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Up, Back, and Away
Librarian's Note: this is an alternate cover edition - ASIN: B00CHCP95U - Up, Back, and Away
Miles McTavish, 15, is undersized and inoffensive. He likes old bicycles, new music, and (don’t say it too loud), model railroading. As the only child of wealthy Dallas executives, it appears that a life of trustafarian ease is his birthright. All those expectations are upended, however, the day he is summoned to the hospital bed of his friend (and fellow English three-speed enthusiast), Morgan Davies. Professor Davies has a secret to share: he once was a time traveler. He also has a task for his young friend: Miles is to travel back in time to 1928, and across the sea to England. Once there, he is to find “a girl with a gift, a girl born out of her time” and a “secret that was not meant to be” and then return home with them both. Miles must first find the courage to pass through the strange portal in the Vermont woods that will launch him on this mission, and then to face down a series of do-or-die crises (including a crisis of confidence). He must also navigate the low-tech, class-bound world of England in 1928 while keeping his true identity a secret. Miles' quest for the girl and the secret carries him from a great estate in England's beautiful countryside to London's jazz-age cabarets, and from terrified boy to heroic young man.
Miles McTavish, 15, is undersized and inoffensive. He likes old bicycles, new music, and (don’t say it too loud), model railroading. As the only child of wealthy Dallas executives, it appears that a life of trustafarian ease is his birthright. All those expectations are upended, however, the day he is summoned to the hospital bed of his friend (and fellow English three-speed enthusiast), Morgan Davies. Professor Davies has a secret to share: he once was a time traveler. He also has a task for his young friend: Miles is to travel back in time to 1928, and across the sea to England. Once there, he is to find “a girl with a gift, a girl born out of her time” and a “secret that was not meant to be” and then return home with them both. Miles must first find the courage to pass through the strange portal in the Vermont woods that will launch him on this mission, and then to face down a series of do-or-die crises (including a crisis of confidence). He must also navigate the low-tech, class-bound world of England in 1928 while keeping his true identity a secret. Miles' quest for the girl and the secret carries him from a great estate in England's beautiful countryside to London's jazz-age cabarets, and from terrified boy to heroic young man.
346 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 15, 2013
98 people are currently reading
2782 people want to read
About the author
K. Velk
4 books54 followers"Scratch a lawyer and you will find a novelist" (and a lawyer who needs a bandage).
I am paraphrasing someone famous. Someone French, I think, though I couldn't find the source just now... Anyway, that's me. A forty-something lawyer who finally got a part-time lawyer gig six years ago and promptly started writing the book I had always felt I would someday write. (Up,Back,and Away). It's a time-travel adventure story about a cosseted 15-year-old boy from suburban Dallas who is sent back in time (on a vintage English three-speed) to 1928 and across the sea to England. There, he is to retrieve a girl with a gift who was born at the wrong time, and to uncover a secret that was not meant to be, ad then return home with them both. The book is a bit of throwback as it does not feature sex (maybe a bit of sexual tension) violence (well, one street brawl) or monsters.
I have collected children's story books for years and my favorites are those from the 1920s and '30s that have great art and all kinds of poems and stories of the sort that children today never see.
I try to write every day and while I work on the next magnum opus, I also get waylaid by periodic outbursts of the desire to write something shorter and quicker. I have collected some of those writings into a sampler called the Tiny Confinements Miscellany. That little volume is a collection of essays, humor, and a couple of short stories if you're not looking for a big commitment.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
February 11, 2017
I took a chance on this book, and I am so glad I did as it was thoroughly enjoyable. I usually read for an hour or so before bed, but as I reached the second half of this book I found myself regularly awake in the early hours of the morning. The characters and their interactions were wonderfully constructed, as was the placement of a modern day teenager in 1920s England. I really couldn't recommend this book highly enough!
April 17, 2018
I have to admit I dickered about purchasing this book but the numerous 4 and 5 star reviews made my mind up for me. I really wish that I had let my indecision take centre stage and not purchased it. I am never knowingly defeated by a book but I came really close to giving up on this one. I even commented to my other half last night that if it had been free I would just give up on it as I was not enjoying it.
The biggest problem with it is not that it is authored for children, I have read a lot of books aimed at that market as the realms created are often far superior to those in adult literature as they feed in to an imagination unfettered by the mundanity of modern life. It is simply that there is no appreciable tension in the plot or the text. Whilst Miles continually tells us that he is on the look out for "The Girl" and that he has no idea what the "secret that was not meant to be" is or how he is going to find out never did I feel a sense of urgency for garnering this information. You would have thought that a boy from 2012 America going to 1928 England would stick out like a sore thumb. However, the inhabitants of Tipton must be very simple folk as his thin back story is never put in to question. Even the awful Mrs Grimwald seems to take it at face value.
I also found the characters to have little in the way of depth or interest. Even our protagonist, Miles, has very little to him that you can hook onto and become interested in. Perhaps the nearest we get to a real feeling character is Susannah but she only appears fleetingly.
The writing I found to be a little ploddy and not really designed to hold interest. You know it's not great when daytime television is a welcome distraction. I did appreciate that although this is an out and out fantasy tale that the author did manage to keep the "mystical" elements of it rather grounded and the decision to link them with folklore was an interesting one and a good way to bring in characters that could assist Miles.
Sadly this was not the book for me and I am just relieved that it is now completed and I can move on to the next one that will, hopefully, entertain me more.
The biggest problem with it is not that it is authored for children, I have read a lot of books aimed at that market as the realms created are often far superior to those in adult literature as they feed in to an imagination unfettered by the mundanity of modern life. It is simply that there is no appreciable tension in the plot or the text. Whilst Miles continually tells us that he is on the look out for "The Girl" and that he has no idea what the "secret that was not meant to be" is or how he is going to find out never did I feel a sense of urgency for garnering this information. You would have thought that a boy from 2012 America going to 1928 England would stick out like a sore thumb. However, the inhabitants of Tipton must be very simple folk as his thin back story is never put in to question. Even the awful Mrs Grimwald seems to take it at face value.
I also found the characters to have little in the way of depth or interest. Even our protagonist, Miles, has very little to him that you can hook onto and become interested in. Perhaps the nearest we get to a real feeling character is Susannah but she only appears fleetingly.
The writing I found to be a little ploddy and not really designed to hold interest. You know it's not great when daytime television is a welcome distraction. I did appreciate that although this is an out and out fantasy tale that the author did manage to keep the "mystical" elements of it rather grounded and the decision to link them with folklore was an interesting one and a good way to bring in characters that could assist Miles.
Sadly this was not the book for me and I am just relieved that it is now completed and I can move on to the next one that will, hopefully, entertain me more.
January 2, 2014
I am not normally a reader of young-adult literature, but I met Kim online and when I read her intelligent and well phrased comments on several issues of concern to both of us, I decided to check out her writing. I'm glad I did.
I am giving this novel four stars in the debut-novel category (I believe W.P. Kinsella once said there should be two categories for writers: the minor leagues and the pro leagues, and I agree with him on this). Up, Back, and Away is an auspicious beginning to what I am sure will be a substantial writing career. It is an intriguing tale of a 15-year-old boy who cycles through a port in time, leaving Northern Vermont in 2012 and ending up in the English countryside in 1928. He's been sent on a mission by an older friend of his, Professor Morgan Davies, and when he had accomplished the mission he will be able to return to present-day America and his family.
Time travel is always interesting to read about, as the traveller learns about the strange country in which he or she has ended up, and Up, Back, and Away fulfils its promise in this area very well. In addition to carrying out the requests of Professor Davies, Miles is challenged by the need to hide his true identity while simultaneously learning about the time and place in which he finds himself. As far as I can tell, Velk has done her research well, and she presents us with a convincing world populated by an interesting cast of characters.
As she did in our online exchanges, Kim Velk here writes with clarity and confidence, and the editing of the book is commendable. Among the myriad self-published books by first-time writers, many of which are horrible, it is a pleasure to find in this book a novel that meets the standards of many professional publications.
I am giving this novel four stars in the debut-novel category (I believe W.P. Kinsella once said there should be two categories for writers: the minor leagues and the pro leagues, and I agree with him on this). Up, Back, and Away is an auspicious beginning to what I am sure will be a substantial writing career. It is an intriguing tale of a 15-year-old boy who cycles through a port in time, leaving Northern Vermont in 2012 and ending up in the English countryside in 1928. He's been sent on a mission by an older friend of his, Professor Morgan Davies, and when he had accomplished the mission he will be able to return to present-day America and his family.
Time travel is always interesting to read about, as the traveller learns about the strange country in which he or she has ended up, and Up, Back, and Away fulfils its promise in this area very well. In addition to carrying out the requests of Professor Davies, Miles is challenged by the need to hide his true identity while simultaneously learning about the time and place in which he finds himself. As far as I can tell, Velk has done her research well, and she presents us with a convincing world populated by an interesting cast of characters.
As she did in our online exchanges, Kim Velk here writes with clarity and confidence, and the editing of the book is commendable. Among the myriad self-published books by first-time writers, many of which are horrible, it is a pleasure to find in this book a novel that meets the standards of many professional publications.
May 2, 2015
I am a great fan of stories that feature current day people who somehow find themselves living in the past. I really like the idea of seeing the past through the eyes of a contemporary. I also read quite a bit of YA fiction, and as a result, I thought I would love this book. In reality, while I did enjoy it, it was not a love match for me. I'm inclined to say that that was because this is targeted at a pre-teen audience, but that's not really the case either because some of the subject matter is a bit dark and adult for 10-year-olds. Maybe it is because I found a few of the transitions and storylines to be choppy (I had to go back and re-read part of the story referring to the previous generation -- which is all I can say without spoilers -- because I couldn't figure out who the author was talking about). And I had a problem with the some of the relationships, which seemed either out of context or not sufficiently explained. So this winds up in the "good but not great" category for me.
May 30, 2016
A marvelous time traveling adventure
This is an entertaining adventure for YA readers and those of us in our second childhoods. Miles Mactavish rides an antique English bicycle through a portal in a woods in Vermont, and ends up changing lives for a young girl in 1928 England, and for his new acquaintances. His trip is, of course, filled with adventures and discoveries...including a new appreciation for the odd names some folks had to live with.
This is an entertaining adventure for YA readers and those of us in our second childhoods. Miles Mactavish rides an antique English bicycle through a portal in a woods in Vermont, and ends up changing lives for a young girl in 1928 England, and for his new acquaintances. His trip is, of course, filled with adventures and discoveries...including a new appreciation for the odd names some folks had to live with.
October 4, 2017
“Up, Back and Away” is an imaginative time travel adventure that begins when fifteen-year -old Miles McTavish riding a vintage bike is whisked through a portal in the woodlands of Vermont to the year 1928; tasked by his friend Professor Morgan Davies to find a gifted “girl born out of time” and to uncover a “secret that was not meant to be”. Befriended by Jack Peppermore and his dog Molly after being struck by a branch and knocked from his bike, Miles is drawn into the low-tech, class conscious society of rural England after gaining employment at Quarter Sessions Manor working for Sir James and Lady Fisher.
From a terrified, undersized innocent boy coddled by wealthy parents in 2012, Miles grows in spirit, height and resilience in his quest to unlock a mystery, searching for the elusive identity of a girl he’s to bring back to the future and to unravel a secret that will impact both the past and the present. But his mission is not without perils as he continually faces conflict with the manor’s grumpy, controlling housekeeper who wants him dismissed, and is forced to journey to London’s jazz-age cabarets where he helps a talented singer escape the clutches of a criminal ring.
Intriguing and well-developed Miles faces one calamity after another as he searches for the girl he’s to bring back; deals with the propriety and class distinction of an age that brings heartbreak to his friend Jack’s blind sister; and constantly gets him in trouble with the housekeeper at the manor. Suspense and intensity escalate when Miles discovers Ada, a rebellious young servant with a beautiful voice who doesn’t believe him which prompts an impulsive action that leads them into the dangerous hands of an immoral night-club owner.
K. Velk brings this story to life with realistic, complex and expressive characters likes Miles McTavish a kind-hearted, apprehensive teen tasked with making a frightening journey into the past. Pampered at home, reliant and quiet he develops into an independent, steady and hardworking young man who’s reliable and persistent in his quest. Loathing a class system that stifles Dr. Slade’s interest in Suzanna Peppermore Miles comes to her defence, caring for the pretty, amiable and good-humored sister of his caring and likeable friend Jack. Mrs. Grimwald is the stern, meddling, suspicious and opinionated housekeeper at the Manor who is unaware of a devastating secret that will change her attitude while Lady Fisher born to a thriving middle-class potter and a farmer’s daughter, through marriage becomes part of the nobility. She's down-to-earth, sensible and generous wanting to help Miles like Professor Davies before him. These characters and many more infuse the story with intensity and passion as Miles in his adventure becomes the person he’s always wanted to be.
I liked “Up, Back and Away” which kept me captivated until the end, and I will look for other novels by K. Velk in future.
From a terrified, undersized innocent boy coddled by wealthy parents in 2012, Miles grows in spirit, height and resilience in his quest to unlock a mystery, searching for the elusive identity of a girl he’s to bring back to the future and to unravel a secret that will impact both the past and the present. But his mission is not without perils as he continually faces conflict with the manor’s grumpy, controlling housekeeper who wants him dismissed, and is forced to journey to London’s jazz-age cabarets where he helps a talented singer escape the clutches of a criminal ring.
Intriguing and well-developed Miles faces one calamity after another as he searches for the girl he’s to bring back; deals with the propriety and class distinction of an age that brings heartbreak to his friend Jack’s blind sister; and constantly gets him in trouble with the housekeeper at the manor. Suspense and intensity escalate when Miles discovers Ada, a rebellious young servant with a beautiful voice who doesn’t believe him which prompts an impulsive action that leads them into the dangerous hands of an immoral night-club owner.
K. Velk brings this story to life with realistic, complex and expressive characters likes Miles McTavish a kind-hearted, apprehensive teen tasked with making a frightening journey into the past. Pampered at home, reliant and quiet he develops into an independent, steady and hardworking young man who’s reliable and persistent in his quest. Loathing a class system that stifles Dr. Slade’s interest in Suzanna Peppermore Miles comes to her defence, caring for the pretty, amiable and good-humored sister of his caring and likeable friend Jack. Mrs. Grimwald is the stern, meddling, suspicious and opinionated housekeeper at the Manor who is unaware of a devastating secret that will change her attitude while Lady Fisher born to a thriving middle-class potter and a farmer’s daughter, through marriage becomes part of the nobility. She's down-to-earth, sensible and generous wanting to help Miles like Professor Davies before him. These characters and many more infuse the story with intensity and passion as Miles in his adventure becomes the person he’s always wanted to be.
I liked “Up, Back and Away” which kept me captivated until the end, and I will look for other novels by K. Velk in future.
October 5, 2017
Great read
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was well written with good characters. It kept moving and had enough twists and turns as to not be totally predictable. I loved the comparisons between the cultures of the early 20th and 21st centuries. I'll look forward to new offerings by this author!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was well written with good characters. It kept moving and had enough twists and turns as to not be totally predictable. I loved the comparisons between the cultures of the early 20th and 21st centuries. I'll look forward to new offerings by this author!
September 28, 2017
Won this book in a goodreads giveaway.
Such a fun read. I'm a big fan of the time travel genre so I was on board for this story immediately.
Very well written and paced. I will definitely be recommending this one to my nieces and nephews!
Such a fun read. I'm a big fan of the time travel genre so I was on board for this story immediately.
Very well written and paced. I will definitely be recommending this one to my nieces and nephews!
September 30, 2017
I liked it!
It was a slow start but I was twisting in my chair by the end, excited for the stories resolve. Good story, good characters, just enough detail about setting, culture, etc. Give it a try!
It was a slow start but I was twisting in my chair by the end, excited for the stories resolve. Good story, good characters, just enough detail about setting, culture, etc. Give it a try!
November 2, 2019
A fun time travel
I like time travel books and this one worked with it’s going back in time to Britain. The story was a bit slow end it took me a while to get through the book since I had to keep going back to remember who was who. But overall, great fun.
I like time travel books and this one worked with it’s going back in time to Britain. The story was a bit slow end it took me a while to get through the book since I had to keep going back to remember who was who. But overall, great fun.
October 31, 2018
3.5* Started off slow but gathered pace towards the end, interesting idea and fun little story.
February 28, 2020
A Challenging Adventure
A delightful adventure!! This story made me wish that time travel could be a reality. Wonderful and memorable characters, too. But it did leave me wanting to know how things played out next!
A delightful adventure!! This story made me wish that time travel could be a reality. Wonderful and memorable characters, too. But it did leave me wanting to know how things played out next!
May 2, 2025
Time Travel
A boy of 15 yrs travels back in time to 1928 England. He is on a mission by a professor to find a secret and to bring back a girl. Great story! Great characters.
A boy of 15 yrs travels back in time to 1928 England. He is on a mission by a professor to find a secret and to bring back a girl. Great story! Great characters.
October 20, 2017
Up, back and away.
What a fun book to read. Very simple to follow. Entertaining. Look forward to more in this series . I love time travel books and i enjoyed this one.
What a fun book to read. Very simple to follow. Entertaining. Look forward to more in this series . I love time travel books and i enjoyed this one.
October 22, 2016
Miles McTavish is a lonely 15-year old boy with disinterested parents of great wealth, who feels out of place in his own time. He is interested in bicycles, and works for a time in an old bike shop with his friend, Professor Morgan Davies. Professor Davies falls ill and tasks Miles with traveling back in time to the year 1928 to a town that Morgan Davies once belonged: Tipton, England. The Professor explains how he traveled in time from 1928 England to present day America. He gives Miles explicit instructions to find a girl that does not belong in her time, as well as a special secret, and to time-travel home with both. Miles must build the courage to travel through time and then to figure out life in 1920s England, all while trying to disguise himself as someone that belongs to that time. He makes many friends along the way, and travels to many places throughout England learning the true nature of his quest.
This is a high quality text with literary merit. This book is an exciting read that keeps the reader on their toes. It is perfect for young adult readers because the chapters are rather short, and the text flows easily. Students will love reading this book as they compare their lives to the experiences of the characters in 1920s England.
This text would be appropriate to use when introducing science fiction or fantasy. This novel would work well in small groups, especially for students who are interested in the science fiction or fantasy genres. Struggling learners would be supported by working together in groups to read and evaluate the text.
This is a high quality text with literary merit. This book is an exciting read that keeps the reader on their toes. It is perfect for young adult readers because the chapters are rather short, and the text flows easily. Students will love reading this book as they compare their lives to the experiences of the characters in 1920s England.
This text would be appropriate to use when introducing science fiction or fantasy. This novel would work well in small groups, especially for students who are interested in the science fiction or fantasy genres. Struggling learners would be supported by working together in groups to read and evaluate the text.
April 29, 2014
(I received this book for free as part of Goodreads First Reads giveaways).
(This review may contain spoilers).
I've read - and seen - quite a lot of things that have to do with time travel. It's not a unique idea, but it's always entertaining to read - especially when it's handled well, which I felt was the case here.
I was a bit unclear about how the timing worked with the year Miles went back to. There didn't seem to be a clear time frame for the two periods of time travel that had occurred.
Although I felt the whole thing with the culture shock and Miles having to deal with needing to work made sense, I wasn't entirely sure what the whole reason was. I think I would have liked there to be a bit more of an explanation. The book started in a good place, but I would have liked to see more of the background.
I did like the characters in the book and there were some surprises. I think there was a lot that made sense and I felt there was clearly a lot of research that had gone into this book. I really did like the evolution of Miles' character and I felt that he'd grown up a lot by the end of the book.
It was nice to see all of the loose ends tied up, though it would be nice to see a sequel to this book. Or even a prequel. (Which may exist already - I don't know). I'd definitely be interested in reading more books by this author in the future.
(This review may contain spoilers).
I've read - and seen - quite a lot of things that have to do with time travel. It's not a unique idea, but it's always entertaining to read - especially when it's handled well, which I felt was the case here.
I was a bit unclear about how the timing worked with the year Miles went back to. There didn't seem to be a clear time frame for the two periods of time travel that had occurred.
Although I felt the whole thing with the culture shock and Miles having to deal with needing to work made sense, I wasn't entirely sure what the whole reason was. I think I would have liked there to be a bit more of an explanation. The book started in a good place, but I would have liked to see more of the background.
I did like the characters in the book and there were some surprises. I think there was a lot that made sense and I felt there was clearly a lot of research that had gone into this book. I really did like the evolution of Miles' character and I felt that he'd grown up a lot by the end of the book.
It was nice to see all of the loose ends tied up, though it would be nice to see a sequel to this book. Or even a prequel. (Which may exist already - I don't know). I'd definitely be interested in reading more books by this author in the future.
September 16, 2015
The story is about a teenage boy who more or less stumbles into an adventure in 1928 England where he is supposed to find a particular girl and uncover a secret without having any clue where exactly to find either. The story starts slowly and thoroughly introduces 15-year-old Miles McTavish from a wealthy family with all the weaknesses and insecurities a boy that age is allowed and even supposed to have. He arrives at this different age and place that are so completely different from what he knows and is not immediately an expert on English history but is on the verge of exposing himself as time traveller more often than once. Good thing he remembers one good piece of at advise that was given to him to avoid just that: to shut up.
The end as such was not entirely unpredictable, but anything else would not have fit the story, I feel. My favourite side characters were the Peppermores, especially blind Susanne Peppermore who is sick of being cheered up by others by reminding her what other blind people have accomplished.
I also liked that Dr. Slate, even though in general a good person, has his downsides as well. I find characters that are not painted to be exclusively "good" or "bad" a lot more convincing.
All in all I liked the way Miles grew with the challenges he had to face and the mistakes he made.
The end as such was not entirely unpredictable, but anything else would not have fit the story, I feel. My favourite side characters were the Peppermores, especially blind Susanne Peppermore who is sick of being cheered up by others by reminding her what other blind people have accomplished.
I also liked that Dr. Slate, even though in general a good person, has his downsides as well. I find characters that are not painted to be exclusively "good" or "bad" a lot more convincing.
All in all I liked the way Miles grew with the challenges he had to face and the mistakes he made.
October 6, 2016
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
I've never actually written a review before.
The story of Miles begins with him about to make the trip through time. I can only imagine all of the thoughts that would be running through someone's head if they were about to go on this journey. I feel the author captured it well, along with the whole time travel adventure.
I loved the characters that Miles meets and how different he is treated in that time. A fifteen year old ordering champagne? Crazy! I also loved how Miles changed while being away from his present day. He stood up to grown men and did what was right. Gotta love a good guy!
Finding "the girl" and "the secret" when he had no idea where to find either one would make anyone a little discouraged and the author let us know that it definitely bothered Miles more than once.
I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but I loved the story. It was a fun and interesting read. I came to the last few chapters and I didn't want the story to end.
So happy to have won a copy of this book! Thanks to K. Velk for the prompt delivery and to Goodreads! I'll definitely pick this one up a second time!
I've never actually written a review before.
The story of Miles begins with him about to make the trip through time. I can only imagine all of the thoughts that would be running through someone's head if they were about to go on this journey. I feel the author captured it well, along with the whole time travel adventure.
I loved the characters that Miles meets and how different he is treated in that time. A fifteen year old ordering champagne? Crazy! I also loved how Miles changed while being away from his present day. He stood up to grown men and did what was right. Gotta love a good guy!
Finding "the girl" and "the secret" when he had no idea where to find either one would make anyone a little discouraged and the author let us know that it definitely bothered Miles more than once.
I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but I loved the story. It was a fun and interesting read. I came to the last few chapters and I didn't want the story to end.
So happy to have won a copy of this book! Thanks to K. Velk for the prompt delivery and to Goodreads! I'll definitely pick this one up a second time!
September 14, 2017
This book has short chapters and is easy to read, but not a great deal happens. Miles is a young American boy who time travels back from modern day Texas to rural England in 1928 on a vintage bike. He has a mission to find a girl and a secret.
The story follows Miles as he attempts to find both, but it's really no more than a wander through life in inter-war England. The life described actually feels more pre-1914 than 1920s. The trouble is not much in these chapters pushes the story forward. Miles is looking for a girl but in between riding his bike and repairing stone walls he doesn't meet many girls. When he finds her, he just knows it's her, which isn't much of a pay off for the reader.
I'd assumed at the beginning that the secret and the girl are linked, but they're entirely separate, which struck me as odd. I also thought the secret would be more important than it is, but it's purely a personal matter for a character we barely see.
All in all, this was a nice enough read but instantly forgettable.
The story follows Miles as he attempts to find both, but it's really no more than a wander through life in inter-war England. The life described actually feels more pre-1914 than 1920s. The trouble is not much in these chapters pushes the story forward. Miles is looking for a girl but in between riding his bike and repairing stone walls he doesn't meet many girls. When he finds her, he just knows it's her, which isn't much of a pay off for the reader.
I'd assumed at the beginning that the secret and the girl are linked, but they're entirely separate, which struck me as odd. I also thought the secret would be more important than it is, but it's purely a personal matter for a character we barely see.
All in all, this was a nice enough read but instantly forgettable.
August 17, 2016
Hey everybody, full disclosure, I wrote this book. You may think that makes me a little biased. Maybe, but, hand to heart, I wouldn't have put it on offer if I didn't believe it was good enough to merit the attention of readers and to be a pleasure to them.
It's a time-travel adventure story that allowed me to explore topics of lifelong interest to me, England, English ways and social structure versus American ways and social structure, popular music, the difficult business of growing up, transferware, dogs, great writers, etc. I worked on it, methodically, for about six years and I think it is a solid bit of work that may be enjoyed by a lot of people, especially if they have similar interests.
Here's a very recent arms-length review (I didn't know the reviewer and she didn't know me) for your consideration. http://bookgarden.blogspot.com/2013/0...
See also the reviews on Amazon.
It's a time-travel adventure story that allowed me to explore topics of lifelong interest to me, England, English ways and social structure versus American ways and social structure, popular music, the difficult business of growing up, transferware, dogs, great writers, etc. I worked on it, methodically, for about six years and I think it is a solid bit of work that may be enjoyed by a lot of people, especially if they have similar interests.
Here's a very recent arms-length review (I didn't know the reviewer and she didn't know me) for your consideration. http://bookgarden.blogspot.com/2013/0...
See also the reviews on Amazon.
July 19, 2018
Up, Back, and Away was absolutely stunning. I love discovering great fiction for young readers as an adult but I can say, without question, that if I had read this as a child it would have found a place with my other childhood favorites - Ginger Pye, the Oz books, Chronicles of Narnia, Madeleine L'Engle. K. Velk's prose flows beautifully and the story carries the reader along with Miles on his journey through time. The characters were fully fleshed out, the story was moving, and there was just the right amount of magic. I sincerely loved this book and will be putting it on the shelf right next to my other childhood favorites. I look forward to anything else K. Velk has to offer. Brilliant. Well done.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 18, 2014
I gave this 5 stars on amazon which seems to equate to 4 stars here.
I guess it is aimed at young readers, but I was sucked in anyway.
Mystery and intrigue from the beginning, questions popping up in my head continually. Had to turn the pages and find out what happened next.
Its a lovely idea and K Velk obviously did some serious research as it is very believable
The main character Miles is well portrayed and I found myself mentally encouraging him not to despair or give up.
Easy to read style, with clear descriptions.
Will read more books written by this author. Give her a go if you like fantasy and adventure and especially if you are a young reader
I guess it is aimed at young readers, but I was sucked in anyway.
Mystery and intrigue from the beginning, questions popping up in my head continually. Had to turn the pages and find out what happened next.
Its a lovely idea and K Velk obviously did some serious research as it is very believable
The main character Miles is well portrayed and I found myself mentally encouraging him not to despair or give up.
Easy to read style, with clear descriptions.
Will read more books written by this author. Give her a go if you like fantasy and adventure and especially if you are a young reader
October 11, 2016
It is a great story of a mission, an adventurous and loyal friend, and time traveling. How would you like to know you were traveling to a different time, but not a different country. Our 15 year old hero knocks himself out in modern day Vermont and wakes up in 1928 England, a place where he doesn't know what people are talking about. Yes, it's English, but such strange words they use. And he can't let them know he's from the future, all the while carrying out his mission which he doesn't really understand either. He does know he's suppose to find a girl and a secret and take them back to his time. Easy? Not really. It's a story that is hard to put aside.
December 4, 2014
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway.
Miles is sent back in time by his friend, Professor Davies, to retrieve a girl (name: unknown) to bring back to 2012.
The trouble is that he doesn't know where or WHEN he'll end up.
It was a little odd that he was able to hide so well the fact that he was from the future. It DID help that he was from the U.S. and ended up in England. News did not travel fast in 1928.
While he's in the past, Miles finds out secrets upon secrets and learns that he is stronger than he would have believed.
Miles is sent back in time by his friend, Professor Davies, to retrieve a girl (name: unknown) to bring back to 2012.
The trouble is that he doesn't know where or WHEN he'll end up.
It was a little odd that he was able to hide so well the fact that he was from the future. It DID help that he was from the U.S. and ended up in England. News did not travel fast in 1928.
While he's in the past, Miles finds out secrets upon secrets and learns that he is stronger than he would have believed.
July 13, 2014
Fourteen-year-old Miles undertakes a mission for an ailing elderly friend, and finds himself transported from today’s Vermont to the English countryside of 1928. There he must find “a girl and a secret”. With not much more than that to go on, he bravely sets out to fulfill his mission.
I loved this book and recommend it to readers of any age.
Read this if: you enjoy the time and setting of Downton Abbey; or you’d like to see how a modern teen can adjust to life—and society—of 85 years ago. 4 stars
I loved this book and recommend it to readers of any age.
Read this if: you enjoy the time and setting of Downton Abbey; or you’d like to see how a modern teen can adjust to life—and society—of 85 years ago. 4 stars
February 3, 2019
It's a nice little time travel story, kind of "homey" atmosphere throughout. I found it slow in some places, but in total it was charming and engaging. I liked it. Characters were well developed (Mrs. Grimwald really came alive at the end).
One thing I would have liked to have had explained:
One thing I would have liked to have had explained:
October 27, 2013
This YA time travelling novel was well-plotted, fast paced, and seems to have been thoroughly researched. The main character does a few plausible good deeds, there are a few surprise twists, and there are no lose threads. An excellent debut novel which has left me wishing this author had a back list.
June 30, 2015
Why you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover... ***
This was entertaining, interesting, and well-written.
A good book, that was hard to put down.
I would love a prequel... I have questions about Professor Davies that need answering!!
***edited Jun 15, 2015... Love the new cover!!
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
This was entertaining, interesting, and well-written.
A good book, that was hard to put down.
I would love a prequel... I have questions about Professor Davies that need answering!!
***edited Jun 15, 2015... Love the new cover!!
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
March 24, 2015
Fun, intriguing and engaging
I really enjoyed this fanciful tale of a boy, his bike and growing up. Interesting twist on your typical time travel story. There were infrequent slow points but mostly I didn't want to put this down. Good book for young and old adults alike. Great initial outing from a first time author. Can't wait for more installments from this author.
I really enjoyed this fanciful tale of a boy, his bike and growing up. Interesting twist on your typical time travel story. There were infrequent slow points but mostly I didn't want to put this down. Good book for young and old adults alike. Great initial outing from a first time author. Can't wait for more installments from this author.
May 26, 2016
Very good story, kept me involved and wondering what came next. I feel like this could be developed into a series- rescuing people born out of time. The only part I didn't like was the beginning. It took a few chapters to get a handle on the story. It was like being thrown into the deep end of a pool.
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