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23 Minutes
Fifteen-year-old Zoe has a secret ability: she can travel back in time twenty-three minutes to relive events she wants to change. But Zoe has learned from experience that this is more curse than gift. Things almost never end well and people just tend to think she’s crazy.
But when she steps into a bank to get out of the rain and finds herself in the middle of a robbery gone horrifyingly wrong, Zoe knows she’s the only one who can help. The problem is, she has only a limited number of tries to make things right. Plus, a single mistake could get her killed—and not even time travel could bring her back from that.
Zoe has always considered herself a loser, about as far from a heroine as a girl can get. Now she has to dig deep to find a strength she never thought she possessed.
But when she steps into a bank to get out of the rain and finds herself in the middle of a robbery gone horrifyingly wrong, Zoe knows she’s the only one who can help. The problem is, she has only a limited number of tries to make things right. Plus, a single mistake could get her killed—and not even time travel could bring her back from that.
Zoe has always considered herself a loser, about as far from a heroine as a girl can get. Now she has to dig deep to find a strength she never thought she possessed.
176 pages, Hardcover
First published April 5, 2016
90 people are currently reading
1797 people want to read
About the author
Vivian Vande Velde
51 books994 followersVivian Vande Velde (born 1951, currently residing in Rochester, New York) is an American author who writes books primarily aimed at young adults.
Her novels and short story collections usually have some element of horror or fantasy, but are primarily humorous. Her book Never Trust a Dead Man (1999) received the 2000 Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Novel. She says that she really likes to write for children. She likes to do school talks to children. She does many book conventions and also gives writing classes.
Her novels and short story collections usually have some element of horror or fantasy, but are primarily humorous. Her book Never Trust a Dead Man (1999) received the 2000 Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Novel. She says that she really likes to write for children. She likes to do school talks to children. She does many book conventions and also gives writing classes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 291 reviews
October 2, 2017
Yes, it's a YA Time Travel thriller. But even if you don't like all those motifs, you'll probably enjoy this. Vande Velde is a wonderful writer, no matter the genre or age level she is exploring. Style and story both are thoughtful & fun. I will continue to read everything by the author.
April 21, 2017
I honestly did not think was going to be good. (I am sorry for my preconceived misconceptions). I saw the cover and the shortness of the book/novella and thought 'meh.' I was wrong; I am happy.
4.5/5 stars rounded up! (Would read again haha).
CONS:
•First of all, the cover. I picked up this short story and my first thought was that the cover was pretty ugly. I'm sorry (somewhat) but I don't like it. (My opinion). The orange does not go with the black and white look. It just looks silly. If you wanted something orange, try the crime scene tape in the eye, but that would still be yellow to be honest. The black and white picture was okay, but I recommend just using a different photo altogether or putting the title around the eye. Something aesthetic or appealing to the eye.
•Next is the length. I though the book itself was too short! I wanted to know what happens later! To Zoe, to Daniel, to the development of the power, etc. I want a second book just as good or better!
•The names. They didn't seem to fit the characters, but that may just be me.
PROS:
•The idea. I really like the idea of time traveling with strange limitations and I really wanted the limitations to be because of some significant thing (and that's why I want a second book). I like the idea but the twists in the time traveling idea made it even better.
•The characters. Umm this may be my first novel/short story by this author, but these characters are/were intriguing, entertaining, clever in some ways, and to me, realistic. I immensely enjoyed reading about Zoe and Daniel and their alternate people when Zoe went back in time. The communication between the two was enjoyable too.
•The action. I ONLY accept flashbacks when they are good for the plot, not take away from the action that should happen now in the book, not a long flashback that then turns into 10 years later or 10 years earlier. The action in this book starts in the beginning, even after the flashback. I had fun with that.
4.5/5 stars rounded up! (Would read again haha).
CONS:
•First of all, the cover. I picked up this short story and my first thought was that the cover was pretty ugly. I'm sorry (somewhat) but I don't like it. (My opinion). The orange does not go with the black and white look. It just looks silly. If you wanted something orange, try the crime scene tape in the eye, but that would still be yellow to be honest. The black and white picture was okay, but I recommend just using a different photo altogether or putting the title around the eye. Something aesthetic or appealing to the eye.
•Next is the length. I though the book itself was too short! I wanted to know what happens later! To Zoe, to Daniel, to the development of the power, etc. I want a second book just as good or better!
•The names. They didn't seem to fit the characters, but that may just be me.
PROS:
•The idea. I really like the idea of time traveling with strange limitations and I really wanted the limitations to be because of some significant thing (and that's why I want a second book). I like the idea but the twists in the time traveling idea made it even better.
•The characters. Umm this may be my first novel/short story by this author, but these characters are/were intriguing, entertaining, clever in some ways, and to me, realistic. I immensely enjoyed reading about Zoe and Daniel and their alternate people when Zoe went back in time. The communication between the two was enjoyable too.
•The action. I ONLY accept flashbacks when they are good for the plot, not take away from the action that should happen now in the book, not a long flashback that then turns into 10 years later or 10 years earlier. The action in this book starts in the beginning, even after the flashback. I had fun with that.
December 8, 2021
In 1 ruk las ik dit boek uit! Nu zijn 200 pagina's ook geen enorme klepper, maar het verhaal zorgde er gewoon dat ik niet wilde stoppen. Het heeft een enorm "Groundhog Day" gevoel, waar ik echt van genoot. Hoewel ik de eerste pagina's vreselijk moest wennen aan de schrijfstijl, die aanvoelde als een soort amerikaanse voice-over, slokte het mij al snel op en liet me niet meer los tot het einde van de laatste 23 minuten. Hoe vaak moet je iets doen tot het goed gaat, en bestaat er wel zoiets als "echt perfect"? Als lezer was ik echt onderdeel van het verhaal, en probeer ik mee te denken in oplossingen. Heerlijk als een boek je zo grijpt. Een absolute aanrader! ♡
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August 8, 2019
This is a rare book for me, a time travel plot that I actually liked. I think it was the problem solving aspect that spoke to me and that the protagonist is such an unlikely hero, who is clearly still coming to terms with her unusual ability.
Popsugar challenge 2019: A book about someone with a superpower (a limited form of time travel)
Popsugar challenge 2019: A book about someone with a superpower (a limited form of time travel)
August 3, 2024
Read for a library challenge. I loved Vivian Vande Velde’s HEIR APPARENT as a kid, so I’m delighted that 23 MINUTES is also a blast. It feels reminiscent of the kind of YA page turner that was popular when I was a teen—think Margaret Peterson Haddix.
August 10, 2021
A very novel take on Groundhog Day, bank robbery edition.
Upon my second reading of this I noticed just how young the protagonist, Zoe, was. Last time I read this I seemed to be under the impression that she was old enough for this to class as YA, but in actuality the protagonist was barely even 16. Knowing she was so young really heightened the whole experience of the fear and desperation she felt as she relived the horrifying 23 minutes.
The character Daniel was such a kind sweetheart. I thought the age difference between him and the protagonist made the suggested romance a little weird, but the protagonist’s crush remained mostly in her narrative rather than seeping into her actions and a girl can have a crush on whoever she wants regardless of any age difference. It was the sweet relationship between Zoe and Daniel that really made me want a sequel to this book.
The narrative was a little strange as it was written in present tense. It’s not a style I often come across which made it a little jarring and took a while for me to get used to. But it never disrupted the flow of the action, instead adding to the uncertainty of the protagonist’s future, so it was a smart narrative choice.
Overall, this was a stellar book from Vivian Vande Velde. A must-read for time travel fans!
Upon my second reading of this I noticed just how young the protagonist, Zoe, was. Last time I read this I seemed to be under the impression that she was old enough for this to class as YA, but in actuality the protagonist was barely even 16. Knowing she was so young really heightened the whole experience of the fear and desperation she felt as she relived the horrifying 23 minutes.
The character Daniel was such a kind sweetheart. I thought the age difference between him and the protagonist made the suggested romance a little weird, but the protagonist’s crush remained mostly in her narrative rather than seeping into her actions and a girl can have a crush on whoever she wants regardless of any age difference. It was the sweet relationship between Zoe and Daniel that really made me want a sequel to this book.
The narrative was a little strange as it was written in present tense. It’s not a style I often come across which made it a little jarring and took a while for me to get used to. But it never disrupted the flow of the action, instead adding to the uncertainty of the protagonist’s future, so it was a smart narrative choice.
Overall, this was a stellar book from Vivian Vande Velde. A must-read for time travel fans!
July 3, 2019
LOL I READ THIS IN LIKE 4 HOURS!!!!
This was so cool. So interesting. I loved the way it was written, and I love the concept. I kept wondering what it would be like to have this power that Zoe has. Would I use it frivolously, as she came to regret doing sometimes? Would I use it to put myself back in scary situations in order to save others? I can’t answer these questions, but Zoe has to. It’s really interesting to think about.
Other than that, the story was so intriguing. You would think reading the same incidence played back over and over would get boring and repetitive, but it didn’t in the slightest. It was like ten different stories, something totally different happening every time.
It’s a short book, but a really good and interesting one. I’d really highly recommend banging it out real quick.
This was so cool. So interesting. I loved the way it was written, and I love the concept. I kept wondering what it would be like to have this power that Zoe has. Would I use it frivolously, as she came to regret doing sometimes? Would I use it to put myself back in scary situations in order to save others? I can’t answer these questions, but Zoe has to. It’s really interesting to think about.
Other than that, the story was so intriguing. You would think reading the same incidence played back over and over would get boring and repetitive, but it didn’t in the slightest. It was like ten different stories, something totally different happening every time.
It’s a short book, but a really good and interesting one. I’d really highly recommend banging it out real quick.
January 29, 2018
23 Minutes by Vivian Vande Velde is a science fiction book. It is about a girl named Zoe who experienced a bank robber scene that killed multiple people. Luckily for her, she has the gift of turning back time. By putting her arms around herself and saying the word, “playback” she can go back in time 23 minutes. Her goal is to stop the bank robbery without anybody getting killed in the process. However, she has only ten tries to get it right. This book is filled with suspense and it is so interesting. It has multiple conflicts in it that keep the reader on the edge of their seats. I recommend this book for someone who is looking for an interesting, but quick read. I also recommend this book to boys and girls who are in middle school.
March 23, 2018
Super well written. The kind of thing that was probably left open ended on purpose but ALSO I want a SEQUEL.
December 13, 2016
"Nie wieder zurück" hat mich schon lange vor dem Erscheinungstag angesprochen und war auch bei vielen Buchbloggern in aller Munde, sodass ich schnell neugierig wurde und dem Buch eine Chance geben wollte. Geschichten über Zeitreisen fand ich schon immer sehr spannend, dementsprechend hoch waren auch meine Erwartungen und ich muss sagen, dass ich nicht enttäuscht wurde.
Vivian Vande Velde besitzt einen recht angenehmen Schreibstil, der sich spannend und flüssig liest und ich somit durch die gerade einmal knapp 210 Seiten nur so durchgeflogen bin. Ich muss zwar auch zugeben, dass ich besonders auf den ersten zwanzig Seiten ein paar Probleme hatte, mich an den Schreibstil zu gewöhnen, allerdings hat er mir dafür später umso besser gefallen.
Die Geschichte ist schnell erzählt: Zoe verbringt den Tag in der Stadt und geht, nachdem der Regen immer stärker wird, in eine Bank, um sich dort aufzuwärmen. Doch schnell ist die Ruhe vorbei, denn nur wenige Minuten später stürmt ein Bankräuber die Bank, bei der es auch Tote gibt. Zoe muss handeln, denn sie hat ein Talent, mit dem sie alles ungeschehen machen könnte, denn sie kann in die Zeit zurückreisen. Einziges Problem: Sie kann immer nur dreiundzwanzig Minuten zurückreisen, sodass jede noch so kleine Minute zählt.
Die Mischung aus Thriller und Fantasy ist hier besonders gut gelungen. Ich muss zwar sagen, dass ich finde, dass Zoes Fähigkeit fast schon als zu selbstverständlich hingestellt wird, allerdings hatte ich dennoch meinen Spaß an der Geschichte und konnte mich zumindest teilweise in Zoe hineinversetzen. Das Thema Zeitreisen ist zwar nicht unbedingt neu und bietet somit nur wenige Überraschungen, allerdings wirkt hier alles sehr stimmig und auch die Begrenzung auf dreiundzwanzig Minuten fand ich interessant, da die Geschichte so stets temporeich verläuft.
Das Cover ist schlicht, passt aber aufgrund der Uhren im Hintergrund dennoch sehr gut zur Thematik, sodass man sich hier nicht beschweren kann. Die Kurzbeschreibung liest sich gut und hat direkt mein Interesse geweckt, allerdings finde ich im Nachhinein, dass diese auch gleichzeitig zu viel verrät.
Kurz gesagt: "Nie wieder zurück" ist eine temporeiche und spannende Geschichte, die mich zum Großteil auch aufgrund der Protagonistin Zoe überzeugen konnte. Ich hatte somit meinen Spaß an dem Buch und kann "Nie wieder zurück" nur empfehlen.
Vivian Vande Velde besitzt einen recht angenehmen Schreibstil, der sich spannend und flüssig liest und ich somit durch die gerade einmal knapp 210 Seiten nur so durchgeflogen bin. Ich muss zwar auch zugeben, dass ich besonders auf den ersten zwanzig Seiten ein paar Probleme hatte, mich an den Schreibstil zu gewöhnen, allerdings hat er mir dafür später umso besser gefallen.
Die Geschichte ist schnell erzählt: Zoe verbringt den Tag in der Stadt und geht, nachdem der Regen immer stärker wird, in eine Bank, um sich dort aufzuwärmen. Doch schnell ist die Ruhe vorbei, denn nur wenige Minuten später stürmt ein Bankräuber die Bank, bei der es auch Tote gibt. Zoe muss handeln, denn sie hat ein Talent, mit dem sie alles ungeschehen machen könnte, denn sie kann in die Zeit zurückreisen. Einziges Problem: Sie kann immer nur dreiundzwanzig Minuten zurückreisen, sodass jede noch so kleine Minute zählt.
Die Mischung aus Thriller und Fantasy ist hier besonders gut gelungen. Ich muss zwar sagen, dass ich finde, dass Zoes Fähigkeit fast schon als zu selbstverständlich hingestellt wird, allerdings hatte ich dennoch meinen Spaß an der Geschichte und konnte mich zumindest teilweise in Zoe hineinversetzen. Das Thema Zeitreisen ist zwar nicht unbedingt neu und bietet somit nur wenige Überraschungen, allerdings wirkt hier alles sehr stimmig und auch die Begrenzung auf dreiundzwanzig Minuten fand ich interessant, da die Geschichte so stets temporeich verläuft.
Das Cover ist schlicht, passt aber aufgrund der Uhren im Hintergrund dennoch sehr gut zur Thematik, sodass man sich hier nicht beschweren kann. Die Kurzbeschreibung liest sich gut und hat direkt mein Interesse geweckt, allerdings finde ich im Nachhinein, dass diese auch gleichzeitig zu viel verrät.
Kurz gesagt: "Nie wieder zurück" ist eine temporeiche und spannende Geschichte, die mich zum Großteil auch aufgrund der Protagonistin Zoe überzeugen konnte. Ich hatte somit meinen Spaß an dem Buch und kann "Nie wieder zurück" nur empfehlen.
March 8, 2019
Zoals wel vaker gebeurt, heb ik dit boek van mijn moeder gekregen die het zelf al met veel plezier gelezen had. Ik wist niet helemaal zeker of het wel echt iets voor mij ging zijn. Ondanks het sci-fi/supernatural element, bleef het toch een contemporary boek met thriller invloeden, en laten dat nu twee genres zijn waar ik niet helemaal in mijn natuurlijke habitat ben.
Maar ik ben blij dat ik het boek toch heb opgepakt! 23 minuten is een hele goede uitwerking van een heel intrigerend en tof concept. Al vrij snel werd ik het verhaal in gezogen en tegen het einde ging ik alleen maar sneller en sneller lezen omdat ik ongelooflijk benieuwd was hoe dit verhaal af zou lopen en waar het uiteindelijk heen ging. Het boek laat al snel zien dat kleine veranderingen grootse effecten konden hebben en het was een stand alone, dus letterlijk alles was mogelijk.
Het verhaal wordt voor het grootste gedeelte gedragen door de hoofdpersoon Zoe. En hoewel Zoe in een hele stressvolle situatie zit, waardoor ze weinig tijd heeft om te reflecteren op haar leven, slaagt de schrijfster er toch in Zoe een karakter en achtergrond te geven. Ik had al vrij snel een klik met haar en vooral haar intelligente benadering van de situatie sprak me heel erg aan, zeker in combinatie met de overduidelijke heftige emoties die nooit het onderspit dolven.
Daarnaast vond ik het ongelooflijk knap hoe de schrijfster een gelijkaardige situatie meermaals vertelt en beschrijft, zonder dat het saai wordt of ik het gevoel kreeg dat ze continu in herhaling viel. Integendeel elke keer weer was het verhaal verfrissend en kregen we nieuwe stukken informatie en nieuwe kanten van de verschillende mensen, omstanders en voorbijgangers te zien.
Wat mij betreft dus een meer dan goed geslaagd boek!
Maar ik ben blij dat ik het boek toch heb opgepakt! 23 minuten is een hele goede uitwerking van een heel intrigerend en tof concept. Al vrij snel werd ik het verhaal in gezogen en tegen het einde ging ik alleen maar sneller en sneller lezen omdat ik ongelooflijk benieuwd was hoe dit verhaal af zou lopen en waar het uiteindelijk heen ging. Het boek laat al snel zien dat kleine veranderingen grootse effecten konden hebben en het was een stand alone, dus letterlijk alles was mogelijk.
Het verhaal wordt voor het grootste gedeelte gedragen door de hoofdpersoon Zoe. En hoewel Zoe in een hele stressvolle situatie zit, waardoor ze weinig tijd heeft om te reflecteren op haar leven, slaagt de schrijfster er toch in Zoe een karakter en achtergrond te geven. Ik had al vrij snel een klik met haar en vooral haar intelligente benadering van de situatie sprak me heel erg aan, zeker in combinatie met de overduidelijke heftige emoties die nooit het onderspit dolven.
Daarnaast vond ik het ongelooflijk knap hoe de schrijfster een gelijkaardige situatie meermaals vertelt en beschrijft, zonder dat het saai wordt of ik het gevoel kreeg dat ze continu in herhaling viel. Integendeel elke keer weer was het verhaal verfrissend en kregen we nieuwe stukken informatie en nieuwe kanten van de verschillende mensen, omstanders en voorbijgangers te zien.
Wat mij betreft dus een meer dan goed geslaagd boek!
September 1, 2019
23 minutes reminded me of the movie Butterfly Effect. Its plot was very interesting. It's about a teenager named Zoe having the ability to playback the last 23 minutes until 10 times or less if she's already satisfied with a particular do over. Zoe as the main character was highly likable. Not too perfect but not too flawed either. Daniel Lentini also was an interesting character; he was my favorite and if I were Zoe I also would keep trying to save him over and over. Ha-ha!
The story kept making me think how to play out the last 23 minutes perfectly, as if I were Zoe. The writing style played with my emotions more often than not. I felt horrified every time things start to go wrong (again!) and relieved when she would shout Playback and try to make things right or better.
I also liked the fact the fact that the author didn't go for the romance angle between the two main characters. I think it was best left how it was originally written.
It's safe to say this was such an enjoyable page-turner, and if I enjoyed it a lot, why won't everyone else?
Grab a copy of this book now, and start reading!
The story kept making me think how to play out the last 23 minutes perfectly, as if I were Zoe. The writing style played with my emotions more often than not. I felt horrified every time things start to go wrong (again!) and relieved when she would shout Playback and try to make things right or better.
I also liked the fact the fact that the author didn't go for the romance angle between the two main characters. I think it was best left how it was originally written.
It's safe to say this was such an enjoyable page-turner, and if I enjoyed it a lot, why won't everyone else?
Grab a copy of this book now, and start reading!
July 6, 2024
This book was so stupid 😂 it honestly makes me laugh just thinking about it. I enjoyed it in the sense that it was a SUPER easy read and I flew through it cause it’s not that long like at all. However, I did think the plot was very interesting, I’ve never really seen something like it before. I’m not rating it three stars because I didn’t enjoy it, but because it went too fast. I thought it needed to be slowed down a little. Maybe a little bit more background info on Daniel considering he was the second most important character… Anyway, overall it was fine, but nothing that really caught my attention.
July 8, 2025
You know what, I'm gonna be honest, the only reason I picked this up was to cross out "one-day-story" prompt in a reading challenge. But guess what? I actually enjoyed this so much. It's so short but it delivers so much - character development, building friendships, finding hope in a shitty world, a time travel plot that doesn't cause a meltdown,...I could go on, but I won't because you need to read it to see what I'm talking about.
May 23, 2016
This might have been the fastest I’ve ever read a book. I finished this sci-fi thriller in a couple hours and enjoyed the fast-paced and high stakes ride it took me on. Zoe has a special power that allows her to travel back in time twenty-three minutes to relive the past and change the future. She can use this ability she calls “playback” up to ten times with a few other minor rules explained within the book. However, going back doesn’t always improve the outcome of events and once the final playback is done there’s no reversal. She gets caught up in a deadly bank robbery and tries to right the situation but struggles with each attempt. And if a mistake gets her killed, there will be no do-over for that.
Zoe strives to arrive at an outcome where the least amount of lives are lost and battles with the question of valuing one life over another. For a fifteen year-old, she has a surprisingly level head that helps her assess each playback and continue forward (or is it backwards?) except one wasted for a freak out. It was interesting to see how the supporting characters actions changed depending on how Zoe improvised the playback and it kept the scenes from being too repetitive.
Some other reviewers have complained about the “romance” which I find a bit silly. There is no romance. Zoe thinks the twenty-four year old private investigator, Daniel, who helps her prevent the crime from escalating is cute and nice. She may have a crush on him but what teenager hasn’t ever thought an older boy was cute? The two never act on anything romantically because well they’re a little preoccupied with not dying.
I don’t really have any complaints besides the cover being totally bland and things being a little simple. There wasn't much time for backstory to Zoe's ability since everything happens so fast. Pick this up if you want a quick sci-fi thriller.
Zoe strives to arrive at an outcome where the least amount of lives are lost and battles with the question of valuing one life over another. For a fifteen year-old, she has a surprisingly level head that helps her assess each playback and continue forward (or is it backwards?) except one wasted for a freak out. It was interesting to see how the supporting characters actions changed depending on how Zoe improvised the playback and it kept the scenes from being too repetitive.
Some other reviewers have complained about the “romance” which I find a bit silly. There is no romance. Zoe thinks the twenty-four year old private investigator, Daniel, who helps her prevent the crime from escalating is cute and nice. She may have a crush on him but what teenager hasn’t ever thought an older boy was cute? The two never act on anything romantically because well they’re a little preoccupied with not dying.
I don’t really have any complaints besides the cover being totally bland and things being a little simple. There wasn't much time for backstory to Zoe's ability since everything happens so fast. Pick this up if you want a quick sci-fi thriller.
April 5, 2017
Zoe has the ability to relive the last 23 minutes of her life whenever she wants. This would be an excellent secret ability, except for all the times she tried to convince other people she had it and they labeled her crazy, and that she can only relive the same 23 minutes ten times before the timeline is fixed. All of her street smarts as a kid in a group home are put to the test when she’s accidentally a victim of a deadly bank robbery. Zoe valiantly tries to avert crises, but how many times must she relive watching people die before she gets it right? What’s the right answer when there’s a crazy guy with a gun??? Vande Velde takes readers on a heart-pounding adventure as we relive Zoe’s horror and ingenuity as she tries to save the man with the blue eyes and the other bank patrons. Far from being repetitive, this slim volume will have readers devouring every instance of changed details trying to figure out what needs to change in order to save lives. Anyone who has ever wondered what they could have done, should have done, or wanted to go back and change an unfortunate moment for the better needs this book.
June 7, 2017
For the right reader, this is a short, action-packed page turner. For me, though, I had two big problems with it.
1) Victim blaming. Teens do not need the kind of message that this book seems to be sending about do-overs. The main character (who survived an abusive childhood) keeps reliving that bank robbery over-and-over. Each time, she changes just one small thing to create a completely different outcome. She seems to feel that the responsibility for all that violence and murder is hers, not the gunman's. This problematic story line is compounded by the fact that it is paired with flashbacks of domestic violence. Could she have stopped the problems at home if she had just had a few more do-overs? She seems to think so.
2) Inappropriate relationship. Throughout the story, the 15 year-old main character is attracted to the 25 year-old man she tries to rescue, and the ending hints at a possible future romance between them. Although this is entirely from the teen's point of view and reads like wishful thinking for something that might happen many years in the future, I thought it was completely unnecessary.
1) Victim blaming. Teens do not need the kind of message that this book seems to be sending about do-overs. The main character (who survived an abusive childhood) keeps reliving that bank robbery over-and-over. Each time, she changes just one small thing to create a completely different outcome. She seems to feel that the responsibility for all that violence and murder is hers, not the gunman's. This problematic story line is compounded by the fact that it is paired with flashbacks of domestic violence. Could she have stopped the problems at home if she had just had a few more do-overs? She seems to think so.
2) Inappropriate relationship. Throughout the story, the 15 year-old main character is attracted to the 25 year-old man she tries to rescue, and the ending hints at a possible future romance between them. Although this is entirely from the teen's point of view and reads like wishful thinking for something that might happen many years in the future, I thought it was completely unnecessary.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2019
It's cool having the ability to playback time even for just 23 minutes and Zoe can do it over and over again up to 10 times. But she needed to say playback to do over the time again before the 23 minutes time consumes.
The main character in the book was Zoe. She had the ability to playback time in 23 minutes to changed and fixed the things that happened.
The story was focused on the bank robbery that happened.
She was there and saw Daniel died and she wanted to saved him so she kept playing it back to saved him.
She had tried everything, changed what would happened but a lot had died instead so "playback" again.
The situation was hard on Zoe's part. She kept experiencing the horrible thing that happened but still willing to save Daniel over and over.
I was actually got pissed already because she keep playing back the time and the story was all about just the bank robbery. Nothing more, it's just focus on there. I was expecting more scenes.
But anyway it ended good, I wasn't expecting a good ending on the story but it was good.
No romance part too and I am so okay with it. Better if Zoe and Daniel stay as friends.
Nice book by the way and I had enjoyed reading it!
The main character in the book was Zoe. She had the ability to playback time in 23 minutes to changed and fixed the things that happened.
The story was focused on the bank robbery that happened.
She was there and saw Daniel died and she wanted to saved him so she kept playing it back to saved him.
She had tried everything, changed what would happened but a lot had died instead so "playback" again.
The situation was hard on Zoe's part. She kept experiencing the horrible thing that happened but still willing to save Daniel over and over.
I was actually got pissed already because she keep playing back the time and the story was all about just the bank robbery. Nothing more, it's just focus on there. I was expecting more scenes.
But anyway it ended good, I wasn't expecting a good ending on the story but it was good.
No romance part too and I am so okay with it. Better if Zoe and Daniel stay as friends.
Nice book by the way and I had enjoyed reading it!
April 29, 2016
Super disappointed by this one. It definitely could have done without the weird, inappropriate crush fifteen-year-old Zoe had for twenty-four-year-old Daniel (without any context that really drove home that it would be incredibly creepy for Daniel to reciprocate said feelings). When I was fifteen, I thought twenty-four was impossibly old, and every time Zoe mentioned having the hots for Daniel (which was frequently) I was creeped out and distracted from the story... Especially at the end where she mentioned that they could have a relationship in the future! What!? Can't she just want to save Daniel's life because he was kind to her when nobody else was, and because it's the right thing to do? The weird romance vibe was not only unnecessary, but actively detrimental to the story. I'm shocked none of the professional reviews I read mentioned it at all. I'm not sure if its intended audience would be disturbed by the "romance," but I was definitely put off.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2017
I enjoyed reading the start of this book. The problem was it was a bit repetitive. Yes I know its about a girl who can go back 23 minutes. But still.
Also I feel like the ending was so sudden. Yes there was some good interesting plots. But, I wish it was more interesting.
I loved the character Zoe, and how different she is compared to other YA books.
I did like it but, I wish there was more.
Also I feel like the ending was so sudden. Yes there was some good interesting plots. But, I wish it was more interesting.
I loved the character Zoe, and how different she is compared to other YA books.
I did like it but, I wish there was more.
April 25, 2018
One of the best books that I have read. I loved every single turn and I could not put it down. I have never read anything quite like this.
April 9, 2019
Remember in middle school when every girl was ripping through Caroline B. Cooney’s contemporary teen books? You know the ones: The Face on the Milk Carton and its sequels, Flight #116 Is Down!, Both Sides of Time? This book felt like a throwback to those fast-paced, adolescent action-thrillers.
Vivian Vande Velde does it again, because I just could not put this book down. I started 23 Minutes fairly late last night and devoured it in one sitting. I had to know how this was going to play out.
The premise is the old Groundhog’s Day trope, with a twist. Zoe has the ability to turn back time—twenty-three minutes of it, to be exact. But her ability comes with limitations: she can’t take anything (or anyone) back with her, she can only rewind 10 times, and if she dies she’s dead. As Zoe explains at one point in the book, it's kind of like the "Try Again" feature in the Nancy Drew computer games (cue my fangirling squeals!).
In the past, her attempts to improve a situation with her ability haven’t exactly been successful. And trying to tell others about her ability has led to psych evaluations and the disintegration of her parents’ marriage. But when Zoe witnesses a bank robbery that turns violent, she finds that she cannot resist the urge to try to save the victims.
VVV has explored this concept before. In Heir Apparent (one of my favorites of hers), the main character must play out her virtual reality game to the end—even though it means starting over a frustratingly number of times. But 23 Minutes is an entirely new story, one that is super compelling.
Also, VVV is a master at creating frisson between the two main characters, Zoe and Daniel. Despite their significant age difference, I found myself rooting for them by the end of the book (although I would have been more comfortable had Zoe been 17 instead of 15).
4/5 stars for a much-enjoyed reading experience!
Vivian Vande Velde does it again, because I just could not put this book down. I started 23 Minutes fairly late last night and devoured it in one sitting. I had to know how this was going to play out.
The premise is the old Groundhog’s Day trope, with a twist. Zoe has the ability to turn back time—twenty-three minutes of it, to be exact. But her ability comes with limitations: she can’t take anything (or anyone) back with her, she can only rewind 10 times, and if she dies she’s dead. As Zoe explains at one point in the book, it's kind of like the "Try Again" feature in the Nancy Drew computer games (cue my fangirling squeals!).
In the past, her attempts to improve a situation with her ability haven’t exactly been successful. And trying to tell others about her ability has led to psych evaluations and the disintegration of her parents’ marriage. But when Zoe witnesses a bank robbery that turns violent, she finds that she cannot resist the urge to try to save the victims.
VVV has explored this concept before. In Heir Apparent (one of my favorites of hers), the main character must play out her virtual reality game to the end—even though it means starting over a frustratingly number of times. But 23 Minutes is an entirely new story, one that is super compelling.
Also, VVV is a master at creating frisson between the two main characters, Zoe and Daniel. Despite their significant age difference, I found myself rooting for them by the end of the book (although I would have been more comfortable had Zoe been 17 instead of 15).
4/5 stars for a much-enjoyed reading experience!
May 14, 2018
Fifteen-year-old Zoe has the ability to travel back in time, but only 23 minutes. When she is trapped in a bank during a robbery and witnesses the death of two people up close and personal, she uses her ability to travel back in time to try to change the outcome. Zoe knows this is dangerous and she knows things may not turn out the way she hopes, but there is one particular life she is determined to save, no matter what. Zoe's gift has its limits and she must use her knowledge of the gift, the situation, and the people involved to try to change the future for the better. Only things don't really work out for Zoe because there is one thing her gift doesn't provide, and to access that one element may take more courage than Zoe has. Vivian Vande Velde takes a gift many may love to have and shows readers that sometimes gifts have a down side, and Zoe's certainly does. Readers will enjoy the journey they take with Zoe, learning about her sad and terrible past, her uncertainty for her future, and her passion and determination to set things right. A good read for students in middle grades and up. There is gun violence and a few curse words, but the story has a great deal to offer students looking for a good mystery-adventure with a strong heroine.
July 25, 2019
I didnt expect much from This book, but it really surprised me. It was a fun quick-read and I really liked the caracters. Zoe tries to fix everything in different ways and every time she gets to know This Daniel better. It was too short :p
October 18, 2021
Wow! I don’t know what took me so long to read this book! It was so suspenseful—an awesome example of slow motion plot pacing! I read it to prepare for some spooky book talks I’m doing in a couple weeks, and it was a treat! A super fast, thrilling read that keeps you guessing until the end!
July 7, 2017
4.7/5.0 This book could be extremely frustrating sometimes, but it was a good quick read.
February 7, 2018
I really liked this book!😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀＼(◎o◎)／
May 2, 2018
I love the theme, how this girl has to stop anyone from dying in a crime scene, as she learns a lot of things during the adventure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2018
Zoe can rewind things for 23 minutes, exactly. So when she accidentally ends up in a bank during a bank robbery, she knows this will be a time that she needs to rewind again, to see if she can make a difference. Quick read.
September 8, 2018
Eine temporeiche Erzählung, die mich total gefesselt hat.
Die beiden Hauptcharaktere gewinnen im Verlauf der Geschichte an Sympathie. Bis kurz vor Schluß war mir nicht klar, welches Ende dieses Buch für uns bereit hält. Vieles war für mich nicht vorhersehbar und die Wendungen finde ich tatsächlich spannend und interessant. Die Frage nach dem Parallelen Leben ist hier gut ausgearbeitet. Ich hätte auch noch 200 Seiten mehr gelesen. Bemerkenswert fand ich, dass immer wieder aufgezeigt wird, dass man sich in seinen Annahmen massiv irren kann - und welche gefährlichen Konsequenzen das unter Umständen mit sich bringen kann.
Für mich ist das Buch ein Highlight und ich werde mal recherchieren was die Autorin sonst noch so geschrieben hat.
Ausgesprochene Empfehlung für alle Fans von Filmen wie "Lola rennt" und "The Butterfly Effect".
Die beiden Hauptcharaktere gewinnen im Verlauf der Geschichte an Sympathie. Bis kurz vor Schluß war mir nicht klar, welches Ende dieses Buch für uns bereit hält. Vieles war für mich nicht vorhersehbar und die Wendungen finde ich tatsächlich spannend und interessant. Die Frage nach dem Parallelen Leben ist hier gut ausgearbeitet. Ich hätte auch noch 200 Seiten mehr gelesen. Bemerkenswert fand ich, dass immer wieder aufgezeigt wird, dass man sich in seinen Annahmen massiv irren kann - und welche gefährlichen Konsequenzen das unter Umständen mit sich bringen kann.
Für mich ist das Buch ein Highlight und ich werde mal recherchieren was die Autorin sonst noch so geschrieben hat.
Ausgesprochene Empfehlung für alle Fans von Filmen wie "Lola rennt" und "The Butterfly Effect".
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