In the Nick of Time

by Robert Swindells

Charlotte is out in the woods on her own one day when something mysterious happens—she walks along a row of stones laid like stepping stones on the forest floor . . . and finds herself in another age. She has somehow slipped back to 1955, and is now, in the same woods, on the site of a very unique school, an open-air school for sick city children. No one believes her tales of the world she's come from, her cell phone doesn't work, and she can't see how on earth she's going to get back. A friendship with another pupil proves the key—is Jack more than he seems?

Genres: Science Fiction, Time Travel, Young Adult

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Robert Swindells was born in Bradford in 1939, the eldest of five children. He left the local Secondary Modern School at fifteen to work as a copy holder on the local newspaper. At seventeen he enlisted in the RAF and served for three years, two in Germany. On being discharged he worked as a clerk, engineer and printer until 1969 when he entered college to train as a teacher having obtained five 'O' levels at night-school. His first book 'When Darkness Comes' was written as a college thesis and published by Hodder and Stoughton in 1972. In 1980 he gave up teaching to write full time. He likes travelling and visits many schools each year, talking and reading stories to children. He is the secutatry of his local Peace Movement group. Brother in the Land is his first book for Oxford University Press. He is married with two grown-up daughters and lives in Bradford.

Author description taken from Brother in the Land.

Reviews

[Nader Nate · Rating 2 out of 5]

A time travel book Which was supposed to be intriguing , but I felt bored in most of its chapters, so much that I wanted to finish it as quickly as possible, and I also expected the ending, but I must admit that I liked it and it gave me a bit of chills..

#VERDICT:(5/10)

[Saumya Mehta · Rating 5 out of 5]

'In the nick of time' is a wonderful book. It is about Charlotte and her best friend Pip are having a stroll in the woods. Suddenly she falls down and hits her head. She then travels in the nick of time1 From 2007, she reaches to 1962 where everyone think that she is a girl called Joyce Ingram! So she and her new friend Jack escape from the school and try to reach the real Joyce Ingram's house. Just then the teachers of the school reach them exactly at Joyce Ingram's house. They enter the house and find out that Charlotte isn't actually Joyce Ingram. She is taken back to the school for shelter and she keeps on trying to tell the people that she is from 2007 but the people think she has amnesia! Later, Jack finds a dinosaur fossil and shows it to Newberry, one of the teachers, and he is so fascinated. People are soon coming to pick Charlotte and take her to a private home for children. Newberry then makes a timeline with leaves and stones. He pretends that he is moving through time. At that time, Jack realizes that this is the way Charlotte can go back! The people are coming to collect her. Then Jack tells her and she runs on the timeline and gets back home. Her mother, Father and the rest of her family is amazed to see her and they are questioning her so much. But just a lie as a reply-I don't remember......
In the time she had been away, her grandad dies and she has to go to the funeral. Soon she realizes that Jack was her grandad all the time.............

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter chose this book at the library and I read it to ensure that it would be OK for her. It would be in a few years (she is only 7).

Quick, easy story, sprinkled with history. I really enjoyed it and think my daughter will too.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really good, and the ending is haunting!

[Shaan Mutreja · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was another one of those time travel books but this one didn't have the same feeling. I found the ending rushed and sloppy

[Cherie Corbett-Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good middle grade novel that could be used as a good introduction to the concept of time travel in fiction. It's a quick read with a nice main character and a sweet story line .

[M.Abdul Ahad]

Good

[Famisoke Olatunbosun · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved it.

[Tariro]

In the nick of time is a very interesting book about how a boy goes back in time after spotting stepping stones. He fins him self in the past and they have given him a name, he goes to this very strange school that has no windows or roofs. He tries to tell people he is from the future but no one believes him they think he is crazy and send him to a loony bi. After he returns to the school a boy believes him and then tries to help him find the stepping stones so that he can go to his normal future time.

[Aman Vasani · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the Nick of Time was a really nice book. Its about a girl named Charlotte and she goes to Cold Tarn woods with her friend Pip. As she walks she trips of stepping stones that take her all the way back to 1952. She is in an open air school which has no walls. As the everybody in the school thinks she is Joyce Ingham and she tries explaining but they think she is stupid. As she tries to get out she makes a new friend called Jack (that's her grandfather but she doesn't know that). As they have an adventure that is never to be forgotten.

[Jordan Muzigo · Rating 5 out of 5]

its a great book about a girl named Charlotte who accidentally travels to another time and cant find a way back.she is mistaken to be a girl called Joyce Ingram and has to join the school, that's when she meets a friend,jack,and they go on an adventure to find Joyce Ingram.

overall,it was an amazing book,with alot of interesting parts

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting idea but was hoping for it to be more imaginative. The story line seems restricted, possibly because it was inspired by a piece of British history. The language used is simple and is suitable for child, but I'm not sure a child would have the required attention span.

[Precious · Rating 5 out of 5]

a very toughing story of a girl who travel to another century and has an adventure with a boy named jack who tunes out to be her grandpa who dies when she gets back to the future.
i know u will miss me.p.a

[Alethiya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book was okay and it was interesting to read. It had lots of details and it was fun especially because of the adventures in it.

[Saif Omar]

Interesting we read it in class and have a final exam on it

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent little book and great for children who may just be starting to read longer fiction.

[Isnixi · Rating 4 out of 5]

i looked this book. It was interesting, full of mystery and sad. P.S She gets back in 2007 and her grandpa is Jack but he died before she could get back in 2007.

[Katy W · Rating 3 out of 5]

11 year old son enjoyed listening to the audiobook in the car.

[Kyuwon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really interesting book that makes me keep reading.