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A Time Traveler's Theory of Relativity
He believes in science, but only magic can help his mom.
Twelve-year-old Finn is used to people in his family disappearing. His twin sister, Faith, drowned when they were three years old. A few months ago, his mom abandoned him and his dad with no explanation. Finn clings to the concrete facts in his physics books―and to his best friend, Gabi―to ward off his sadness. But then his grandmother tells him a secret: the women in their family are Travelers, able to move back and forth in time. Finn's mom is trapped somewhere in the timeline, and she's left Finn a portal to find her. But to succeed, he'll have to put his trust in something bigger than logic.
Twelve-year-old Finn is used to people in his family disappearing. His twin sister, Faith, drowned when they were three years old. A few months ago, his mom abandoned him and his dad with no explanation. Finn clings to the concrete facts in his physics books―and to his best friend, Gabi―to ward off his sadness. But then his grandmother tells him a secret: the women in their family are Travelers, able to move back and forth in time. Finn's mom is trapped somewhere in the timeline, and she's left Finn a portal to find her. But to succeed, he'll have to put his trust in something bigger than logic.
Hardcover
First published October 1, 2019
74 people are currently reading
700 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Valentine
2 books82 followersNicole Valentine is a children’s book author, educator and technologist. She has an MFA in Writing from VCFA and teaches writing at The Highlights Foundation. She lives outside of Philadelphia with her family and two dogs Merlin and Arthur, and two cats, Pickwick and Tink. One day she would like to add a falcon or hawk to the mix.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
October 14, 2021
Мені здається, ця книга класно зайде молодшим підліткам 11-13 років. Мені особисто не вистачило глибини, мабуть. Ідея класна, сюжет напружений, але чогось не зачепило 🤷🏻♀️ Головному героєві 12 років і хоч я не дуже люблю історії, де герої настільки юні, але тут понадіялась на свою улюблену тему - подорожі в часі)) ну нічого, зате спробувала)
О, а ще в українському виданні прекрасні ілюстрації, їх дуже багато - в кінці й на початку кожного (!) розділу. І всі вони різні, кожна стосується подій, описаних в розділі.
О, а ще в українському виданні прекрасні ілюстрації, їх дуже багато - в кінці й на початку кожного (!) розділу. І всі вони різні, кожна стосується подій, описаних в розділі.
March 26, 2019
I loved this book! I couldn’t put it down. Well-plotted, great pacing, fantastic characters. A must for readers who love time travel stories.
October 19, 2019
When I was young, I spent countless hours reading my way through the children's fantasy and imaginative fiction section in my local library. I lost myself in books by Edward Eager and E. Nesbit, and went adventuring with Mary Poppins and Dr. Doolittle. I only wish I could have read A Time Traveler's Theory of Relativity at that time — it's exactly the kind of book I craved as a young reader — but I'm fortunate to have discovered it now.
I immediately connected with Finn and his delightful friend Gabi, worried about his missing mother, and puzzled about the reasons for the peculiar events taking place in the small village of Dorset, Vermont. I was captivated as Finn and Gabi learned some remarkable secrets about the women in Finn's family and began climbing the local mountain in search of a strange tree with two doorknobs. I don't want to give anything more away, so I'll stop here and encourage you to read this immersive debut novel for yourself.
Nicole Valentine has created living, breathing characters with heart, brains, and imagination who will linger in your memory long after you turn the last page.
Note: I attended one of Nicole's book signings. When the bookstore manager introduced her, she said this may be labeled as a middle grade book, but it's one of the rare books which speaks to all ages. I agree. A Time Traveler's Theory of Relativity grapples with weighty topics, from loss and grief to the elusive nature of time, memory and family. It's entertaining and often funny, but it's far from a lightweight read.
I immediately connected with Finn and his delightful friend Gabi, worried about his missing mother, and puzzled about the reasons for the peculiar events taking place in the small village of Dorset, Vermont. I was captivated as Finn and Gabi learned some remarkable secrets about the women in Finn's family and began climbing the local mountain in search of a strange tree with two doorknobs. I don't want to give anything more away, so I'll stop here and encourage you to read this immersive debut novel for yourself.
Nicole Valentine has created living, breathing characters with heart, brains, and imagination who will linger in your memory long after you turn the last page.
Note: I attended one of Nicole's book signings. When the bookstore manager introduced her, she said this may be labeled as a middle grade book, but it's one of the rare books which speaks to all ages. I agree. A Time Traveler's Theory of Relativity grapples with weighty topics, from loss and grief to the elusive nature of time, memory and family. It's entertaining and often funny, but it's far from a lightweight read.
May 1, 2019
My favorite books and stories are the ones that bring story, character, and language to the table in equal measure. This mind-bending middle grade novel does exactly that. Even when I was scratching my head at the Mobius strip that is the (il)logic of time travel itself, I was loving the way Nicole Valentine handled such a complex topic in such an accessible way. Highly recommended.
October 7, 2019
It is just before Finn's 13th birthday, and everyone in his family seem to disappear. His twin sister when they were 3. His mother 3 weeks ago. Even his friendship with Gabi seems to ne ending. Finn is unhappy, clinging to the hard facts of s since and math. Suddenly, after his dad drops him off with his grandmother who tells him a deep family secret: the women in the family are time travellers, and his mom is trapped somewhere in time. There are enemies, and Finn with his friend Gabi, set out to save his mom and family.
If I say more, I risk ruining many of the treasures to be found by the reader. It is a middle grade book, but also suitable for adults. It touches on loss, death, mourning, abandonment, good vs. evil, adventure, courage, but also, and most importantly, love. Hard to believe this is a debut novel. I loved it!
Full disclosure: the authur is a close friend; my review is honest. I was totally absorbed!
If I say more, I risk ruining many of the treasures to be found by the reader. It is a middle grade book, but also suitable for adults. It touches on loss, death, mourning, abandonment, good vs. evil, adventure, courage, but also, and most importantly, love. Hard to believe this is a debut novel. I loved it!
Full disclosure: the authur is a close friend; my review is honest. I was totally absorbed!
May 11, 2019
I enjoyed this story so much! It is full of hope and friendship. I love the family dynamics—their layers and richness. I was deeply touched by the protagonist’s (Finn’s) discovery of self—how well Valentine shows us the workings of the human heart and brain as we grapple with wanting to be loved and wondering if we are worthy. The author does a remarkable job of showing us how the stories we tell ourselves in our heads are seldom the true stories. The true stories are multi-layered and complex and never just one thing—Valentine manages to illustrate this multi-layered complexity, not just in human interaction but in time itself. The novel asks the questions: who are we? when are we? what are we? and most importantly—what are we to each other?
October 22, 2019
I'm a bit obsessed with time travel stories, going all the way back to "Danny Dunn, Time Traveler" in the fourth grade. There are many far better, and I must add Nicole Valentine's "A Time Traveler's Theory of Relativity" to the list. I could not stop reading. Like other great novels in the genre, Valentine's book deals with family, memory, loss—and the chance of redemption. Twelve-year-old Finn's twin sister drowned when she was three and his mother disappeared a few months ago. Finn is a scientist, a believer in the rational, who must learn to accept his grandmother's fantasy--to him--of time travel, if he's going to save his mom, and perhaps a great deal more. Rather than featuring shiny big machines, this novel offers a great beating heart and characters who live in your mind and memory. A great middle grade read. A great anyone read!
June 12, 2019
@kidlitexchange #partner: A Time Traveler’s Theory of Relativity by @nicolevalentine and Carolrhoda books. Releases October 2019.
——————-
This book reminded me of A Wrinkle in Time, but reversed. Instead of a girl saving his dad, a boy saves his mom...and his sister, and his friend, and himself. Really nothing is as it seems in this book and the plot twists came out of nowhere, keeping me reading.
Finn (who I loved) is an almost-teenaged boy living in the shadow of his twin sister, Faith, who tragically drowned when they were younger. Like he doesn’t have enough problems, Finn’s mom has disappeared, and his dad, growing mysterious and distant, has left Finn with his grandmother...who promptly dies. Not the best luck for Finn.
But like I said, nothing is as it seems, and Finn discovers he is living in a world of multiple parallel universes where nothing is permanent...and his mom, a Traveler, is trapped somewhere in the chaos. Only Finn, with his inherited abilities, can save her, but he finds himself going against an enemy I literally NEVER saw coming.
At its core, this is a story of family—parents and their children, siblings, extended family and grandparents. You can feel the complicated love between them all and while the conclusion obviously leads up to a second book, it was also satisfying and left me with a good feeling.
I really, really liked this book and you should read it! It releases in October 2019. Thank you @nicolevalentine and @kidlitexchange for the review copy of this book—all opinions are my own.
——————-
This book reminded me of A Wrinkle in Time, but reversed. Instead of a girl saving his dad, a boy saves his mom...and his sister, and his friend, and himself. Really nothing is as it seems in this book and the plot twists came out of nowhere, keeping me reading.
Finn (who I loved) is an almost-teenaged boy living in the shadow of his twin sister, Faith, who tragically drowned when they were younger. Like he doesn’t have enough problems, Finn’s mom has disappeared, and his dad, growing mysterious and distant, has left Finn with his grandmother...who promptly dies. Not the best luck for Finn.
But like I said, nothing is as it seems, and Finn discovers he is living in a world of multiple parallel universes where nothing is permanent...and his mom, a Traveler, is trapped somewhere in the chaos. Only Finn, with his inherited abilities, can save her, but he finds himself going against an enemy I literally NEVER saw coming.
At its core, this is a story of family—parents and their children, siblings, extended family and grandparents. You can feel the complicated love between them all and while the conclusion obviously leads up to a second book, it was also satisfying and left me with a good feeling.
I really, really liked this book and you should read it! It releases in October 2019. Thank you @nicolevalentine and @kidlitexchange for the review copy of this book—all opinions are my own.
August 18, 2019
First sentence from the prologue: We lie to ourselves when necessary. Some of us are more convincing than others. My family has always been particularly good at it.
First sentence from chapter one: Finnegan Firth slid out of his bedroom window and padded on bare feet across the cold slate patio.
Premise/plot: Finn, our hero, believes that science holds the answers to everything. But he's forced to question and re-question everything he believes to be true after his grandmother's death. For the night she died, she revealed a huge family secret. The women in their family are travelers. Most have only ever been able to travel to the PAST. But in recent generations--notably his mother and grandmother--they have been able to travel to the future. (In fact the Grandma revealing the HUGE secret is not the Grandma from his time line. That Grandma is lying dead in bed as they speak.) She wants him to try to time travel via a portal that his mom created in order to help save his family from their current crisis. But does Finn have enough faith? Perhaps even enough faith to save FAITH? Who is Faith? Faith is his twin sister who disappeared--believed drowned--when they were three. Her body was never found. What would a great, noble, oh-so-dangerous quest be without a best friend? Finn's best friend is Gabi.
My thoughts: I loved, loved, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this one. It was super-compelling and packed with action and intrigue. You should know that I tend to LOVE time travel stories. I do. I always have. I think my first exposure to time travel came via Star Trek and Star Trek the Next Generation. I have never really stopped being intrigued and fascinated by the concept of traveling to the past or the future.
I enjoyed the dual narrators. The second narrator--the one of the prologue--is super-spooky. Her voice is a haunting one. I wouldn't say it kept me reading--Finn's voice alone probably would have achieved the same thing--but it added a certain darkness or richness to the text overall.
First sentence from chapter one: Finnegan Firth slid out of his bedroom window and padded on bare feet across the cold slate patio.
Premise/plot: Finn, our hero, believes that science holds the answers to everything. But he's forced to question and re-question everything he believes to be true after his grandmother's death. For the night she died, she revealed a huge family secret. The women in their family are travelers. Most have only ever been able to travel to the PAST. But in recent generations--notably his mother and grandmother--they have been able to travel to the future. (In fact the Grandma revealing the HUGE secret is not the Grandma from his time line. That Grandma is lying dead in bed as they speak.) She wants him to try to time travel via a portal that his mom created in order to help save his family from their current crisis. But does Finn have enough faith? Perhaps even enough faith to save FAITH? Who is Faith? Faith is his twin sister who disappeared--believed drowned--when they were three. Her body was never found. What would a great, noble, oh-so-dangerous quest be without a best friend? Finn's best friend is Gabi.
My thoughts: I loved, loved, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this one. It was super-compelling and packed with action and intrigue. You should know that I tend to LOVE time travel stories. I do. I always have. I think my first exposure to time travel came via Star Trek and Star Trek the Next Generation. I have never really stopped being intrigued and fascinated by the concept of traveling to the past or the future.
I enjoyed the dual narrators. The second narrator--the one of the prologue--is super-spooky. Her voice is a haunting one. I wouldn't say it kept me reading--Finn's voice alone probably would have achieved the same thing--but it added a certain darkness or richness to the text overall.
“I don’t want to hear any ancient stories, Gran. I want to hear about now.” She studied him for a moment, her eyes narrowed. “Everything is now, dear boy. And make no mistake, things that happened before you were born have everything to do with who you are and what you do. So much of our lives are built on what happened before we even arrived. The past is never dead. It’s not even past. Faulkner said that.”
June 13, 2019
An extremely likeable protagonist, time travel, and a story full of surprises highlighting our most powerful truth: how we treat others can literally change the world. What more can you ask for in a book? Excellent middle grade read.
November 16, 2019
I loved this book that was a combo of quantum mechanics/time travel and magic. When I requested it, I was under the impression that it would be a middle school level book and therefore the plot would be fairly simplistic. But I found it to be very well written and crafted and I loved the main character as he slowly grew in understanding of his own role, not just in the world/town but also in his family. He was born a twin and always thought of himself as a "remainder" after his sister died when they were 3. This story had adventure, science fiction, fantasy and elements of secret societies plus a lot of love. I really enjoyed this book and hope that the author will write more books in the future.
Thanks to #NetGalley, #NicoleValentine, and #LernerPublishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to #NetGalley, #NicoleValentine, and #LernerPublishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 24, 2019
A beautifully written story that’s also a serious page-turner! I really loved Finn’s journey and my fingers are crossed for a second book and movie!
September 27, 2019
*Thank you to the publisher for a review copy of this. All opinions are my own.
“We lie to ourselves when necessary. Some of us are more convincing than others. My family has always been particularly good at it.” So begins Nicole Valentine’s new middle grade sci-fi/fantasy novel. The words are spoken by an unknown narrator who chimes in frequently throughout the book. This is a story about a by trying to understand his family, about relationships, and about the lies we tell.
Finn is a 12 year old boy who “is used to people in his family disappearing,” although at times he simply feels like they are leaving him. But when his mother seems to have abandoned them, everything breaks down. His father goes to search for her and Finn is sent to live with his grandmother. Finn gets frustrated with the fact that everyone seems to be keeping secrets from him so he goes snooping on his own. What he discovers confuses him, but when his grandmother decides that that is also the night to reveal the big family secret, Finn gets more than expected.
Finn is a very interesting character. He has a scientific mind and is obsessed with quantum physics. He loves his family, but is also carrying a great deal of guilt and pain from his twin sister’s death when they were three. He is basically a loner, except for his best friend Gabi. The other kids make fun of him for being different, his mother being gone is just icing on the cake.. His life hasn’t been easy, but he is utterly confounded when his grandmother tells him that his mother isn’t somewhere but rather some-when and that all of the women in his family are time travelers. It is a bit far-fetched, but Valentine handles the idea of time travel remarkably well.
It turns out that there is a lot more going on that simple time travel. Turns out that his mother is hiding from other time travelers and other enemies. There is a much bigger story about Finn’s entire life that has been kept secret from him. It’s one of those situations where every everyone in your family knows something but they aren’t telling you. This book becomes his quest to find out the truth, even if he has to suspend his belief in logic in order to do so.
This was a completely different read that I really enjoyed with a small homage to A Wrinkle in Time. There were unexpected twists and turns which kept the story constantly in motion. Finn struggles with the notion of being “worthy” to his family and feels much like a failure.
He had a lot of things to figure out and it was great that he had his friend Gabi by his side. For kids who enjoy science fiction and are okay with time travel, this is a great read.
“We lie to ourselves when necessary. Some of us are more convincing than others. My family has always been particularly good at it.” So begins Nicole Valentine’s new middle grade sci-fi/fantasy novel. The words are spoken by an unknown narrator who chimes in frequently throughout the book. This is a story about a by trying to understand his family, about relationships, and about the lies we tell.
Finn is a 12 year old boy who “is used to people in his family disappearing,” although at times he simply feels like they are leaving him. But when his mother seems to have abandoned them, everything breaks down. His father goes to search for her and Finn is sent to live with his grandmother. Finn gets frustrated with the fact that everyone seems to be keeping secrets from him so he goes snooping on his own. What he discovers confuses him, but when his grandmother decides that that is also the night to reveal the big family secret, Finn gets more than expected.
Finn is a very interesting character. He has a scientific mind and is obsessed with quantum physics. He loves his family, but is also carrying a great deal of guilt and pain from his twin sister’s death when they were three. He is basically a loner, except for his best friend Gabi. The other kids make fun of him for being different, his mother being gone is just icing on the cake.. His life hasn’t been easy, but he is utterly confounded when his grandmother tells him that his mother isn’t somewhere but rather some-when and that all of the women in his family are time travelers. It is a bit far-fetched, but Valentine handles the idea of time travel remarkably well.
It turns out that there is a lot more going on that simple time travel. Turns out that his mother is hiding from other time travelers and other enemies. There is a much bigger story about Finn’s entire life that has been kept secret from him. It’s one of those situations where every everyone in your family knows something but they aren’t telling you. This book becomes his quest to find out the truth, even if he has to suspend his belief in logic in order to do so.
This was a completely different read that I really enjoyed with a small homage to A Wrinkle in Time. There were unexpected twists and turns which kept the story constantly in motion. Finn struggles with the notion of being “worthy” to his family and feels much like a failure.
He had a lot of things to figure out and it was great that he had his friend Gabi by his side. For kids who enjoy science fiction and are okay with time travel, this is a great read.
January 13, 2020
Oh, I enjoyed the heck out of this book! A fast-paced MG fantasy/thriller about a boy who, after his mother disappears, discovers he comes from a long-line of time-travelers, and must step-up to his part of what becomes a dangerous adventure. Valentine's writing is stellar, the character's are deeply developed, and the science--both real and imagined--is riveting. A truly satisfying read on all counts!
January 15, 2020
I love this! To be honest, part may have been due to the fact that I too traveled in time, back to the magic of when I was a kid that read and reread A Wrinkle in Time. But also I like this book for itself, for the hurt, yet resilient boy Finn and his fierce friend Gabi. For all the possibilities, and for science and magic coexisting.
December 1, 2019
A wonderful story for middle grade readers and older, about magic and love and loss. Characters were wonderful, setting perfect for good fire-side read. If you have a young (or young at heart) reader you're shopping for this season, put this beautiful book on the list.
February 2, 2020
SUCH a fun read! I love time travel books and am always looking for more like them. My son and I really enjoyed this book. He was so disappointed when it was over and very much hopes there is a sequel! The pacing was perfect, the writing was wonderful, the characters were well developed, and it was just such a good book all around. This one gave us a lot to think about, too, and I liked it for that as well. So glad I found this gem for us to read!
November 30, 2019
A wonderful family story and a captivating mix of science and magic. Perfect for upper MG readers. I also love the clever double meaning of the title!
August 31, 2019
★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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Finn Firth is on the verge of turning 13, and is convinced his father will forget his birthday. Which is troubling to him, but really, it's the least of his troubles. When they were three, his twin sister drowned (and he's always felt this absence, and is sure everyone around him does, too). He's not that close with his father, and his mother left home a few months ago, with no warning and no one has heard from her since. Also, his best (only?) friend, Gabi, has been spending less time with him and more time with new friends—the kind that would bully him. He's also a huge science nerd, the kind of twelve-year-old who reads (and re-reads) Richard Feynman and Carl Sagan for entertainment. The fact that he's an outsider, that he's not like the other kids at school is what drives him (like so many) to science, to something he can make sense of and put himself/his trouble in perspective.
So imagine his surprise when his grandmother informs him that she's a time traveler, actually, all the women in his family have been and are. It's not just his family, there are people throughout the world capable of this. Some in his family are more powerful than others, most can only travel to the past—one could only travel to the past but during her lifetime—his grandmother and mother are among the few that can travel forward in time. His mother, he's told, didn't leave his father and him. Finn's dad has been reassuring him that "she just needs some time," and well, that seems to be the case after all. She's stuck somewhere, unable to come back—but she's created a way for Finn to come and get her (despite being a boy).
Time travel is impossible, Finn knows—and even if it weren't, the kind of travel his grandmother describes sounds more magical than scientific. He tells his grandmother this, in fact. But—I won't get into how, it should be read in context—he's given some pretty convincing proof.
Now there are those who don't think Finn should be doing anything regarding time travel, and that no one should be tracking down his mother. And they're seemingly willing to take some extreme measures to stop him. He and Gabi set out on an adventure to evade these others and get to his mother's portal. Finn's ill-prepared for what lies ahead, but he doesn't care. Between brains and sheer determination (and largely it's the latter), he's going to find his mom.
What he never stops to ask is: what else will he find?
This is a fun little read—Finn and Gabi are well-developed characters, his various family members are interestingly and distinctively drawn, the writing is crisp and brisk—once things get going, they stay going, and it's easy to get swept up in it The best is the mix of science and . . . however you end up describing the time travel. For a book directed toward the 9-14 set, the science (time travel, chaos theory, multi-world theory, etc.) is presented plainly and without condescension. That last point, in particular, resonated with me.
The heart of this book is found in two concepts—the power of individual choice, and the importance of kindness in spite of everything. Lessons good to be absorbed by the target audience, as well as the rest of us.
I really enjoyed this book and heartily recommend it. One thing, though, kept running through my mind as I read it. As much as I enjoyed A Time Traveler's Theory of Relativity, when I was 8-13, I would've loved it (probably when I was 14 and 15, too—I just wouldn't admit to liking a book written for younger people at that time). It's the kind of book that I would've been checking out of the library every two or three months. Get this for yourself and enjoy it, get this for your kid for them to obsess over.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Carolrhoda Books via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this opportunity.
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
Finn Firth is on the verge of turning 13, and is convinced his father will forget his birthday. Which is troubling to him, but really, it's the least of his troubles. When they were three, his twin sister drowned (and he's always felt this absence, and is sure everyone around him does, too). He's not that close with his father, and his mother left home a few months ago, with no warning and no one has heard from her since. Also, his best (only?) friend, Gabi, has been spending less time with him and more time with new friends—the kind that would bully him. He's also a huge science nerd, the kind of twelve-year-old who reads (and re-reads) Richard Feynman and Carl Sagan for entertainment. The fact that he's an outsider, that he's not like the other kids at school is what drives him (like so many) to science, to something he can make sense of and put himself/his trouble in perspective.
So imagine his surprise when his grandmother informs him that she's a time traveler, actually, all the women in his family have been and are. It's not just his family, there are people throughout the world capable of this. Some in his family are more powerful than others, most can only travel to the past—one could only travel to the past but during her lifetime—his grandmother and mother are among the few that can travel forward in time. His mother, he's told, didn't leave his father and him. Finn's dad has been reassuring him that "she just needs some time," and well, that seems to be the case after all. She's stuck somewhere, unable to come back—but she's created a way for Finn to come and get her (despite being a boy).
Time travel is impossible, Finn knows—and even if it weren't, the kind of travel his grandmother describes sounds more magical than scientific. He tells his grandmother this, in fact. But—I won't get into how, it should be read in context—he's given some pretty convincing proof.
Now there are those who don't think Finn should be doing anything regarding time travel, and that no one should be tracking down his mother. And they're seemingly willing to take some extreme measures to stop him. He and Gabi set out on an adventure to evade these others and get to his mother's portal. Finn's ill-prepared for what lies ahead, but he doesn't care. Between brains and sheer determination (and largely it's the latter), he's going to find his mom.
What he never stops to ask is: what else will he find?
This is a fun little read—Finn and Gabi are well-developed characters, his various family members are interestingly and distinctively drawn, the writing is crisp and brisk—once things get going, they stay going, and it's easy to get swept up in it The best is the mix of science and . . . however you end up describing the time travel. For a book directed toward the 9-14 set, the science (time travel, chaos theory, multi-world theory, etc.) is presented plainly and without condescension. That last point, in particular, resonated with me.
The heart of this book is found in two concepts—the power of individual choice, and the importance of kindness in spite of everything. Lessons good to be absorbed by the target audience, as well as the rest of us.
I really enjoyed this book and heartily recommend it. One thing, though, kept running through my mind as I read it. As much as I enjoyed A Time Traveler's Theory of Relativity, when I was 8-13, I would've loved it (probably when I was 14 and 15, too—I just wouldn't admit to liking a book written for younger people at that time). It's the kind of book that I would've been checking out of the library every two or three months. Get this for yourself and enjoy it, get this for your kid for them to obsess over.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Carolrhoda Books via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this opportunity.
September 25, 2019
Oh how I loved this book! By the end I could not put it down! Finn is such a lovable character, and it's such a warm feeling to watch his character grow and learn throughout. Highly recommend this for children and adults alike. Five stars.
August 12, 2019
My heart ached for Finn as he navigated the loss of important females in his life. And then my heart raced as I followed Finn and his friend Gabi on their adventure to try to obtain answers (trying really hard not to be spoilery here). I was eager to return to the story when I had to leave it and stayed up late to finish it. I loved the structure of the novel, the setting was evocative and the characters became close to my heart (my heart was apparently very affected by this book). This is a story about family - what we know, what we don't know and maybe what we wish we didn't know, it's about friendship, and finding the courage to take big risks. But most of all, it's about the power of love. I recommend to any middle grader who loves sci-fi adventure with a touch of magic and (of course) a lot of heart.
April 29, 2023
Книга, на жаль, не зачепила( я дуже люблю історії про подорожі в часі, але цій не вистачило глибини.
Через назву мені здавалось, що тема подорожей в книзі матиме якесь наукове підгрунтя або хоча б якусь логіку чи закономірність. Але насправді після прочитання виникає ще більше питань ніж на початку, дуже багато сюжетних "нестиковок" та нелогічностей, інколи не зрозуміла мотивація головних героїв та антагоністів. Та й загалом мені не дуже подобаються історії з відкритим фіналом.
Це точно не той варіант підліткової літератури, як наприклад книги Страуда чи Роулінг, які сподобаються усім членам сім'ї.
Але підліткам від 10 до 12 років може сподобатись.
Щодо оформлення українського видання, то воно просто неймовірне🥰 початок та кінець кожного розділу оформлений надзвичайно красивими ілюстраціями, які відповідають контексту)
Через назву мені здавалось, що тема подорожей в книзі матиме якесь наукове підгрунтя або хоча б якусь логіку чи закономірність. Але насправді після прочитання виникає ще більше питань ніж на початку, дуже багато сюжетних "нестиковок" та нелогічностей, інколи не зрозуміла мотивація головних героїв та антагоністів. Та й загалом мені не дуже подобаються історії з відкритим фіналом.
Це точно не той варіант підліткової літератури, як наприклад книги Страуда чи Роулінг, які сподобаються усім членам сім'ї.
Але підліткам від 10 до 12 років може сподобатись.
Щодо оформлення українського видання, то воно просто неймовірне🥰 початок та кінець кожного розділу оформлений надзвичайно красивими ілюстраціями, які відповідають контексту)
December 30, 2019
Received from NetGalley
Completed 8/21/19
352 page ebook
This book was soooooo cute. I love time travel books, so I was really interested in it when it came up in NetGally. I enjoy engaging Middle Grade books, which this was.
Finn was a great character, very likable from start. The time travel was interesting and unique, not a method seen a lot, which was nice. The book was predictable but maybe not so much for the intended audience. Still, great characters and a cute story made this a great book to read.
Setting = A
Plot = A
Conflict = B+
Characters = A
Theme = A
Completed 8/21/19
352 page ebook
This book was soooooo cute. I love time travel books, so I was really interested in it when it came up in NetGally. I enjoy engaging Middle Grade books, which this was.
Finn was a great character, very likable from start. The time travel was interesting and unique, not a method seen a lot, which was nice. The book was predictable but maybe not so much for the intended audience. Still, great characters and a cute story made this a great book to read.
Setting = A
Plot = A
Conflict = B+
Characters = A
Theme = A
December 30, 2019
"A Time Traveler's Theory of Relativity" can be read on two levels: it is an entertaining and suspenseful story about solving a mystery and friendship. It is also a way of considering loss and facing grief. Science, magic and love are at the heart of the book. I wish I had this when I was younger. I love it now at age 53, but I really NEEDED it at 9 after my mother died. I recommend it to anyone searching for healing AND anyone who enjoys a good sci-fi story. And buckle up...you have to keep on your toes for this ride! :)
November 26, 2019
A fun, mind-bending time-travel story about a boy who discovers his mother and extended family are time travelers. Reminiscent of A Wrinkle in Time, Finn is a twelve-year old who must try to save his mother, who is lost in time, and reverse or change the fate of his twin sister. In the course of doing so, he learns about love, friendship, loss, and fate.
December 30, 2019
Twelve-year-old Finn discovers the mind-boggling fact that his family members are time-travelers, while he deals with the loss of people close to him. His father is distant and his mother inexplicably absent. But his warm, wonderful grandmother and best friend Gabi help him navigate the wonders and terrors of time-travel.
Though I haven’t been a middle-schooler for decades, this book truly touched me. I felt I was with Finn every step of the way, sharing his sorrow, his harrowing adventures, and his close relationships with Gabi and his grandmother. The story takes place in Dorset, Vermont, and the real locale gives the story a sense of reality that makes the incredible parts all the more riveting and eerie. Sometimes the time-travel can be a bit mind-bending – but I think that’s as it should be.
The story’s ending gave me goose-bumps and brought tears to my eyes. And it made me very glad to learn that the author is working on a sequel.
I think people in middle-school and beyond who like science and science fiction, and those who loved the Wrinkle in Time series, would enjoy this book. It might be particularly meaningful to those who have lost loved ones, either through death or separation.
Though I haven’t been a middle-schooler for decades, this book truly touched me. I felt I was with Finn every step of the way, sharing his sorrow, his harrowing adventures, and his close relationships with Gabi and his grandmother. The story takes place in Dorset, Vermont, and the real locale gives the story a sense of reality that makes the incredible parts all the more riveting and eerie. Sometimes the time-travel can be a bit mind-bending – but I think that’s as it should be.
The story’s ending gave me goose-bumps and brought tears to my eyes. And it made me very glad to learn that the author is working on a sequel.
I think people in middle-school and beyond who like science and science fiction, and those who loved the Wrinkle in Time series, would enjoy this book. It might be particularly meaningful to those who have lost loved ones, either through death or separation.
February 25, 2020
Finn comes from a long line of history; history that has been lived over and over again, with some minor changes to the timeline. Finn’s family are Travelers, or at least the women in his family are Travelers. Each girl inherits the ability to travel through time, and each girl is a little bit better, a little more powerful than her mother who passed on the trait. Finn doesn’t know this, however. All he knows is that his twin sister is dead and he feels guilty about it. She died in a drowning accident when they were three years old. His sister is gone; his mother has left, and his dad drops him off at his Grandma’s without so much as a hug and a number to contact him.
Finn is about to turn 13, and his life is about to change as he lives one day that seems like 100 days. He’ll find out the truth he never knew, the secrets his town has kept, and the meaning of family.
Finn is about to turn 13, and his life is about to change as he lives one day that seems like 100 days. He’ll find out the truth he never knew, the secrets his town has kept, and the meaning of family.
February 22, 2020
A Time Traveler's Theory of Relativity", is an excellent book club book that works on many levels in addition to being a quick, suspenseful and entertaining read. I was captured by the action-packed plot, loved the real science combined with a bit of magic, the depth of the characters, the author's writing style and the themes of friendship, loss and science. I work in a school and was thrilled to see teachers can order a companion guide to include this book in their classrooms and curriculums. Looking forward to reading more from this talented author.
November 7, 2020
Of all the middle grade books I’ve read lately, I think this is one of the best.
Time travel, mystery, great writing... but it also has such a lot of heart. Finn is such an excellent protagonist, with his doubts and insecurities and his loyalty and love.
While I felt like the pacing sometimes got bogged down, the cool worldbuilding and the great character relationships more than made up for it.
Time travel, mystery, great writing... but it also has such a lot of heart. Finn is such an excellent protagonist, with his doubts and insecurities and his loyalty and love.
While I felt like the pacing sometimes got bogged down, the cool worldbuilding and the great character relationships more than made up for it.
October 9, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
I really enjoyed this book and I think kids will like it as well. It's one of those books that makes my brain hurt but in a good way. Reading about time travel does that to me. Great characters and underlying themes in this one.
I really enjoyed this book and I think kids will like it as well. It's one of those books that makes my brain hurt but in a good way. Reading about time travel does that to me. Great characters and underlying themes in this one.
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