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Vaulting Through Time
Can she perform the vault of her life to save her loved ones—and herself?
Sixteen-year-old gymnast Elizabeth Arlington doesn’t care that her mother is older than the other girls’ moms or that she doesn’t look anything like her parents. She has too much to worry about like her body changing and how all of a sudden the balance beam is not as easy as it used to be. But when she makes a discovery that throws her entire identity into question, she turns to her ex-best friend Zach, who suggests a way for her to find the answers her mother won’t give her: a time machine they found in an abandoned house.
As Elizabeth catapults through time, she encounters a mysterious abandoned child, an elite gymnast preparing for Olympic Trials, and an enigmatic woman who seems to know more than she’s revealing. Then when a thief makes off with an identical time machine, Elizabeth finds herself on a race to stop the thief before the world as she knows it—and her future—are destroyed.
Sixteen-year-old gymnast Elizabeth Arlington doesn’t care that her mother is older than the other girls’ moms or that she doesn’t look anything like her parents. She has too much to worry about like her body changing and how all of a sudden the balance beam is not as easy as it used to be. But when she makes a discovery that throws her entire identity into question, she turns to her ex-best friend Zach, who suggests a way for her to find the answers her mother won’t give her: a time machine they found in an abandoned house.
As Elizabeth catapults through time, she encounters a mysterious abandoned child, an elite gymnast preparing for Olympic Trials, and an enigmatic woman who seems to know more than she’s revealing. Then when a thief makes off with an identical time machine, Elizabeth finds herself on a race to stop the thief before the world as she knows it—and her future—are destroyed.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published January 1, 2023
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3593 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
June 13, 2023
I was pleasantly surprised with this book! I used to be a gymnast so the plot intrigued me when I first saw the book. We follow a gymnast, Elizabeth, as she and her friend Zach find a watch that they suspect will help them time travel. Elizabeth is the one who goes, and we see her adventures through the time jumps she makes. I loved all the different times she visited and the friends she made. I really enjoyed how the story went, and it ended nicely.
Thank you books forward for sending me an advanced reader copy of this book! All thoughts are my own.
Thank you books forward for sending me an advanced reader copy of this book! All thoughts are my own.
September 8, 2024
I have mixed feelings about this book. I love time-travel stories, and I mostly enjoyed this one, but there were a couple of things that bothered me:
- the audiobook was really long, probably due to the scene-break-worthy pauses at the end of each sentence
- mixed time-travel theories. In parts of the story, items that were taken, happened to have disappeared around that time in the past (logical). But in part of the story, a character changes the past, creating a different timeline, which should have meant Elizabeth no longer existed (doesn't fit with previous theory, nor is it logical for her birth certificate to disappear but not her).
- Elizabeth is given a diary to give Jill, but then decides for no good reason not to tell Jill, even when Jill hints multiple times that she suspects what is going on
- final scene with Jill has no set up. It's like they were prepared to see each other at that moment, but hadn't actually made plans to meet (missing details)
- the audiobook was really long, probably due to the scene-break-worthy pauses at the end of each sentence
- mixed time-travel theories. In parts of the story, items that were taken, happened to have disappeared around that time in the past (logical). But in part of the story, a character changes the past, creating a different timeline, which should have meant Elizabeth no longer existed (doesn't fit with previous theory, nor is it logical for her birth certificate to disappear but not her).
- Elizabeth is given a diary to give Jill, but then decides for no good reason not to tell Jill, even when Jill hints multiple times that she suspects what is going on
- final scene with Jill has no set up. It's like they were prepared to see each other at that moment, but hadn't actually made plans to meet (missing details)
September 7, 2023
I am generally skeptical about time-travel books. It seems to me that the minute a person goes back and does ANYTHING, that's it – the future is now different. It kinda gives me a headache.
And having said that, oh wow, this book is AMAZING. Fast-paced and zippy, I was hooked from page one.
So, yeah, it's very suspenseful, but it's also an *incredibly* satisfying story of mothers and daughters, time travel, and hard choices. The book is populated with rich and compelling characters in every time period. I fell in love over and over.
The book opens with 16-year-old Elizabeth, a gymnast, needing her birth certificate for an upcoming competition – and for the first time wondering how a blue-eyed mom and a dad she also remembers as blue-eyed could produce her brown-eyed self.
. . . and we're off! Seeking answers to this question sends Elizabeth on her first vault through time, and of course – like in any good novel – she encounters more questions than answers.
There are additional mysteries to solve and a mad creepy villain who steals a vital piece of equipment – Elizabeth has her hands full! Will she ever figure out what on earth is going on? Will she make it back to her own home and her own time??
And here's something fun: There's a caveat on the time travel in that the needed device can only take you to pivotal moments in gymnastics history – which I found RIVETING. The first Olympic gymnastics event for women was in 1928, and of course in recent years female gymnasts have become superstars: Nadia, Mary Lou, Kerri, Simone, and so on. I came of age in the 1970s, and the icon I remember is Olga Korbut. And in this book, Elizabeth realizes she's in Munich in 1972 – AND SHE'S ABOUT TO SEE OLGA.
I am covered in goosebumps simply typing that sentence!
Oh, it is so so good, but I fear I'm entering spoiler territory so I'll stop now.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough!
And having said that, oh wow, this book is AMAZING. Fast-paced and zippy, I was hooked from page one.
So, yeah, it's very suspenseful, but it's also an *incredibly* satisfying story of mothers and daughters, time travel, and hard choices. The book is populated with rich and compelling characters in every time period. I fell in love over and over.
The book opens with 16-year-old Elizabeth, a gymnast, needing her birth certificate for an upcoming competition – and for the first time wondering how a blue-eyed mom and a dad she also remembers as blue-eyed could produce her brown-eyed self.
. . . and we're off! Seeking answers to this question sends Elizabeth on her first vault through time, and of course – like in any good novel – she encounters more questions than answers.
There are additional mysteries to solve and a mad creepy villain who steals a vital piece of equipment – Elizabeth has her hands full! Will she ever figure out what on earth is going on? Will she make it back to her own home and her own time??
And here's something fun: There's a caveat on the time travel in that the needed device can only take you to pivotal moments in gymnastics history – which I found RIVETING. The first Olympic gymnastics event for women was in 1928, and of course in recent years female gymnasts have become superstars: Nadia, Mary Lou, Kerri, Simone, and so on. I came of age in the 1970s, and the icon I remember is Olga Korbut. And in this book, Elizabeth realizes she's in Munich in 1972 – AND SHE'S ABOUT TO SEE OLGA.
I am covered in goosebumps simply typing that sentence!
Oh, it is so so good, but I fear I'm entering spoiler territory so I'll stop now.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough!
July 22, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
This isn’t like any book that I’ve read before! I thoroughly enjoyed this read. Such a unique plot line and I found myself wanting to not put this book down. I flew through the chapters as they are short which made me read this book super fast!
I liked the thrill, mystery and adventure! A perfect young adult book. I’ll be recommending this to friends and family members who are looking for a fast paced read.
I was gifted this book by booksforward
This isn’t like any book that I’ve read before! I thoroughly enjoyed this read. Such a unique plot line and I found myself wanting to not put this book down. I flew through the chapters as they are short which made me read this book super fast!
I liked the thrill, mystery and adventure! A perfect young adult book. I’ll be recommending this to friends and family members who are looking for a fast paced read.
I was gifted this book by booksforward
April 25, 2023
Vaulting Through Time had one of the most unique takes on time travel I’ve ever read. My favorite time travel trope is the ‘everything you do leads to where you’ve already been’ and this novel nails that. The concept of lineage and heritage is woven into the time-traveler’s journey, and McCabe does a fabulous job at tying all the family and plot strings together.
The story follows Elizabeth, a high-school gymnast who’s at a few major crossroads in life: facing the truth of her biological identity and figuring out her personal identity, all while learning that time travel is real and that she has the chance to figure out, first-hand, where she came from and who she really is. After she gets stranded in the 20’s, Elizabeth must figure out how to both fix her faulty time machine and stop a fellow time-traveling foe who’s determined to alter the timeline for their gain, which, Elizabeth discovers, would change her own future in drastic, devastating ways.
This book was a lot of fun!
The story follows Elizabeth, a high-school gymnast who’s at a few major crossroads in life: facing the truth of her biological identity and figuring out her personal identity, all while learning that time travel is real and that she has the chance to figure out, first-hand, where she came from and who she really is. After she gets stranded in the 20’s, Elizabeth must figure out how to both fix her faulty time machine and stop a fellow time-traveling foe who’s determined to alter the timeline for their gain, which, Elizabeth discovers, would change her own future in drastic, devastating ways.
This book was a lot of fun!
April 25, 2024
It wasn’t bad it just took me so long to read but it was pretty ok.
August 4, 2024
Full review at: https://readingourshelves.wordpress.c...
This is a fun one that gets going pretty quickly. We meet Elizabeth at the gym, and she needs to bring in her birth certificate “tomorrow” go get registered for a bigger meet down the road. Her mom is working late, so she goes digging for it herself, and finds that… she wasn’t born in the hospital. Her mom, still reeling from her dad’s death, didn’t even realize she was pregnant, and had her at home.
But, Elizabeth has a secret, too: always curious about why she doesn’t look like her mom, she had taken a DNA test. And her results say that she’s partially Asian. But her mom is blonde, and pictures of her deceased dad show that he was as well. Are her parents really her parents?
She confides in her neighbor, Zach, who she is currently fighting with but also has a crush on. And he suggests time traveling to the night of her birth to see how she really came into the world. (Y’know, normal teenager stuff. Ha!)
The device that they think allows them to time travel is a watch, and it has several dates and places pre-set. Strangely enough, they all seem to match times and locations for previous Olympic Games. So they propose a trial, for Elizabeth to try one of the presets and try to come back to the same time she left.
Not surprisingly for this reader – Elizabeth does not make it back until the final chapters of the book. While she spends several months traveling to different dates, though, she does finally make it back to her own time (and timeline) only 5 minutes after she left Zach.
The watch was found in an abandoned house next door. We learn that, once upon a time, the woman who lived in that house developed these watches while working at Zippo. At one point, while testing one of them, she got stuck and did not come back, inadvertently leaving her four year old daughter at home alone.
Elizabeth eventually meets the developer, who is stuck in the 1920s. She originally assumes Elizabeth is her grown daughter, finally coming to find her. They both start to suspect that the daughter must be Elizabeth’s real mom, as the resemblance is strong. She spends some time with the new family this woman has begun in the past, but the woman’s mother-in-law is acting suspiciously. They realize that she has stolen Elizabeth’s watch, and has been time-traveling herself! But is it just for fun, or does she have a goal in mind?
When Elizabeth finally gets the watch, and tries to return to her time, the timeline is altered. Zach doesn’t know her, and there’s an older woman living in her house. It’s not her mom, but she realizes it’s an 80-ish version of herself. She has to go back through the presets and find the rogue mother-in-law, so she can figure out what she’s up to and set things right.
If you’re into twisty timeline-hopping stories, this one might be for you!
This is a fun one that gets going pretty quickly. We meet Elizabeth at the gym, and she needs to bring in her birth certificate “tomorrow” go get registered for a bigger meet down the road. Her mom is working late, so she goes digging for it herself, and finds that… she wasn’t born in the hospital. Her mom, still reeling from her dad’s death, didn’t even realize she was pregnant, and had her at home.
But, Elizabeth has a secret, too: always curious about why she doesn’t look like her mom, she had taken a DNA test. And her results say that she’s partially Asian. But her mom is blonde, and pictures of her deceased dad show that he was as well. Are her parents really her parents?
She confides in her neighbor, Zach, who she is currently fighting with but also has a crush on. And he suggests time traveling to the night of her birth to see how she really came into the world. (Y’know, normal teenager stuff. Ha!)
The device that they think allows them to time travel is a watch, and it has several dates and places pre-set. Strangely enough, they all seem to match times and locations for previous Olympic Games. So they propose a trial, for Elizabeth to try one of the presets and try to come back to the same time she left.
Not surprisingly for this reader – Elizabeth does not make it back until the final chapters of the book. While she spends several months traveling to different dates, though, she does finally make it back to her own time (and timeline) only 5 minutes after she left Zach.
The watch was found in an abandoned house next door. We learn that, once upon a time, the woman who lived in that house developed these watches while working at Zippo. At one point, while testing one of them, she got stuck and did not come back, inadvertently leaving her four year old daughter at home alone.
Elizabeth eventually meets the developer, who is stuck in the 1920s. She originally assumes Elizabeth is her grown daughter, finally coming to find her. They both start to suspect that the daughter must be Elizabeth’s real mom, as the resemblance is strong. She spends some time with the new family this woman has begun in the past, but the woman’s mother-in-law is acting suspiciously. They realize that she has stolen Elizabeth’s watch, and has been time-traveling herself! But is it just for fun, or does she have a goal in mind?
When Elizabeth finally gets the watch, and tries to return to her time, the timeline is altered. Zach doesn’t know her, and there’s an older woman living in her house. It’s not her mom, but she realizes it’s an 80-ish version of herself. She has to go back through the presets and find the rogue mother-in-law, so she can figure out what she’s up to and set things right.
If you’re into twisty timeline-hopping stories, this one might be for you!
December 30, 2023
Elizabeth has always loved gymnastics and is determined to stick with it for as long as possible despite the fact that gymnastics is primarily for the young, and at 16, she is getting too old. Her body is changing, and her attention is shifting from the laser focus needed to land a perfect vault to her next-door neighbor and how he's gotten a lot cuter in the last year or so. Which is just gross! Then when she lands a spot in a prestigious event, she needs her birth certificate to enter. Yet for some reason, her widowed mother does not want to tell her where it is. When she finds it for herself, it sets her world spinning. She's always wondered about her deceased father and why her mother won't talk about her birth, and now she has proof: her family is not her family after all. When her neighbor, former friend, and crush asks her to try out what he believes is a time-traveling watch, she agrees. Anything to get away from this place and these lies! Only, it turns out, when you are running from yourself, not even getting stuck in the 1920's will let you escape.
Three things I liked about this book:
It had a new take on time travel. The fact that the majority of the time travel was centered around gymnastics was a lot of fun. The voice and dialogue were surprisingly authentic and appropriate for a 16-year-old girl, particularly when talking to her mom with inside jokes and stumbling over her words with her crush.
Three things I did not like:
A lot of character motives, especially Elizabeth's, felt undefined and murky. I felt that there was a lot of depth missing, that we could have dug a lot deeper into things like the actual trauma and impact of learning you're adopted, and not only that but biracial in a very white community (the book made that very clear). The thing that bothered me the most, especially for about the last quarter of the book, was how everything felt very "convenient for the plot." In any story, everything happens for the plot, that's the whole point, but it shouldn't feel like it was written to manipulate characters into doing things or be in places for the sake of the plot. It should feel natural.
I'd softly recommend this book, especially to any gymnast or history lovers, but it was just a bit shallow on the things I felt were the most important.
Three things I liked about this book:
It had a new take on time travel. The fact that the majority of the time travel was centered around gymnastics was a lot of fun. The voice and dialogue were surprisingly authentic and appropriate for a 16-year-old girl, particularly when talking to her mom with inside jokes and stumbling over her words with her crush.
Three things I did not like:
A lot of character motives, especially Elizabeth's, felt undefined and murky. I felt that there was a lot of depth missing, that we could have dug a lot deeper into things like the actual trauma and impact of learning you're adopted, and not only that but biracial in a very white community (the book made that very clear). The thing that bothered me the most, especially for about the last quarter of the book, was how everything felt very "convenient for the plot." In any story, everything happens for the plot, that's the whole point, but it shouldn't feel like it was written to manipulate characters into doing things or be in places for the sake of the plot. It should feel natural.
I'd softly recommend this book, especially to any gymnast or history lovers, but it was just a bit shallow on the things I felt were the most important.
June 19, 2024
"Vaulting Through Time" is a great blend of time travel, gymnastics, and complicated family relations.
Elizabeth Arlington has always been confident in herself despite the fact that she is the daughter of a single mom who looks nothing like her. Besides, she has bigger things to worry about than the color of her eyes, such as her changing center of gravity that affects every part of her gymnastics career and her quickly developing crush on her neighbor/ex-best friend, Zach. That is, until she comes across her birth certificate and pictures of the man that is supposedly her father. Equipped with more questions than answers, she confides in Zach who leads her to a way she can find out the truth that her mother is unwilling to tell her: a time machine that he found in the abandoned house next to hers. Before she knows it, Elizabeth is vaulting into the past and finds herself deeply entangled in the mystery surrounding her birth and her family's legacy.
I think that this book has a unique sense of time travel, which I likes. I appreciated the familial themes as well as those that touched on identity, being confident in yourself, and not taking those you love for granted. The positive messages and the family ties presented in this book were most definitely the selling points for me, but if you are adopted or a gymnast, I'm sure you would find more elements of this book to be relatable.
I honestly don't think that there is anything wrong with this book, I just didn't overly connect with it. Elizabeth and I don't have much in common and I wasn't really in the need of a book like this, so I found it to mostly be just okay. However, I can see this book being a perfect blend for adoptees and gymnasts alike, as well as developing sci-fi junkies looking for a unique time travel story.
The transitions in this book were often rather abrupt, but I feel this worked pretty solidly with the atmosphere of this story. Elizabeth is constantly jumping through time, so the jaunty transitions add to the story rather than distract from what is going on.
Overall, "Vaulting Through Time" was a decent read with a healthy focus on family, self-identity, and finding ones place in the world. I personally didn't relate to this book too much, but I'm sure many others will. I would recommend this books to gymnasts and those who love time travel.
Elizabeth Arlington has always been confident in herself despite the fact that she is the daughter of a single mom who looks nothing like her. Besides, she has bigger things to worry about than the color of her eyes, such as her changing center of gravity that affects every part of her gymnastics career and her quickly developing crush on her neighbor/ex-best friend, Zach. That is, until she comes across her birth certificate and pictures of the man that is supposedly her father. Equipped with more questions than answers, she confides in Zach who leads her to a way she can find out the truth that her mother is unwilling to tell her: a time machine that he found in the abandoned house next to hers. Before she knows it, Elizabeth is vaulting into the past and finds herself deeply entangled in the mystery surrounding her birth and her family's legacy.
I think that this book has a unique sense of time travel, which I likes. I appreciated the familial themes as well as those that touched on identity, being confident in yourself, and not taking those you love for granted. The positive messages and the family ties presented in this book were most definitely the selling points for me, but if you are adopted or a gymnast, I'm sure you would find more elements of this book to be relatable.
I honestly don't think that there is anything wrong with this book, I just didn't overly connect with it. Elizabeth and I don't have much in common and I wasn't really in the need of a book like this, so I found it to mostly be just okay. However, I can see this book being a perfect blend for adoptees and gymnasts alike, as well as developing sci-fi junkies looking for a unique time travel story.
The transitions in this book were often rather abrupt, but I feel this worked pretty solidly with the atmosphere of this story. Elizabeth is constantly jumping through time, so the jaunty transitions add to the story rather than distract from what is going on.
Overall, "Vaulting Through Time" was a decent read with a healthy focus on family, self-identity, and finding ones place in the world. I personally didn't relate to this book too much, but I'm sure many others will. I would recommend this books to gymnasts and those who love time travel.
July 25, 2023
Vaulting Through Time is a refreshing take on both time travel and the search for identity that hits so many of us as we begin the transition from girls to young women.
Elizabeth Arlington is a sixteen-year-old gymnast who has developed a fear of vaulting after an injury. At the same time, her body is beginning to betray her, with the inevitable physical changes that come with maturity changing her center of gravity so that what was once effortless is becoming less so. Her coach’s request for her birth certificate (necessary for entry into USAG events) re-kindles her lifelong search for who she is, because she doesn’t look anything like her mother. When her friend Zach presents her with a watch he claims is really a time machine, Elizabeth’s adventures go into high gear.
What I loved about this book was that author McCabe perfectly captured the mother-daughter dynamic, the in-jokes that are so ingrained that they happen automatically and turn anger into laughter, the favorite foods, and the knowing of each other’s habits. I also appreciated the author’s use of age-appropriate dialogue. Elizabeth’s habit of mixing up words only when she’s around Zach was a delightful detail, and done so well.
Putting this novel into the context of gymnastics and using Olympic years as touchstones was a creative way to track travel through time, and also added to the rich texture of this novel. I liked that Elizabeth’s search for her family roots also helped her find her true desires in life, and felt that the plot addressed both parts of the story in a balanced way.
I often say that the young adult / new adult genre has some of the most provocative stories in contemporary literature, and Vaulting Through Time is proof of that. It’s a well-written story that feels much shorter than it’s 500+ pages, and I recommend it to readers of all ages.
Goes well with: peanut-butter toast, sliced apples, and chocolate milk.
Elizabeth Arlington is a sixteen-year-old gymnast who has developed a fear of vaulting after an injury. At the same time, her body is beginning to betray her, with the inevitable physical changes that come with maturity changing her center of gravity so that what was once effortless is becoming less so. Her coach’s request for her birth certificate (necessary for entry into USAG events) re-kindles her lifelong search for who she is, because she doesn’t look anything like her mother. When her friend Zach presents her with a watch he claims is really a time machine, Elizabeth’s adventures go into high gear.
What I loved about this book was that author McCabe perfectly captured the mother-daughter dynamic, the in-jokes that are so ingrained that they happen automatically and turn anger into laughter, the favorite foods, and the knowing of each other’s habits. I also appreciated the author’s use of age-appropriate dialogue. Elizabeth’s habit of mixing up words only when she’s around Zach was a delightful detail, and done so well.
Putting this novel into the context of gymnastics and using Olympic years as touchstones was a creative way to track travel through time, and also added to the rich texture of this novel. I liked that Elizabeth’s search for her family roots also helped her find her true desires in life, and felt that the plot addressed both parts of the story in a balanced way.
I often say that the young adult / new adult genre has some of the most provocative stories in contemporary literature, and Vaulting Through Time is proof of that. It’s a well-written story that feels much shorter than it’s 500+ pages, and I recommend it to readers of all ages.
Goes well with: peanut-butter toast, sliced apples, and chocolate milk.
July 23, 2023
Oh my god, I loved this.
Elizabeth is in love with her ex-best friend, and despite trying to avoid him, he is there when she needs him the most: questioning her own heritage. When Zach brings up the time machine, she originally writes him off as crazy. But when she tries it out reluctantly, it works - taking her to the past. Time travelling takes out a lot of stress on her body, and it doesn't help that the watch will sometimes not go the way it is programmed. Elizabeth ends up meeting her family, and finds out that Abby/Gail, a relative, got stuck in the past. The thief turns out to be Mrs. Grundy, Abby's mother-in-law, who sneaks around and tries to change time.
I fell in love with the characters. Despite the shorter length of the novel, the characters are fleshed out and easy to care about. The writing style is easy to read, but not in a bad way. McCabe has done a wonderful job on her first young adult fiction novel, and I can't wait to see what else she has in store for her next book.
Elizabeth is in love with her ex-best friend, and despite trying to avoid him, he is there when she needs him the most: questioning her own heritage. When Zach brings up the time machine, she originally writes him off as crazy. But when she tries it out reluctantly, it works - taking her to the past. Time travelling takes out a lot of stress on her body, and it doesn't help that the watch will sometimes not go the way it is programmed. Elizabeth ends up meeting her family, and finds out that Abby/Gail, a relative, got stuck in the past. The thief turns out to be Mrs. Grundy, Abby's mother-in-law, who sneaks around and tries to change time.
I fell in love with the characters. Despite the shorter length of the novel, the characters are fleshed out and easy to care about. The writing style is easy to read, but not in a bad way. McCabe has done a wonderful job on her first young adult fiction novel, and I can't wait to see what else she has in store for her next book.
February 1, 2024
I hate to leave a bad review but I struggled to get my high school students interested in this so I read it myself. I won’t be promoting it I don’t think unless I find a student who is really into gymnastics. There is more development in random gymnast facts than there is to the weird relationship from her present time that she’s barely in. She’s not even dating the guy, trying to catch his eye and impress him, then thinking about who he will marry if she leaves her timeline forever? That’s kind of out of nowhere where. It’s maybe interesting to travel through time to watch Olympic gymnastics. A quick search on YouTube would yield the same results. As for having babies in different times and kids being adopted or abandoned due to time travel, it just didn’t seem like something that would sit well with some adopted kids. Mom didn’t want to leave you, she got stuck in time. I don’t want to have this baby, I’ll go to a different time and have it and abandon it. It didn’t sit well with me at all. But if you like gymnastics history, there’s a lot of that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2023
"Beaming" From Ear-To-Ear! Highly Recommend!
A snowy night, a mysterious young woman, and an empty neighboring house...family mysteries and mother/daughter conflicts unravel between multiple generations of women in “Vaulting Through Time,” a fast-paced YA novel of time travel. Teen gymnast Elizabeth Arlington isn’t the first to realize something is “off” with her birth certificate, but she is the first to discover a time travel device that, with the acceleration of her vaults, will take her back in time to places and locations that unlock the mystery of her birth. Her quest will circumnavigate the globe and is overloaded with risk of either getting stuck in another time, or altering the course of history so her very existence is in jeopardy. In the course of the story, author Nancy McCabe confronts a women’s right to choose, as well as the right to equality and self-determination, finishing up with an ending that sticks the landing.
A snowy night, a mysterious young woman, and an empty neighboring house...family mysteries and mother/daughter conflicts unravel between multiple generations of women in “Vaulting Through Time,” a fast-paced YA novel of time travel. Teen gymnast Elizabeth Arlington isn’t the first to realize something is “off” with her birth certificate, but she is the first to discover a time travel device that, with the acceleration of her vaults, will take her back in time to places and locations that unlock the mystery of her birth. Her quest will circumnavigate the globe and is overloaded with risk of either getting stuck in another time, or altering the course of history so her very existence is in jeopardy. In the course of the story, author Nancy McCabe confronts a women’s right to choose, as well as the right to equality and self-determination, finishing up with an ending that sticks the landing.
September 5, 2023
Sixteen-year-old gymnast Elizabeth finds herself catapulting through time in order to solve the mystery of her own birth and stop a fellow time traveler whose actions may prevent her from being born.
I’m not usually one to read a time travel novel, but this one was a lot of fun!! I LOVED the ending and how everything turned out. I think it’s difficult to have characters time travel with believable repercussions/results, but Nancy McCabe did an A+ job.
I particularly loved the themes of personal history and legacies or lineage. Family and all the tangled themes that come with that is one of my favorite things to explore, and Nancy did it in such a unique way that it was both refreshing and new while still having the feel of nostalgia.
Outside of the time travel and themes, the novel had an engaging plot and lovable characters. I definitely recommend it, especially to young adult readers and fans of gymnastics or time travel.
I’m not usually one to read a time travel novel, but this one was a lot of fun!! I LOVED the ending and how everything turned out. I think it’s difficult to have characters time travel with believable repercussions/results, but Nancy McCabe did an A+ job.
I particularly loved the themes of personal history and legacies or lineage. Family and all the tangled themes that come with that is one of my favorite things to explore, and Nancy did it in such a unique way that it was both refreshing and new while still having the feel of nostalgia.
Outside of the time travel and themes, the novel had an engaging plot and lovable characters. I definitely recommend it, especially to young adult readers and fans of gymnastics or time travel.
July 18, 2023
Vaulting Through Time follows Elizabeth, a high school gymnast who suspects she is adopted. When she and her friend Zach find a watch in the empty house next door, they realize it is a time machine and Elizabeth decides to travel in time to investigate the mystery of her birth. She embarks on a fast-paced time-travel adventure, constantly at risk of either getting stuck in the past or altering the timeline such that she threatens her own existence. As Elizabeth discovers the truth of her family history, she grows as a person and comes to appreciate all those who care about her.
Vaulting Through Time is an enjoyable, well-written and unique time travel story, which is also a mystery and a family drama. Thank you to BooksForward for a gifted copy.
Vaulting Through Time is an enjoyable, well-written and unique time travel story, which is also a mystery and a family drama. Thank you to BooksForward for a gifted copy.
October 8, 2023
I started reading Vaulting Through Time as I was vaulting through space on an airplane. The story immediately drew me in with a compelling premise: 16-year-old Elizabeth discovers her mother has been lying to her, and she’s actually adopted. To make things worse, she’s struggling with sport that has always provided her identity, gymnastics. AND she’s unable to admit her feelings for her neighbor Zach. Then Zach shows her a watch he’s been tinkering with, and she’s suddenly vaulting through time, moving forward and back as she chases her birth mother, her birth grandmother, and a mysterious, possibly sinister woman she calls Mrs. Grundy. Intricately plotted, the story finally resolves in a satisfying way. A great airplane read or anyplace/time read!
July 21, 2024
Rating: 5 Stars!!
Review:
Thank you to Books Forward for sending me this FREE ARC Copy to promote and review for Nancy as part of their Book Tour next week.
The Characters were fun and enjoyable to read about. Elizabeth and Zach were definately my favorites especially when their were so eager to find out the secret behind Time Travel and who Elizabeth's Father was.
The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like I was actually in Bradford PA while reading especially since Bradford isn't that far from me.
I do wish this was part of a series because i'd LOVE to see what other Time Travel adventures Elizabeth and Zach will go on next.
Overall a fun and enjoyable YA Science Fiction Novel!! Can't wait to read more by Nancy in the future!!
Review:
Thank you to Books Forward for sending me this FREE ARC Copy to promote and review for Nancy as part of their Book Tour next week.
The Characters were fun and enjoyable to read about. Elizabeth and Zach were definately my favorites especially when their were so eager to find out the secret behind Time Travel and who Elizabeth's Father was.
The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like I was actually in Bradford PA while reading especially since Bradford isn't that far from me.
I do wish this was part of a series because i'd LOVE to see what other Time Travel adventures Elizabeth and Zach will go on next.
Overall a fun and enjoyable YA Science Fiction Novel!! Can't wait to read more by Nancy in the future!!
July 30, 2024
𝗩𝗮𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲
𝗔 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗮 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵 𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗔 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲!
An interesting take on time travel but blended seamlessly with important familial relationship tropes that will speak to a younger audience. Lots of positive messages about accepting who you are and appreciating the ones who love you!
The main character is a 16year old female gymnast. I’m not sure everyone would enjoy this book, more so the target audience would appeal to girls who are in gymnastics, cheerleading, dance or something similar where there is a lot of pressure among peers to look and be a certain way.
I did feel that some of the time travel was a little tangled and changed quickly, but you can still follow the story line.
Overall a solid Young Adult novel.
𝗔 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗮 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵 𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗔 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲!
An interesting take on time travel but blended seamlessly with important familial relationship tropes that will speak to a younger audience. Lots of positive messages about accepting who you are and appreciating the ones who love you!
The main character is a 16year old female gymnast. I’m not sure everyone would enjoy this book, more so the target audience would appeal to girls who are in gymnastics, cheerleading, dance or something similar where there is a lot of pressure among peers to look and be a certain way.
I did feel that some of the time travel was a little tangled and changed quickly, but you can still follow the story line.
Overall a solid Young Adult novel.
July 28, 2023
"Vaulting Through Time" by Nancy McCabe had me vaulting through this book to find out what happened next. I was taken by the characters and loved getting to know them and to see how they changed. I loved the combination of gymnastics (which I know very little about) and time travel. The main character, 16-year-old Elizabeth finds out her mother (or is she?) has been lying to Elizabeth her entire life. If she could only talk with her once best friend Zach! But they’ve been on the outs for a while. (But what is it that she feels for Zach? More than friends?) Through many twists and turns Elizabeth broadens her family tree and has many adventures. I couldn’t put it down and read it in about 2 days. I recommend it for all ages, but I think young adults will particularly enjoy it.
July 28, 2023
I had the chance to read Vaulting Through Time recently. I really enjoyed the story, it was a unique story about a girl named Liz, or Elizabeth who found out that she is not her mom's child. She wants to find out her story of origin as her mom won't tell her the truth. And then she finds the chronowatch with her crush/love Zach and he helps her use it to time travel through history.
This was such a unique story, with time traveling and also with gymnastics being a big thing too throughout the story. I was trying to figure out the story as I read to see what was going to happen.
And that ending was superb. I love how sometimes when we find out what we want is not what we need;)
This was such a unique story, with time traveling and also with gymnastics being a big thing too throughout the story. I was trying to figure out the story as I read to see what was going to happen.
And that ending was superb. I love how sometimes when we find out what we want is not what we need;)
July 31, 2023
Vaulting Through Time by Nancy McCabe
Having family members involved in gymnastics, one of whom was nationally ranked, enhanced my enjoyment of this book. Be warned though, it is, at best, convoluted. If Elizabeth's rampant insecurities and impulsiveness are typical for a sixteen-year-old girl, I am speechless with gratitude that I had sons. Seeking her roots, Elizabeth finds herself more confused than ever, and traveling through time does nothing but fuel that confusion.
I had no difficulty putting this book down and still have mixed feelings about it. If you aren’t interested in gymnastics and insecurity you may not like it.
Having family members involved in gymnastics, one of whom was nationally ranked, enhanced my enjoyment of this book. Be warned though, it is, at best, convoluted. If Elizabeth's rampant insecurities and impulsiveness are typical for a sixteen-year-old girl, I am speechless with gratitude that I had sons. Seeking her roots, Elizabeth finds herself more confused than ever, and traveling through time does nothing but fuel that confusion.
I had no difficulty putting this book down and still have mixed feelings about it. If you aren’t interested in gymnastics and insecurity you may not like it.
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September 10, 2023Vaulting Through Time
I am a huge fan of YA stories and feel it is hard to find original work. I love the unique story the author spun for us. This is a great coming of age story that weaves time travel adventures with coming to terms with how the main character feels about her BFF, and all the while learning truths about her family history. The confusion that comes with teenage angst and revealing the lies that were told till now really comes through in this story. This is a wonderful story for YA and adults alike! I would recommend this to any of my friends with preteen-teen girls for a wonderful story and adventure.
I am a huge fan of YA stories and feel it is hard to find original work. I love the unique story the author spun for us. This is a great coming of age story that weaves time travel adventures with coming to terms with how the main character feels about her BFF, and all the while learning truths about her family history. The confusion that comes with teenage angst and revealing the lies that were told till now really comes through in this story. This is a wonderful story for YA and adults alike! I would recommend this to any of my friends with preteen-teen girls for a wonderful story and adventure.
March 29, 2024
This was such a heartwarming YA sci-fi read, about a girl who just wants to understand who she is and who her family is, and winds up vaulting backwards through time in order to find out. I thought all the different eras portrayed came across as very authentic and compelling, and I loved the mystery that was gradually built up as to who she really is, and where she really came from. I was captivated, watching the pieces fall into place. This book tackles some heavier themes in really great ways, with the fun time traveling angle adding that splash of the impossible into the mix. I really enjoyed it.
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July 24, 2024Nancy McCabe’s young adult novel, Vaulting Through Time takes a teenage gymnast through time to search for her birth mother. Nancy shows us changing fashions, food, daily language, women’s roles—but the importance of motherhood remains eternally for the mom and for her child. Author of 9 previously published books, Nancy McCabe is a mother of an adopted daughter who is a gymnast. First-hand knowledge gives Nancy an edge in her development of main characters who are gymnasts and adopted daughters. She also poignantly presents the deep love of mothers for their children, whether they are birth or adopting mothers.
October 27, 2023
I enjoyed every moment of this book! Nancy McCabe delivers a heartfelt and expertly crafted story about time travel, yes, but really so much more. Familial relationships, needing to escape painful moments, and accepting that some things shouldn’t be changed even if you have the apparent power to do so, are just some of the deep thematic notes of this wonderful novel. No detail is overlooked as the story comes full circle in the end. I heartily recommend it to anyone looking to lose themselves in a good book for a few blissful hours.
September 11, 2023
3.5. 16 year old Elizabeth is shocked to discover that she can't be her parents' biological child, and ends up traveling through time to discover what happened. The plotting and story here is just so tight and FUN. Elizabeth goes through time and space based on important years or locations in gymnastics history, which is a fun way to keep a narrow focus, and everything is delightfully wibbly wobbly. Some points definitely kept me guessing as to how they would eventually pan out.
August 14, 2024
Vaulting Through Time is a young adult, time traveling story where Elizabeth Arlington is time jumping to find the answers her mother will not give. Her friend Zach helps her along the way. This was a really fun story, I enjoyed the time traveling and the relationship between Elizabeth and her mother. The pacing of the story is good and it kept me entertained. I loved the vibes of this book and how the author portrayed each time jump.
August 16, 2023
Fun time-travel romp plus a heartfelt look at family relationships
It started out as a fun time-travel romp, then I really enjoyed the heartfelt look at family relationships at different stages of life. Gave me a lot of food for thought & I'll read it again to think about the themes in more detail. I appreciated the family tree diagram as well, as it was getting a bit confusing!
It started out as a fun time-travel romp, then I really enjoyed the heartfelt look at family relationships at different stages of life. Gave me a lot of food for thought & I'll read it again to think about the themes in more detail. I appreciated the family tree diagram as well, as it was getting a bit confusing!
September 15, 2024
3.75 rating would be more accurate. I am a gymnastic fanatic and lover of sci-fi/time travel so of course I was gonna read this and enjoy it!!! That being said I think my teenage self would love it more, even though I frequently love YA books as an adult I felt it hard to suspend disbelief with some of it or fully but in. Throughly enjoyed but took me a little while to finish it.
April 11, 2023
I love time travel novels, and this is one of the best I've read!
Elixabeth is a gymnast. When she discovers something strange about the night she was born, her friend Zach offers to help her find out more using a time travel device he uncovered. What follows is an intricate, heartwarming and action-packed race through time as Elizabeth discovers who she really is.
The plot of this story is enthralling. Part mystery, part drama, with action that is fast-paced and well written. The plot twists are unexpected and satisfying. A very enjoyable read!
Elixabeth is a gymnast. When she discovers something strange about the night she was born, her friend Zach offers to help her find out more using a time travel device he uncovered. What follows is an intricate, heartwarming and action-packed race through time as Elizabeth discovers who she really is.
The plot of this story is enthralling. Part mystery, part drama, with action that is fast-paced and well written. The plot twists are unexpected and satisfying. A very enjoyable read!
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