Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the Race Against Time

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang #3

by Frank Cottrell Boyce

Everyone’s favorite flying car shifts into another dimension as the intrepid Tooting family zooms back and forth through time.

When the Tootings return to Zobrowski Terrace at the end of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again, they find that "home" is looking a lot like Jurassic Park. But this is no theme park — a very real and very hungry T. rex is charging them! Thanks to Dad’s inadvertent yanking of Chitty’s "Chronojuster" lever, the spirited car has ushered them back to prehistoric times, where the family (and especially Baby Harry) make a narrow escape. But Chitty has a mind of her own, and the Tootings will get an unexpected tour of exciting times and places from Prohibition-era New York (where Chitty wants to compete in the famous Prix d’Esmerelda’s Birthday Cake race) to the lost city of El Dorado and back again, with misadventures and surprise stowaways along the way. Get ready for a hilarious high-flying adventure, with celebrated author Frank Cottrell Boyce behind the wheel.

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Time Travel, Audiobook, Adventure, Middle Grade, Fiction

Audible Audio

First published July 1, 2012

About the author

Frank Cottrell Boyce is a British screenwriter, novelist and occasional actor.

In addition to original scripts, Cottrell Boyce has also adapted novels for the screen and written children's fiction, winning the 2004 Carnegie Medal for his debut, Millions, based on his own screenplay for the film of the same name.
His novel Framed was shortlisted for the Whitbread Book of the Year as well as the Carnegie Medal.
He adapted the novel into a screenplay for a 2009 BBC television film. His 2009 novel Cosmic has also been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal.

He is married and the father of seven children.

Reviews

[Matt]

As I continue to explore the adventures of this most exciting vehicle, I have come to see why young readers the world over would be drawn to this series. Frank Cottrell Boyce offers up a cute and informative piece that will surely last the test of time. Picking up where the previous story ended, the Tootings find themselves in an epoch of which they are not familiar, with a Tyrannosaurus Rex breathing down their necks. Apparently, the 'chronojuster' has the capacity to toss Chitty Chitty Bang Bang through time, an added layer of excitement for the Tootings. When Mr. Tooting is able to manoeuvre the family away from the meat-eaters and into a more current period, they find themselves in the heart of the early 1920s New York City, where Chitty's famed creator, Count Zborowski, greets them warmly and challenges them to race in his newly perfected Chitty Chitty Bang Bang II. After some finagling and fine-tuning of the original Chitty, the Tootings take along a young racing enthusiast in hopes that the chronojuster will help propel them to more adventures. Their ultimate goal, to find the Pott family, original owners of Chitty, so that they might erase any remnant of Chitty's creation. Why get rid of such a handy vehicle, you might ask? Super villains Tiny Jack and Nanny are still on the hunt for Chitty, hoping to add her to their collection to undertake dastardly plans. The Tootings bounce around time, in search of the Potts Family and trying to dodge all that time travel can toss their way. After a makeover in the Amazon, Chitty is ready to face anything that might be placed before her, taking the Tootings along for the ride of their lives. However, Nanny's spun a web and cannot help but hope to snag Chitty before all is said and done. A wonderful continuation of this series that enthrals young and mature readers alike.

Starting this series as a buddy read, I was so pleased with it presentation that I chose to continue reading all the newer adventures left for young readers. Cottrell Boyce continues to dazzle readers with the adventures of a newer family while keeping the memories of Ian Fleming's original theme in the forefront of the narrative. A time-travel theme allows for a new round of delightful characters, all of whom add to the fast-paced narrative. Cottrell Boyce presents an interest story, working on a new angle to keep readers curious and free from being able to predict what is to come. While geared to the young reader, the story plays out in such a way that it is not overly cheesy and a more mature (read: adult) reader can equally enjoy the journey through time. I am eager to see what comes next in the Chitty series and will keep these books in mind for when my son is a little older.

Kudos, Mr. Cottrell Boyce for keeping the series fun as well as informative for the reader. While you have taken oven from Ian Fleming, I am confident that his estate is well-pleased with what you've been able to do.

Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[Shiloah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened on a road trip. David Tennet gets 5 ⭐️s. The story is cute, but not spectacular.

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is everyone’s favourite time-travelling, flying car! With all the dinosaurs and El Dorado, Count Zobrowski and Jem,Dad,little Harry, Lucy and mum what adventures the have

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quite enjoyable and fun time travel story, the second Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Boyce ends on a cliffhanger. I didn't love the voices of some of the new characters who were introduced, but would still recommend the audiobook read by David Tennant.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the classic children's series, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, originally created by Ian Fleming and continued by Frank Cottrell Boyce.

The time traveling car, along with the Tootings family, explore myriad periods in history and try to get back home safely while trying to avoid Jack and his nanny. The plot is very exciting and dramatic and I loved listening to my favorite Doctor narrate the story on audiobook.

interesting quotes (page numbers from edition with ISBN13):

''...she had just seen the worst thing she had seen all day. Worse than rampaging dinosaurs threatening her baby brother; worse than the New York City police department shooting at her; worse than plunging into the Hudson River: she saw her parents dancing. Why? Why? Why were they dancing? They didn't have a clue!" (p.)

''" (p.)

''" (p.)

''" (p.)

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, the more I move forward into the series, the more I'm enjoying this trilogy read by David Tennant. As a story, it's not the deepest and it's not in the realm of possibility, but honestly, I don't care. It's just a lot of fun to listen to. I can't wait to listen to the last installment so I can find out what happens to the Tootings! The bonus with the audiobooks is that there is a little interview with David Tennant at the end of the each episode and that's fun too!

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author does a great job continuing a fun story. I liked this second book even better than the first as it's not trying as hard to establish the characters and is more involved in the adventure. I feel like, rather than a second book in the series, it's just a continued flow from the first book. There is no change in voice or flow, almost as if he just kept writing.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a delightful series!
This one picks up where the previous book left off.
Chitty is now traveling thru time. What adventures in a charming car!

But to be honest, I do think a lot of my enjoyment of this comes b/c I’m doing it on audio. The words come more alive thru the narrator & the background sounds.

I look forward to listening to the next one in the series.

[Kasthuri BV · Rating 3 out of 5]

Haven't read any other chitty chitty bang bang books apart from this.. did see the movie a couple of weeks ago and thought this might interest me.. unfortunately, all it felt was like reading from somewhere in the middle and finishing in the middle of nowhere!
Maybe not a good idea to start with a random chitty chitty bang bang book!
Definitely, not a complete book on its own..

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really well done, fun sequel to the original book.
The new family is likable, the humor works and there's a nice vibe of grand adventure and family roadtrip.

The big problem is this book doesn't need a supervillain.
The bad guys are the least interesting thing in the book and any effort to make me care just annoys me.

[Dippit! with E.S.Jennette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was great. We have Chitty and the Tooting family going from the Cretaceous period with the dinosaurs to medieval El Desperado and then to 1966 to participate in the Prix d'Elsmerelda.

The family and Chitty have quite the adventures together until the supervillain and Nanny steal Chitty from the Tooting family.

A cliff ending for sure!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is destined to be a family classic we'll revisit every year. I love all the characters, my kids love the car, and the places they go are so funny. The dinosaurs! The fudge-based economy! Quotable and fantastic.

[Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much of what confused me in the second book makes much better sense now. Very delightful story that neatly ties up the two time periods the books have essentially been written in, while creating quite the exciting bit of time travel all on its own.

[Keri Elkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This captivated all 6 children from ages 13-2. They loved this audiobook and begged that everyone be quiet so we could hear it. They even insisted sitting in the car for 10 extra minutes to finish a chapter if we were mid-chapter.

[LudmilaM · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Frank's imagination and storytelling at his best.

[Shayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

As did the last one, managed to elicit a snicker out of me most times I picked it up. Not masterful always, but fun.

[Chris Potgieter · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a great book! I loved that the car could time travel...

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is written by a different author and set with a modern day family. The charm and fun British feel remained the same.

[Havilah · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kids love this series. Its one of their favorite series.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adventure and fun. There are lots of disconnected points in the plot...we will se how the last of the series ties these up.

[Linnea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Convoluted but fun, quirky and thrilling. I docked it a star because the series just seems to go on and on

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good second Chitty sequel, elevated to "magical" by David Tennant's reading.

[Zuzana Santamaria]

Fantastic!

[JoAnn · Rating 2 out of 5]

The tropes are so overused, I found it more tedious than #2. My six year old son loved it, so I muddled through. The Tiny Jack thing annoys me.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

We LOVE David Tennants narration of this series.

[Jack O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack-age 14

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good adventure, with an excellent cliffhanger. I look forward to the final book of the series.

[Justine · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s certainly not the first Chitty book, but still very entertaining for Teddy (9) and Jack (6.5).

[Christie Silvestri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great to read with a grandchild

[Shawn Deal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun book.