Window Across Time: One stone house, one small New York town, 164 years—eight short stories for young people.

by Cynthia Cotten

These eight stories of young people who came to know the same stone house in a small upstate New York canal town over almost 2 centuries, give readers a look inside (or a window to) America's history.

120 pages, Paperback

Published July 22, 2013

Reviews

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Window Across Time, by Cynthia Cotten, is a collection of short stories that weave through three common threads: home, family, and time.

Each short story is told through the voice of a different child, showing readers a glimpse at what it’s like to live in the fictional small town of Port Rose in upstate New York. Beginning in 1833 and ending in 2007, readers meet families throughout periods of great economic, political and technological change in America and the world. Through Cotten’s young characters, we learn about the beginnings of the Erie Canal, the passageways of the Underground Railroad, the switch from gas streetlamps to electric streetlights and the launch of Sputnik.

With engaging, crisp prose, each story is interesting and heartfelt. It won’t take readers long to care for these young characters and their families, and perhaps they might be interested to learn more about America’s history afterwards.

Having enjoyed every story in the collection, I look forward to sharing the book with my children, who are the same ages as Jed & Virginia, Hallie & Will, Kevin & Maggie, the kids they will meet through the window.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of linked short stories is set in a fictional small town called Port Rose in upstate New York near the Erie Canal. Each story takes place in a different era but the same large old cobblestone house with a window seat looking out on main street and the Erie Canal. The eight families portrayed are primarily related by their connection to the cobblestone house and Port Rose, making each story a complete entity. Readers are given a lovely glimpse into small town life over an extended period of American history. For example: "Streetlights" set in 1888 recalls a young girl's fond relationship with the lamplighter and the transition to electric lighting. "Sputnik" shares American fears and excitement over the first satellite in space. While the date of each era is listed at the beginning, the time periods are clearly drawn through carefully chosen details. The small town setting is especially memorable. This is a delightful collection.

[Karen Eichler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who lives in an old house will tell you they wonder about the generations of people who lived there before them: What they were like? Did they leave any secrets behind? Did they sit and look out the window just like I do? I think young readers (of any gender) would really love this book as a peek into the lives of kids in the past. A great introduction to historical fiction.