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Rewind #1
Rewind
Sixteen-year-old Alex is a Spinner—she has the ability to rewind time to review past events. Hated and feared because of their ability to find the truth, the small population of Spinners is restricted to Centers—compounds created to house and protect them. Alex's society uses the Spinners' skills to solve major crimes, but messing with time comes with consequences: no Spinner lives past the age of twenty. At sixteen, Alex is in her prime—until time sickness strikes early. When she is offered an experimental treatment, Alex sees a future for herself for the first time. But the promising medication offers more than just a cure—it also brings with it dire consequences.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published April 10, 2018
38 people are currently reading
879 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn O'Doherty
3 books23 followersCarolyn O'Doherty lives on a floating home in Portland, OR, where, most disappointingly, time moves only at a very predictable pace. When not writing, she uses her free time to develop affordable housing. Carolyn earned degrees in psychology and urban planning so she figured the best possible use of an expertise in both people and places was to make up entirely new ones.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
April 12, 2018
This was not the non-stop heart-pounding adventure that I had anticipated based on the synopsis. However, in this instance, I think it only added to the story and really set up a series that has a lot of interesting potential.
I won't give you a second synopsis of the book because O'Doherty did a great job of snapshotting the premise. I will say that Alex was an incredibly likable and endearing character and I'm excited to see how she grows and faces the interesting challenges that this story has set up. She's charming, innocent (if not at times naive - the way most 16-year-olds are) while also being incredibly strong-willed, and a genuinely good person grappling with choices any human being would struggle with.
The twists and turns felt, in the end, fairly predictable but I thoroughly enjoyed them none the less. I'd love to see a lot more character development for Ross in future books. *This is not a spoiler - it is information given freely when we first meet the character Carson Ross in the first chapter or two of the book.* How did he grow to make the choices he did? Was he this way before Sal's death? I'd also like some more development of his relationship with Sal and how that appears to be a pivotal event that set in motion this story.
I really enjoyed O'Doherty's use of time in this story as well and I look forward to seeing it in the next book. Time was often written as if it were a living thing, a secondary character that you forgot about until the most pivotal moment.
All in all, while this is a young adult book it did not waste time on a frivolous romance or the angsty thoughts that many YA books dwell on. O'Doherty created an incredibly unique and complex storyline that I think anyone would enjoy. It was an easy and fun read with a lot of promise.
I won't give you a second synopsis of the book because O'Doherty did a great job of snapshotting the premise. I will say that Alex was an incredibly likable and endearing character and I'm excited to see how she grows and faces the interesting challenges that this story has set up. She's charming, innocent (if not at times naive - the way most 16-year-olds are) while also being incredibly strong-willed, and a genuinely good person grappling with choices any human being would struggle with.
The twists and turns felt, in the end, fairly predictable but I thoroughly enjoyed them none the less. I'd love to see a lot more character development for Ross in future books. *This is not a spoiler - it is information given freely when we first meet the character Carson Ross in the first chapter or two of the book.* How did he grow to make the choices he did? Was he this way before Sal's death? I'd also like some more development of his relationship with Sal and how that appears to be a pivotal event that set in motion this story.
I really enjoyed O'Doherty's use of time in this story as well and I look forward to seeing it in the next book. Time was often written as if it were a living thing, a secondary character that you forgot about until the most pivotal moment.
All in all, while this is a young adult book it did not waste time on a frivolous romance or the angsty thoughts that many YA books dwell on. O'Doherty created an incredibly unique and complex storyline that I think anyone would enjoy. It was an easy and fun read with a lot of promise.
November 19, 2017
I loved it! It’s beautifully written and a real page-turner. Each chapter ends with a cliff-hanger and I could hardly wait to see what happens next. A lot happens. This is the story of Alex, a 16-year-old girl with a rare gift: she can stop time and then rewind it to reveal events in the past. Her ability is such a boon to the Portland police department that Alex lives in the city’s Crime Investigation Center. So do other teens who help the police solve crimes by freezing and rewinding time. But while Alex cherishes her relationships with the folks at the Center and the police force, she slowly realizes that many of the people she trusts and admires are in fact her enemies and that her very life is in danger.
Mixing heart-racing episodes with tender passages – for a sweet romance runs through the story -- the book is hard to put down. At the end you realize that the title refers not only to the kids’ ability to rewind time but also their need to reexamine nearly everything they had believed about the people around them, both good and bad.
Mixing heart-racing episodes with tender passages – for a sweet romance runs through the story -- the book is hard to put down. At the end you realize that the title refers not only to the kids’ ability to rewind time but also their need to reexamine nearly everything they had believed about the people around them, both good and bad.
August 11, 2019
I wanted to dislike this so badly going into it, but it was lowkey kind of a good read! Don't get me wrong, this kind of reads like a dusty paperback you would find on a high school bookshelf, but I'm not mad about it. I thought the plot was interesting, if not a little predictable, and that Alex was a great character to view the story through. I think the relationship between her and Ross was super interesting and the . There were a few parts that I thought should have been clarified more, such as why the 'Norms' disliked Spinners so much (I get that a basic reason is given, but it would be interesting to read about how the CIC and other centers were formed). Additionally, some parts of the book meander and feel as though there's no common thread weaving between the intentions or actions of characters. I also think it was an... interesting choice that the author just made every other female character one-dimensional, dumb, or focused on 'petty' things like fashion, or their boyfriends. However, I'm hoping there will be redemption for this in the sequel, which I will(!!!) be reading, when it comes out. I've surprised myself by saying that, but I'm keen to continue on.
November 17, 2022
Interesting time starting/stopping novel (not time travel). Well written but almost more of a novella length. I might have given it 4 starts except that when it finished, it felt like just part 1 of a whole novel. And upon further review I find that in fact it is as there are two follow ups in this series. I don't mind series books in general and have read many. But obviously this was designed to be part one from the start. I'll have to decide whether to chase those follow-ups down in order to get the whole story....
March 15, 2019
2.5 stars
Maximum Ride meets Divergent meets Michael Vey. Kids with extra special powers who are feared but used and controlled by their crafty, conniving captors but said kids don’t realize they’re being manipulated and used despite basically living in a prison with zero personal freedom. Oh, and there’s the small matter that they die young too until...
Maximum Ride meets Divergent meets Michael Vey. Kids with extra special powers who are feared but used and controlled by their crafty, conniving captors but said kids don’t realize they’re being manipulated and used despite basically living in a prison with zero personal freedom. Oh, and there’s the small matter that they die young too until...
May 30, 2018
In her debut novel, Carolyn O’Doherty has created a fascinating world where time isn’t as set as we believe. REWIND is a solid YA science fiction with a heavy dash of suspense that will keep readers on the edge of their seat.
Alex Manning was born with a rare gift. Known as a spinner, she can freeze and rewind time. She and others like her are feared and hated in equal measure for their abilities. Tested at birth, spinners are taken from their parents as infants and raised in secure Centers, where they can be monitored and tested. The only time they’re let out, is to work with law enforcement to rewind crimes.
Each spinner is paired with an officer and Alex hit the jackpot with Agent Ross. He values her skills and treats her like a real partner. His real goal is to hunt down a prolific and dangerous killer who has managed to evade capture for years. It’s a case that will take time. Time that Alex doesn’t have, since no spinner lives past the age of 20. Ever.
When Agent Ross offers Alex a chance for experimental medication, she suddenly sees a possible future for herself. But when this new treatment produces a side effect in her abilities that would terrify the public and put all spinners at risk, Alex has to ask herself if it’s worth the risk.
Within the first chapter, O’Doherty skillfully shows us what life as a spinner is like. She takes us through a rewind. She lets us see how people treat Alex, and how different Agent Ross is in that regard. We learn that spinners are “leashed” and that controlling time has side effects. It’s a concise and important introduction that allows the reader to fall completely into the story immediately. While there is a lot of information, it is written into the story fluidly, so it doesn’t feel overwhelming or take away from the reading.
Even though Alex is a spinner with abilities we don’t actually have, she feels very real as a teenager. Her reactions, thought processes and decisions all feel normal and within the spectrum of how a teenager would behave. I really liked that she felt like a 16-year-old. It makes her character relatable and realistic. Which makes this an excellent coming of age story. Alex has to face situations and unravel some difficult truths about people she trusts. Her choices propel her forward and change her, taking away some of the innocence and naivety of childhood. She has to put her own thoughts, feelings and desires behind her in order to move forward.
I love the blend of science fiction but with the fast pace and suspense of a thriller. The ideas and world building are easy to grasp and understand, making this very approachable science fiction. However, there is a very sinister undertone throughout the book, not just in the plot twists, but in how society treats these kids in general. Which makes it read like a dystopian, but instead of some distant future, we’re in an alternate present reality. This merging of genres works really well, making for a highly entertaining read.
Outside of Alex, the entire cast of characters are complex and believable. We see a wide range of personalities in the kids and the adults around them. We also see a broad spectrum of reactions to the kids themselves, which feel depressingly real. I really enjoyed that while there are definite bad guys presented, O’Doherty wasn’t afraid to offer an exploration of the murkier grey area where good people make bad choices.
REWIND is the first in a series ending in a bit of a cliffhanger. I’m very anxious to read the next book to see where Alex, Agent Jones and Dr. Barnard go next. The ending is satisfying with enough room to explore both the plot and deeper societal world building. O’Doherty has created an interesting world with a cast of compelling characters. This is an imaginative debut that is solidly entertaining, and will find an audience within a wide range of readers.
Reviewed by Jena Brown
Alex Manning was born with a rare gift. Known as a spinner, she can freeze and rewind time. She and others like her are feared and hated in equal measure for their abilities. Tested at birth, spinners are taken from their parents as infants and raised in secure Centers, where they can be monitored and tested. The only time they’re let out, is to work with law enforcement to rewind crimes.
Each spinner is paired with an officer and Alex hit the jackpot with Agent Ross. He values her skills and treats her like a real partner. His real goal is to hunt down a prolific and dangerous killer who has managed to evade capture for years. It’s a case that will take time. Time that Alex doesn’t have, since no spinner lives past the age of 20. Ever.
When Agent Ross offers Alex a chance for experimental medication, she suddenly sees a possible future for herself. But when this new treatment produces a side effect in her abilities that would terrify the public and put all spinners at risk, Alex has to ask herself if it’s worth the risk.
Within the first chapter, O’Doherty skillfully shows us what life as a spinner is like. She takes us through a rewind. She lets us see how people treat Alex, and how different Agent Ross is in that regard. We learn that spinners are “leashed” and that controlling time has side effects. It’s a concise and important introduction that allows the reader to fall completely into the story immediately. While there is a lot of information, it is written into the story fluidly, so it doesn’t feel overwhelming or take away from the reading.
Even though Alex is a spinner with abilities we don’t actually have, she feels very real as a teenager. Her reactions, thought processes and decisions all feel normal and within the spectrum of how a teenager would behave. I really liked that she felt like a 16-year-old. It makes her character relatable and realistic. Which makes this an excellent coming of age story. Alex has to face situations and unravel some difficult truths about people she trusts. Her choices propel her forward and change her, taking away some of the innocence and naivety of childhood. She has to put her own thoughts, feelings and desires behind her in order to move forward.
I love the blend of science fiction but with the fast pace and suspense of a thriller. The ideas and world building are easy to grasp and understand, making this very approachable science fiction. However, there is a very sinister undertone throughout the book, not just in the plot twists, but in how society treats these kids in general. Which makes it read like a dystopian, but instead of some distant future, we’re in an alternate present reality. This merging of genres works really well, making for a highly entertaining read.
Outside of Alex, the entire cast of characters are complex and believable. We see a wide range of personalities in the kids and the adults around them. We also see a broad spectrum of reactions to the kids themselves, which feel depressingly real. I really enjoyed that while there are definite bad guys presented, O’Doherty wasn’t afraid to offer an exploration of the murkier grey area where good people make bad choices.
REWIND is the first in a series ending in a bit of a cliffhanger. I’m very anxious to read the next book to see where Alex, Agent Jones and Dr. Barnard go next. The ending is satisfying with enough room to explore both the plot and deeper societal world building. O’Doherty has created an interesting world with a cast of compelling characters. This is an imaginative debut that is solidly entertaining, and will find an audience within a wide range of readers.
Reviewed by Jena Brown
August 25, 2019
Rewind by Carolyn O’Doherty, 247 pages. Boyds Mills Press (Highlights), 2018. $17.95
Language: PG (7 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: HS – ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Alex enjoys the work that she does—which is good because she doesn’t get a choice in the matter. All spiners, or those who can freeze and rewind time, are required to be raised in a group facility and help police at crime scenes until they die, often around the age of 20. But when Alex, only age 16, starts to show symptoms of an early death, she grows desperate to do something important before she dies—something to change the world.
O’Doherty captured me in the first page. Alex, her powers, and her world offer a unique perspective on the world in the imagined circumstances. I did not want to set the book down for a minute as Alex worked hard to leave a positive impact on the world under the pressure of limited time and the strain of unpredictable changes to her reality.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2019...
Language: PG (7 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: HS – ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Alex enjoys the work that she does—which is good because she doesn’t get a choice in the matter. All spiners, or those who can freeze and rewind time, are required to be raised in a group facility and help police at crime scenes until they die, often around the age of 20. But when Alex, only age 16, starts to show symptoms of an early death, she grows desperate to do something important before she dies—something to change the world.
O’Doherty captured me in the first page. Alex, her powers, and her world offer a unique perspective on the world in the imagined circumstances. I did not want to set the book down for a minute as Alex worked hard to leave a positive impact on the world under the pressure of limited time and the strain of unpredictable changes to her reality.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2019...
March 5, 2019
I really struggled to like this one. I’m usually a sucker for any story involving time. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but this one felt forced. I had to MAKE myself finish it. Took me almost two months with many other books in between.
Probably won’t finish the rest of the series. Just wasn’t enough to hold me. It had its moments, but unfortunately those moments were so brief, I’m ready to move on.
Probably won’t finish the rest of the series. Just wasn’t enough to hold me. It had its moments, but unfortunately those moments were so brief, I’m ready to move on.
July 10, 2018
Things are not going to be OK. Time, that invisible essence I control with a twist of my mind, always takes its revenge.
A very small part of the population can be identified as spinners, people with the ability to freeze and even rewind time. Feared and often seen as abominations, spinners are locked away at birth and raised in group homes, only allowed out to help solve local crimes. For sixteen-year-old Alex, it means that her life has a meaning, no matter how small. She loves solving crimes, and is pleasantly surprised with her police partner, Agent Ross. Ross respects Alex's abilities and values her opinions, leading her to want to help him solve his biggest case ever. The only problem is that for all the spinning she can do, Alex has no time; no spinner ever lives past the age of twenty. With her clock clicking down, Alex agrees to secretly take part in a new drug trial that might lengthen her life. But the new drug has scary side effects, spurring Alex to uncover secrets that she never would have thought possible.
Rewind is a short, fast read that has a strong and interesting basis. I have a thing for supernatural-type mysteries (psychics, superheroes, and what-have-you are my dream) and I really thought that I was going to love Rewind. It wasn't necessarily a bad book, but for me, I feel it was rather forgettable and had its own share of problems, so I'm giving it 2.5 stars.
I guess the number one problem I had with this book is that there was nothing that really stood out for me. Alex and her supporting cast are extremely average. The ability to freeze and rewind time was pretty cool, and its application as a crime-solving tool was unique, but for some reason it didn't fully feel realistic to me. Not that time-controlling people are realistic at all, but the explanation behind the whole things feels very shallow and simplistic, and I'm not sure it worked the way the author intended it to.
I consider this book more thriller than mystery, as I don't really care what Alex and Ross were searching for. Alex's realizations about what was going on around her were much more interesting, and even that struggled to truly hold my attention. All of the bad guys are pretty obvious from the start, so it really lacks any tension in terms of a mystery.
Excluding the unnecessary love triangle, I honestly can't say that I remember much of what happened in the book, and I blew right through it not that long ago. Unfortunately, I felt like much of it was unmemorable, and it's likely that I'll forget that I even read Rewind in the first place.
Combined with the rushed ending, Rewind left me wanting. Honestly, I'm not sure if this is a series that I'll be continuing with. For me, this book was simply average at best, and I think I just expected too much out of it. For those that like the time-sensitive, mystery/thriller atmosphere, I'd suggest Night Speed, which seemed to be much more action-packed, in my humble opinion.
August 26, 2018
Rewind is Ms. O’Doherty’s debut novel. It is a sci-fi story set in what seems to be current time or perhaps a bit in the future. The main character, Alexander Manning, is a spinner. That is the name they give to children born with the ability to control time. Alex, as she is called, works with Agent Carson Ross. Most spinners work with an agent, such as Ross, to rewind and freeze time helping the police catch the criminals or in this first case Alex is on in the book, she rewinds time to allow the bomb squad time to locate the hidden bomb. Spinners are kept on a “leash” which is taken off only when they are with the police officer and are being allowed to control time. Since most people are afraid of what spinners can do, they are kept in the center where they are trained in their skills and monitored by Dr. Barnard and his staff. In addition to being “locked away,” they are kept there to be medicated. Dr. Barnard medicates them to keep their Chronotin levels in check. Chronotin is the enzyme which spinners are born with that allows them to control time. Dr. Barnard regulates their Chronotin levels with medication called Aclisote. When spinners get older, about 18 or so, they often get “time sick.” When this happens, death is typical within a year or so. Once they get time sick, they are no longer able to work with the police, they tend to hallucinate, and other symptoms take over.
In this story, Alex, Agent Ross, and her fellow spinner friends learn that Dr. Barnard might not be as good and helpful to spinners as they were led to believe. Is Aclisote really helping them keep their Chronotin levels in line? Are high Chronotin levels really the cause of time sickness? Why do no spinners live past the age of 20? Are Alex and her friends safe at the center or would they be safer away from the center and Dr. Barnard? Would society be safe with them not on their leashes?
I really enjoyed this story and hope this is only the first book in the Rewind series. There is a lot of potential to have at lease one or two more stories about the spinners and how they adjust to life outside the center, if there is life outside the center. The character development was very detailed giving the reader a nice connection with the main characters. I want to know what happens to Alex, KJ, Agent Ross and the others. Is Dr. Barnard evil, is he doing what he feels is best for society, is he killing the spinners?
This book is indicated as a teen/YA book. The main characters are all teenagers, so I tend to agree with this age grouping. Pre-teens might enjoy this also. There is nothing graphic and there is no sexual content.
In this story, Alex, Agent Ross, and her fellow spinner friends learn that Dr. Barnard might not be as good and helpful to spinners as they were led to believe. Is Aclisote really helping them keep their Chronotin levels in line? Are high Chronotin levels really the cause of time sickness? Why do no spinners live past the age of 20? Are Alex and her friends safe at the center or would they be safer away from the center and Dr. Barnard? Would society be safe with them not on their leashes?
I really enjoyed this story and hope this is only the first book in the Rewind series. There is a lot of potential to have at lease one or two more stories about the spinners and how they adjust to life outside the center, if there is life outside the center. The character development was very detailed giving the reader a nice connection with the main characters. I want to know what happens to Alex, KJ, Agent Ross and the others. Is Dr. Barnard evil, is he doing what he feels is best for society, is he killing the spinners?
This book is indicated as a teen/YA book. The main characters are all teenagers, so I tend to agree with this age grouping. Pre-teens might enjoy this also. There is nothing graphic and there is no sexual content.
December 6, 2018
Alex is a spinner, one of the few people in the world born with the ability to rewind time. There are many rumors surrounding spinners, so they are immediately made wards of the state as soon as they are discovered to have the ability, closely watched, and trained to use their powers for good. And they inevitably die in their teens. Alex has been recruited to use her spinning ability for the police. She's had a couple of police partners who treated her like she had the plague, but her latest partner, Ross, treats Alex like a human and together they are hot on the trail of a serial killer. Alex hopes that before time sickness claims her she can make her mark on the world by helping catch Sikes with Ross. But there are secrets that Ross is keeping about the case and that the center who cares for the spinners is keeping from the spinners. And Alex and others will soon realize that these secrets could be very deadly.
Kasie West's Pivot Point is one of the most checked out books in our library, so I'm always on the lookout for something I can recommend those readers to try next. I thought the premise of this one sounded similar enough it might interest those readers. It is decidedly different (the main character in Pivot Point can see futures based on choices, spinners can only rewind or freeze time). But I do think it will appeal to those readers. It will also appeal to those who like twisty mystery/thrillers and stories about teens with special powers. There is not a whole lot of resolution at the end of this one (just the unveiling of deep secrets) so if you can't stand staying on a cliffhanger for a while, you might want to wait and read this one closer to the release date of the next book.
Notes on content: If there was swearing, it was just one or two minor swears. I don't remember any. No sexual content beyond some kissing. Alex and Ross are investigating murders, so there are a few murders on page described a bit. There's also a beating and a bad car accident with some blood and wounds described.
Kasie West's Pivot Point is one of the most checked out books in our library, so I'm always on the lookout for something I can recommend those readers to try next. I thought the premise of this one sounded similar enough it might interest those readers. It is decidedly different (the main character in Pivot Point can see futures based on choices, spinners can only rewind or freeze time). But I do think it will appeal to those readers. It will also appeal to those who like twisty mystery/thrillers and stories about teens with special powers. There is not a whole lot of resolution at the end of this one (just the unveiling of deep secrets) so if you can't stand staying on a cliffhanger for a while, you might want to wait and read this one closer to the release date of the next book.
Notes on content: If there was swearing, it was just one or two minor swears. I don't remember any. No sexual content beyond some kissing. Alex and Ross are investigating murders, so there are a few murders on page described a bit. There's also a beating and a bad car accident with some blood and wounds described.
March 30, 2025
'Rewind' is a YA novel set in an alternative version of our world where, throughout history, a genetic mutation has caused some humans to be born gifted with the ability to freeze and rewind time. In modern day America, these so-called 'spinners' are kept locked up in facilities for their entire lives, usually only allowed out to assist the police with using their time rewinding abilities to solve crimes. Spinners are cursed with short lives, their time freezing abilities causing a sickness that means they'll never reach twenty. 16-year-old Alex has been helping to track down Portland's most notorious criminal for months when her symptoms of time sickness begin. Desperate to see the case out to it's end, she's willing to try anything to extend her life - even if it means lying to those who keep her safe.
I picked up my copy of 'Rewind' at an ex-library book sale due to my interest in stories that involve the manipulation of time. Seeing that it reads on the lower end of YA, I was not expecting much and was pleasantly surprised with how enjoyable this was to read. The writing style is very addictive, and the book reads really quickly. I did find the story to be on the predictable side, but I was impressed with its handling of issues such as power imbalance. Something I would have liked to have seen more of was explanation of why the wider world (the 'Norms') disliked spinners so much. This is a topic very briefly touched on with a surface level explanation, but with the narrative establishing that spinner history goes back to at least the witch trials of the 1700s, I feel like the treatment of spinners in modern day could have been more nuanced. We also see that published scientific literature regarding the spinners exists in this world, which had me questioning some of the revelations that came later in the book.
I think this one would be best enjoyed by 13-17 year olds. It's a quick and fun read.
I picked up my copy of 'Rewind' at an ex-library book sale due to my interest in stories that involve the manipulation of time. Seeing that it reads on the lower end of YA, I was not expecting much and was pleasantly surprised with how enjoyable this was to read. The writing style is very addictive, and the book reads really quickly. I did find the story to be on the predictable side, but I was impressed with its handling of issues such as power imbalance. Something I would have liked to have seen more of was explanation of why the wider world (the 'Norms') disliked spinners so much. This is a topic very briefly touched on with a surface level explanation, but with the narrative establishing that spinner history goes back to at least the witch trials of the 1700s, I feel like the treatment of spinners in modern day could have been more nuanced. We also see that published scientific literature regarding the spinners exists in this world, which had me questioning some of the revelations that came later in the book.
I think this one would be best enjoyed by 13-17 year olds. It's a quick and fun read.
April 13, 2018
REWIND takes place in the urban city of Portland, Oregon. As most of those who live in the Pacific Northwest know, Portland has a reputation for being weird, but things get even weirder when we are introduced to sixteen-year-old spinner Alex. A girl who uses her ability to rewind the past to assist her partner Agent Ross in crime investigations.
Now what I love most about this book is how, unlike most stories told in the first person that shows a limited view of the world around them and the characters within it, Alex is able to break away from those limitations and stretch the boundaries of time by rewinding past events. Thus, Alex is able to capture the intentions and perspectives of those surrounding her. Revealing the true colors of not only the criminals she is investigating, but those she calls friends. And who better to tell this tale then strong yet sweet Alex who, despite being held in captivity with others of her kind and being forced to hold up justice in a system that is morally corrupt, still looks to those who govern her for help when she most needs it.
I also love how the world building was set in a urban landscape where, if I were to cross the water and visit Portland, I would find myself inadvertently looking for traces of the spinners.
I believe this book to be incredibly well written, very descriptive, and deeply satisfying for those who love a good supernatural crime mystery, but minus the dead and un-dead.
Keep an eye out for the sequel!
Now what I love most about this book is how, unlike most stories told in the first person that shows a limited view of the world around them and the characters within it, Alex is able to break away from those limitations and stretch the boundaries of time by rewinding past events. Thus, Alex is able to capture the intentions and perspectives of those surrounding her. Revealing the true colors of not only the criminals she is investigating, but those she calls friends. And who better to tell this tale then strong yet sweet Alex who, despite being held in captivity with others of her kind and being forced to hold up justice in a system that is morally corrupt, still looks to those who govern her for help when she most needs it.
I also love how the world building was set in a urban landscape where, if I were to cross the water and visit Portland, I would find myself inadvertently looking for traces of the spinners.
I believe this book to be incredibly well written, very descriptive, and deeply satisfying for those who love a good supernatural crime mystery, but minus the dead and un-dead.
Keep an eye out for the sequel!
February 11, 2018
I first read parts of Carolyn O’Doherty’s book Rewind in a 2012 writing workshop at Portland’s Attic Institute, and I loved it. The finished product did not disappoint. In fact, my trigger-happy editor’s pen found nothing to redline.
Rewind is equal parts sci-fi, thriller and coming of age novel. Like so many good YA books, Rewind works just as well for adults like me.
Our heroine Alex has the power to manipulate time. She lives in a group facility with other kids who have the same special ability. Sheltered from the outside world, they’re used by police to help solve crimes by freezing time, and then rewinding it to watch the crime unfold. The book opens as Alex is about to discover she and her fellow spinners have been conned their entire lives. Simultaneously, she and her cop partner are on the verge of finding an elusive criminal mastermind, while she copes with growing romantic feelings about her best friend, KJ.
Carolyn smartly creates a plausible near-future and a new mental capacity, which operates with consistent rules. By the end, Alex’s ethics and resourcefulness help her overcome a life of lies. I didn’t realize until then that Rewind is the first of a new series, but unlike many such books, the ending is satisfying, not a tease.
I can’t wait for the next installment.
Rewind is equal parts sci-fi, thriller and coming of age novel. Like so many good YA books, Rewind works just as well for adults like me.
Our heroine Alex has the power to manipulate time. She lives in a group facility with other kids who have the same special ability. Sheltered from the outside world, they’re used by police to help solve crimes by freezing time, and then rewinding it to watch the crime unfold. The book opens as Alex is about to discover she and her fellow spinners have been conned their entire lives. Simultaneously, she and her cop partner are on the verge of finding an elusive criminal mastermind, while she copes with growing romantic feelings about her best friend, KJ.
Carolyn smartly creates a plausible near-future and a new mental capacity, which operates with consistent rules. By the end, Alex’s ethics and resourcefulness help her overcome a life of lies. I didn’t realize until then that Rewind is the first of a new series, but unlike many such books, the ending is satisfying, not a tease.
I can’t wait for the next installment.
January 20, 2019
Book one in a debut series (I was pretty sure at the end it would be a series, but it could stand alone). I liked it and will have it in my 8th-grade classroom library. It kept me wanting to continue, always a plus, and I loved the strong but realistic female protagonist, as well as many other characters. Lots of action, and it was thought-provoking (an explanation for historical witches and how they functioned and why they were seen as dangerous). <-- don't think that's a spoiler or super important, but my apologies if it is.
As an adult I could make predictions, but I don't think things are too obvious for the audience. And I appreciated that most of my "but what if and how..."questions were deftly anticipated and handled.
The only thing that was an issue for me was science. Well, science isn't an issue--I love science (don't get all mad Mr. Clark). It's just that if time is stopped, all sorts of sciency things would have to happen - the whole universe stopping, and the resultant catastrophic damage.
Just suspend disbelief and enjoy this creative, goodread.
As an adult I could make predictions, but I don't think things are too obvious for the audience. And I appreciated that most of my "but what if and how..."questions were deftly anticipated and handled.
The only thing that was an issue for me was science. Well, science isn't an issue--I love science (don't get all mad Mr. Clark). It's just that if time is stopped, all sorts of sciency things would have to happen - the whole universe stopping, and the resultant catastrophic damage.
Just suspend disbelief and enjoy this creative, goodread.
June 11, 2025
Time as a concept is always such a fascinating topic for me when reading books and this story was pretty dang cool! The idea of using the ability to control time as a tool to help solve crimes is indeed very intriguing. If this ability was ever real and limitless, I would believe that the amount of unsolved crimes and murders would decrease significantly.🤯
For this being the author’s debut novel, she did a really great job in keeping me on my toes. I constantly wanted to know what came next. This is the quickest I’ve read a book since last year, which shows how much I had a fun time within the pages of this book’s universe.
The twists in this were twisting, but were not as twisty as I first thought. There were some that completely caught me off guard, but some of them I was also able to predict to an extent. I will say that the twists themselves were quite clever within the book’s storyline.👍
Overall though, this book was a genuinely fun read and I look forward to continuing on into the next one. I would absolutely recommend this if a fellow reader is curious of its contents.🥰
For this being the author’s debut novel, she did a really great job in keeping me on my toes. I constantly wanted to know what came next. This is the quickest I’ve read a book since last year, which shows how much I had a fun time within the pages of this book’s universe.
The twists in this were twisting, but were not as twisty as I first thought. There were some that completely caught me off guard, but some of them I was also able to predict to an extent. I will say that the twists themselves were quite clever within the book’s storyline.👍
Overall though, this book was a genuinely fun read and I look forward to continuing on into the next one. I would absolutely recommend this if a fellow reader is curious of its contents.🥰
September 13, 2019
Alex Manning is a spinner-the gifted few that can freeze and rewind time. Like all spinners, she is hated by the world but loved by her friends and her crime-solving partner. Is the risk of catching her mortal enemy, Sikes, worth if when everything she believed was a lie? When she was framed and blackmailed by someone she looked up to? When she discovered the flaw in the one thing that she excelled at? Even when she learned the truth about the one reality she knew all her life - the fact that no Spinner lives past 20?
This was a great read for young teens and people who love mysteries and time travel. It kept me on my feet an I didn’t want to stop. I really felt for the main character (Alex Manning) and connected with her struggles. Every turn of the page had my jaw dropped. The writing was clear and easy to understand not leaving me confused like many books have. I enjoyed all 247 pages of this book, never leaving me bored, and it should keep you occupied too.
This was a great read for young teens and people who love mysteries and time travel. It kept me on my feet an I didn’t want to stop. I really felt for the main character (Alex Manning) and connected with her struggles. Every turn of the page had my jaw dropped. The writing was clear and easy to understand not leaving me confused like many books have. I enjoyed all 247 pages of this book, never leaving me bored, and it should keep you occupied too.
November 5, 2020
I loved the excitement, suspense, and interesting detail of the spinners' abilities, and the conspiracies and secrets Alex has to uncover. She doesn't know who to trust, and we as readers aren't sure either, which I always love. I appreciated that it didn't have too much angsty romance or over-sexualized teenagers; it was pretty clean in that aspect. My only problem was the violence, and because of that I don't know if I'll read the next one, especially since it's likely to get more nitty-gritty now that they know they're in open danger from all sides.
Carolyn O'Doherty is a good writer--clear and interesting to read, with good descriptions. It was an engaging read-in-one-sitting book for me.
Carolyn O'Doherty is a good writer--clear and interesting to read, with good descriptions. It was an engaging read-in-one-sitting book for me.
July 16, 2018
I liked Rewind...it gave me some Divergent-like vibes! Strong, young female lead to root for and support. It’s a little frustrating how cliffhanger-y the ending was. She’s clearly setting it up for a sequel, which I will probably read because now I’m invested! I think she could have set up/created the world a little bit better for us. The character development is good, but after 250 pages I still can’t really imagine or understand fully the world they are in and how it operates. If you need something fast and easy that’s a page-turner but doesn’t require TOO much brain power, give this a try - probably won’t be your favorite book ever, but it’s enjoyable!
December 22, 2017
Easy and quick read! I received this ARC book at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) annual conference in St. Louis as a freebie! It was the first out of the bunch of books that I read. The cover and summary caught my attention! I enjoy YA science fiction but not all that into mysteries. But, I really enjoyed the plot in this book and found myself wanting to not put the book down! It is a good read from start to finish. I can see some reluctant readers in high school enjoying this novel! Well done, O'Doherty!
April 30, 2019
Language: PG (7 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13
Alex enjoys the work that she does—which is good because she doesn’t get a choice in the matter. All spinners, or those who can freeze and rewind time, are required to be raised in a group facility and help police at crime scenes until they die, often around the age of 20. But when Alex, only age 16, starts to show symptoms of an early death, she grows desperate to do something important before she dies—something to change the world.
O’Doherty captured me in the first page. Alex, her powers, and her world offer a unique perspective on the world in the imagined circumstances. I did not want to set the book down for a minute as Alex worked hard to leave a positive impact on the world under the pressure of limited time and the strain of unpredictable changes to her reality.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/
Alex enjoys the work that she does—which is good because she doesn’t get a choice in the matter. All spinners, or those who can freeze and rewind time, are required to be raised in a group facility and help police at crime scenes until they die, often around the age of 20. But when Alex, only age 16, starts to show symptoms of an early death, she grows desperate to do something important before she dies—something to change the world.
O’Doherty captured me in the first page. Alex, her powers, and her world offer a unique perspective on the world in the imagined circumstances. I did not want to set the book down for a minute as Alex worked hard to leave a positive impact on the world under the pressure of limited time and the strain of unpredictable changes to her reality.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/
December 18, 2019
I enjoyed the concept of this book as a fresh take on the idea of controlling time. The descriptions of what it felt like for Alex to use her powers as a spinner were detailed and really pulled me into the narrative and made it come alive. My one critique is that it was predictable. It leads the reader in one direction hinting at surprise plot twists but just continues down the path straight to the end. That being said, I still will run right out to the library for book two, Unleashed, because this book ends right in the middle of the action.
June 20, 2023
What would you do if you were able to freeze and rewind time? Alex has no choice. because 'spinners' are conscripted by the government and forced to take medication as well as work with law enforcement to rewind at the scene of crimes in order to identify perpetrators.
When she begins to suspect the director of the facility is less than honest about the medication and what happens to older 'spinners', she begins to look at everything differently. This is the first of a three book series and I've already moved to the second book and have the third ready to go.
When she begins to suspect the director of the facility is less than honest about the medication and what happens to older 'spinners', she begins to look at everything differently. This is the first of a three book series and I've already moved to the second book and have the third ready to go.
December 27, 2017
Rewind is a fast-paced thriller. Every chapter ends in a cliff-hanger, making it hard to put the book down. Alex Manning is a sympathetic, complex heroine: she's tough yet vulnerable, smart yet naive. The dystopian world of the spinners is eerily similar to our own, making the final revelation of what is really going on all the more shocking. Bonus points: I loved all the references to Portland, my home town!
March 11, 2018
I loved this book and could hardly put it down. I am a grown up who mostly reads adult books but I still love great young adult fiction. This book is thrilling and cinematic and the young adult characters were strong and interesting. More importantly, I handed it over to my sixteen year old, and he couldn't stop reading either. I think he actually chose to read it instead of playing on the computer with his friends.
April 9, 2018
O'Doherty is one of those great authors that weaves a Great plot together with wonderful characters. Rewind is full of hot tension, nifty new magic, and a character you can't help but cheer for. Alex is down to earth, wants to be useful, and loves helping her Cop to solve crimes. But then she gets sick and everything changes. Wonderful edge of your seat intensity along with warmer moments.
This book ends with a pathway to a greater plot. Can't wait for the second book!
This book ends with a pathway to a greater plot. Can't wait for the second book!
June 10, 2018
A group of teens live in a center together in Portland, Oregon. They have two things in common, they are orphans and they are able to manipulate time. The doctor in charge of them monitors their health and they assist the police in solving crimes. However, there is one drawback to their condition, they almost never live beyond their teens. Alex Manning is one of the teens and she begins to be suspicious of what they have been told.
September 27, 2019
Rating:7/10
I finished the book earlier today and it’s definitely a mixture between The Maze Runner and Detroit:Becoming Human (a video game about androids). It has the same aspects of the beginning of the 2nd Maze Runner movie. The ending is kinda guessable but has a small twist in it, which totally threw me for a loop but some may guess it fairly quickly too. It’s still a good book though, would recommend it if you like conspiracy theories! 😉
I finished the book earlier today and it’s definitely a mixture between The Maze Runner and Detroit:Becoming Human (a video game about androids). It has the same aspects of the beginning of the 2nd Maze Runner movie. The ending is kinda guessable but has a small twist in it, which totally threw me for a loop but some may guess it fairly quickly too. It’s still a good book though, would recommend it if you like conspiracy theories! 😉
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2019
I was super excited by the premise of this book. It was not what I expected....but it looks like the second book might be??? Yes another book I did not realize was a series at least I hope it is because it ended in the middle of the story.
I did not like the part with Ross or skis at all we could have reached the same part in the story much quicker and with less confusion.
I'm going to see if there is a second book.... and maybe give it a go. Not terribly impressed so far.
I did not like the part with Ross or skis at all we could have reached the same part in the story much quicker and with less confusion.
I'm going to see if there is a second book.... and maybe give it a go. Not terribly impressed so far.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2022
“Time is not a soft, flexible thing. It’s a harsh master that marches relentlessly forward.”
Alex, KJ, Jack and Shannon are spinners. They can freeze time and rewind it. But stopping time comes at a cost. Spinners are not trusted by “norms” and they only live to about 20 years old.
This is the first book in this YA series by Caroline O’Doherty and I enjoyed it. I will definitely be getting books two and three next!
Alex, KJ, Jack and Shannon are spinners. They can freeze time and rewind it. But stopping time comes at a cost. Spinners are not trusted by “norms” and they only live to about 20 years old.
This is the first book in this YA series by Caroline O’Doherty and I enjoyed it. I will definitely be getting books two and three next!
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