Rocco

by JORDAN SHERRYL

Rocco has suddenly appeared in a different time and in an unknown location - in the valley Anshur, where he's taken in by a primitive tribe, whose members live closely connected to nature. He is challenged in everything he knows and all his abilities - in everything he brings with him from his usual, modern life.

Life in Anshur requires courage and strength - but also has a lot to offer: knowledge, friendship and love.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Science Fiction, Childrens, Time Travel, Adventure

246 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Noella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heel goed jeugdboek, over een jongen die op een mirakuleuze wijze vanuit een droom in een andere wereld terechtkomt. In deze wereld leven de mensen heel primitief, zoals in de prehistorie bijna. Rocco wordt opgenomen in de stam, en hoewel hij heel lang heimwee heeft, probeert hij zich toch aan te passen aan de levenswijze en gebruiken van deze mensen, omdat hij geen manier ziet om terug naar zijn eigen tijd en plaats te reizen. Stilaan raakt hij echter zeer gehecht aan de stamleden en de omgeving waarin hij leeft.
Het einde is eigenlijk nogal vergezocht vind ik, en verwarrend. Maar de rest van het verhaal is echt boeiend.

[Maria Elmvang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rocco is the first book that I can remember making me cry. It's always a bit of a gamble to revisit books that had such a strong hold over you at some stage in life, because if it doesn't still - it's bound to be a let-down.

While it couldn't completely live up to my expectations, it fortunately came very, very close, so I only had to down-scale my rating from 5 to 4 stars. It's an interesting story, and powerfully written. I could have wished for it to be a bit longer and slightly more complex, as it is very obvious that it's written with an YA audience in mind. On the other hand, if Rocco had stayed longer in Anshur, I think the book would have ended up being even more painful to read.

A quick read - I finished in in 2 hours - and a pleasant revisit.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I reread this just now, and was happy to do so - it's a very well written timeslip novel, ultimately about the reconciliation between members of a single family across vast distances of time and space. The main character, Rocco, finds himself in a primitive, harsh village. Strangers are usually stoned to death as a threat, but, thanks to the wise woman Ayoshe, the boy is allowed to live and join the village. He eventually comes to love the people deeply, and is changed by what he learns from living among them. When - against his will - he finds himself back in the twentieth century, he must continue to learn and to figure out the meaning of his experience.

Which - well, I know it's vague! But this should appeal to teens who love survival stories and SF as well as those who love romance. I think it's one of Jordan's three best books (the others are "The Juniper Game" and "Winter of Fire".) I do wonder whether the absolute dread of nuclear war which this book reflects so well would still resonate with kids today? But any teens who do pick it up will find solid storytelling, some vivid scenes, and a good deal to think about.

[Suzy Atkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as I remember it from school, but then saying that the last time I read it I was 15 and my mentality has changed considerably. Worth a read if you are aged between 12 and 18. However I would think this would make a great motion picture, especially if filmed in New Zealand where the author is from.

[Sandesh Bartlett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember picking this up from a stash of my cousin's books ages ago. While the story has been lost to memory I still remember my satisfaction when I finished the book

[Austral Scout · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jordan -- ahead of her time. This book -- still current.

More here:
http://strikingkeys.blogspot.com/2018...

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must have read this one at least 50 times as a kid. So good.

[Mel Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read and loved this years ago as a teenager, so it's hard to know if it would still be any good on revisiting. But there's been a fair bit of discussion on Facebook lately about the YA books we read as teenagers, which made me think of this… although my thoughts had returned to it from time to time between when I first read it and now, as I type this. It's so funny the way just seeing the cover totally brought me back.

It is seductive in the way a lot of sci-fi/fantasy set in strange, 'primitive' societies is interesting – you identify with Rocco as the 20th-century interloper, learning the ways of the tribe just as he does. And of COURSE there's a hot cave-babe for him to fall for. There also seems to be an anti-nuclear eco-message to the book about living in balance with nature.

Now I've read The Clan of the Cave Bear and its cavey ilk, I wouldn't mind reading this again. I remember being blown away by the time-travel ending. But buh! I have SO many other books waiting to be read, without re-enacting my own teenage reading habits with this.

[L. Petunia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe a 2.5? My problem with this book, although it wasn't clunky or anything, was that there was no tension. Nothing really happened.

I mean, yes, Rocco magically transported to a primitive time (which they eventually explained to be the future after a nuclear war... although really, only like 90 years after nuclear war some people would build medieval-level towns and some people would live like cavemen with no salvaging of modern technology AT ALL? but never explained HOW he did), but then it was just him adjusting to their culture and living with them and... That was it. No conflict. Jakob not liking Rocco aside, there was no overarching villain or thing to fight against.

That said, I read this book on my quest to read all the Jordan books I could, and I'm definitely seeing a pattern in her books! Primitive cultures have appeared more than once, as has psychic/time-or-dimension-traveling powers.

[Dayna · Rating 5 out of 5]

An all time favourite read to many of my family, never have I tired of reading and re-reading this story.
Our story starts with Rocco in a dream that has become all to familiar to him, a wolf attack! The place is unknown to him but this very place will transport him into a world that he will grow to love and long for. But does this place really exist, is it the past or a future? What will change this dream either to become a reality or stay a dream?
I highly recommend this book for any age group.

[Corina · Rating 4 out of 5]

aka "Rocco"

This book is one that's stayed with me over the years since I first read it as a young teenager. It moved me, and make me think about the bigger picture of things. I would recommend it to everyone and anyone. In fact I might just have to pick myself up a new copy (as my original was sold when I moved overseas as an adult).

[Becks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book I read of Sherryl Jordan's and it remained my favourite for a good many years after. I must've been around 10 or so, but it put me on the track to more books by her as well as a great love of fantasy & historical fiction ;-)
I've based this on my memory of it, but I will reread one day too

[Literary Mouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book as a teenager and it has stayed with me ever since.

It's not an action packed adventure and there's no great quest, but I think its simplicity is what draws you in.

Definitely a great book for YA.

[Marjean]

Just barely decent fantasy for young adults. Strange religious ideas (maybe some is better than none:), and focus on boy girl attraction seemed out of place when survival is main objective.

[John Ringer · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do u read a book on here

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it in highschool. Have loved with a passion since then

[Athena Macmillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites from my youth, I used to read it over and over never getting bored with it. I would love to get hold of it again!

[Fern Stuart · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book got better as it progressed. I thought the ending was quite good.

[Ruth Hapeta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent story with a twist in the tail

[Erin Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book and have it in paperback but does anyone know how to get an ebook copy???

[Sandra Kim]

I read Rocco when i was a child, so would love to read it again.

[Gen Giggles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book when I was younger I read it more than once. The ending is what I will always remember.

Merged review:

I loved this book when I was younger. I will always remember the ending.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite books from when I was at school

[Miriam]

I read this as a kid and am slightly worried about reading it again (how are the "primitive" people portrayed?). But I loved it then.

[Alena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is obscure, and I can't for the life of me understand why. It is so incredibly good. It's been one of my favorite childhood books beyond almost any childhood book. It's amazingly written. I was beyond elated when I finally tracked it down. If you can find it, read it.

[Bridget · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pre-goodreads

[Amy Bea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought provoking story from an author from New Zealand.
Startlingly realistic dreams haunt teenager Rocco Makepeace, becoming stronger until he is swept away into another time and place.
This Juvenile book is stunning even for adults.

Merged review:

Thought provoking story from an author from New Zealand.
Startlingly realistic dreams haunt teenager Rocco Makepeace, becoming stronger until he is swept away into another time and place.
This Juvenile book is stunning even for adults.

Merged review:

Thought provoking story from an author from New Zealand.
Startlingly realistic dreams haunt teenager Rocco Makepeace, becoming stronger until he is swept away into another time and place.
This Juvenile book is stunning even for adults.

Merged review:

Thought provoking story from an author from New Zealand.
Startlingly realistic dreams haunt teenager Rocco Makepeace, becoming stronger until he is swept away into another time and place.
This Juvenile book is stunning even for adults.

Merged review:

Thought provoking story from an author from New Zealand.
Startlingly realistic dreams haunt teenager Rocco Makepeace, becoming stronger until he is swept away into another time and place.
This Juvenile book is stunning even for adults.

Merged review:

Thought provoking story from an author from New Zealand.
Startlingly realistic dreams haunt teenager Rocco Makepeace, becoming stronger until he is swept away into another time and place.
This Juvenile book is stunning even for adults.

Merged review:

Thought provoking story from an author from New Zealand.
Startlingly realistic dreams haunt teenager Rocco Makepeace, becoming stronger until he is swept away into another time and place.
This Juvenile book is stunning even for adults.

Merged review:

Thought provoking story from an author from New Zealand.
Startlingly realistic dreams haunt teenager Rocco Makepeace, becoming stronger until he is swept away into another time and place.
This Juvenile book is stunning even for adults.

Merged review:

Thought provoking story from an author from New Zealand.
Startlingly realistic dreams haunt teenager Rocco Makepeace, becoming stronger until he is swept away into another time and place.
This Juvenile book is stunning even for adults.

Merged review:

Thought provoking story from an author from New Zealand.
Startlingly realistic dreams haunt teenager Rocco Makepeace, becoming stronger until he is swept away into another time and place.
This Juvenile book is stunning even for adults.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

my copy was titled "A Time of Darkness"