, and like athletics I think they gave me a boost into being a writer. I love language and sounds and I remember being really young and loving the sound on my tongue of nursery rhymes like Doctor Foster went to Gloucester or – with rings on her fingers and bells on her toes, she shall have music where ever she goes!

Reviews

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this with my 7yo, it's a beautiful book that connects the past and present and stimulates imagination. It's the first chapter book by the author I've read, and I will read more.

[Marta Cohen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice book the friendship is sweet and the adventure is exciting 🤩

[Robert Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great follow-up to the Accidental Time Traveller. A very enjoyable read. Only one hole in the plot, which is quite good because time travel stories normally have several gaping contraditions. Looking forward to more of this series. It would be great if Saul and Agnes went back to 1812 to visit Agatha.

[Maria Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the overall story and felt the book was a great way for kids to read a little about how people lived 100 years ago. The comparisons between children now and in 1914 were included well and the history side of the book didn't weigh down the exciting yarn being told.

[Molly Tysle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good book; I enjoyed very much. It was exciting and kept me turning the pages.