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Time Problems
Rachel is dreading middle school. She’s heard the older kids are mean, and the schoolwork harder. She thinks an endless summer would solve her problems. Inspired by her stuffed animals, Rachel draws characters to make her dream come true: The Timeduck, a wizard who has power to control time, and Attack Pig, a bodyguard to protect her. Rachel has no idea she is drawing with a magic pen. Before she knows it, the drawings come to life!
As the Timeduck works his magic, Rachel’s problems multiply. She finds herself contending with repeating days, pastry-eating hedgehogs, and cracks in time. The Timeduck is consumed with fulfilling his mission regardless of who it hurts. With the help of her best friend, dramatic theater kid Cooper, and her noble bodyguard Attack Pig, Rachel must outwit the Timeduck before irreparable harm is done to time itself!
As the Timeduck works his magic, Rachel’s problems multiply. She finds herself contending with repeating days, pastry-eating hedgehogs, and cracks in time. The Timeduck is consumed with fulfilling his mission regardless of who it hurts. With the help of her best friend, dramatic theater kid Cooper, and her noble bodyguard Attack Pig, Rachel must outwit the Timeduck before irreparable harm is done to time itself!
196 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 18, 2022
1 person is currently reading
1724 people want to read
About the author
Jason R. Lady
4 books55 followersJason is an army brat who grew up moving around a total of seven times on military bases from Germany to Fort Knox, Kentucky. At each new school, Jason would make friends by starring his classmates in his own superhero stories. In his free time, Jason can be found listening to 1980’s music, working on visiting all the MLB baseball stadiums, and following the Cleveland Guardians. He is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. He lives with his wife in Cleveland, Ohio. Jason's books have been accepted to the Ohioana Library Association Book Festival, the Kentucky Book Festival, and the Heartland Book Festival. His second novel Super Problems was a Maxy Awards finalist and is certified IndieReader Approved.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 1, 2022
I read this to my son (a chapter a night) and we really enjoyed it. The story is fun and full of adventure. I am an adult but I did feel like it was perfect for middle grade readers and beyond. Even I learned a few new words!
The characters are really interesting and I enjoy how each book in the series follows a familiar theme but includes a new cast that are just as relatable and lovable.
A great read for any kid!
The characters are really interesting and I enjoy how each book in the series follows a familiar theme but includes a new cast that are just as relatable and lovable.
A great read for any kid!
July 7, 2023
Thank you to my partner, Suzy Approved Book Tours, and the author. I appreciate the gifted paperback, and I am leaving this review voluntarily!
A fun series for elementary and middle grades! I plan to read the other two books in the series and suggest that our school library get copies!
1. 𝑨 𝑵𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓-𝑬𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓 - I mean, honestly, sign me right on up! Hand me the magic pen cause I’m all about this in my life….if it didn’t affect so much more in the world!
2. 𝑼𝒏𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝑳𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒔 - Yikes! While a never-ending summer sounds spectacular, I think I could do without the unexpected visitors!
3. 𝑩𝒊𝒈 𝑰𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 - When Rachel begins to realize the big picture with what she has done, it really opens her eyes to the catastrophic possibilities in everyone else’s lives.
4. 𝑹𝒐𝒈𝒖𝒆 - What happens when Timeduck decides to go rogue? Just as Rachel comes to terms with her decision, they have to fend off Timeduck and his new efforts! What a twist this brings, too!
5. 𝑳𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑶𝒘𝒏 𝑳𝒊𝒇𝒆 - I love the moral of this story for middle grade kids! What an adventure everyone gets to go on while reading this book and then to come out the other side with a great motto to live by!
A fun series for elementary and middle grades! I plan to read the other two books in the series and suggest that our school library get copies!
1. 𝑨 𝑵𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓-𝑬𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓 - I mean, honestly, sign me right on up! Hand me the magic pen cause I’m all about this in my life….if it didn’t affect so much more in the world!
2. 𝑼𝒏𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝑳𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒔 - Yikes! While a never-ending summer sounds spectacular, I think I could do without the unexpected visitors!
3. 𝑩𝒊𝒈 𝑰𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 - When Rachel begins to realize the big picture with what she has done, it really opens her eyes to the catastrophic possibilities in everyone else’s lives.
4. 𝑹𝒐𝒈𝒖𝒆 - What happens when Timeduck decides to go rogue? Just as Rachel comes to terms with her decision, they have to fend off Timeduck and his new efforts! What a twist this brings, too!
5. 𝑳𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑶𝒘𝒏 𝑳𝒊𝒇𝒆 - I love the moral of this story for middle grade kids! What an adventure everyone gets to go on while reading this book and then to come out the other side with a great motto to live by!
November 9, 2022
Overall Rating = 4.5
Storyline & Concept = 4.5
Writing & Delivery = 4
Editorial = 5
Taking place during the summertime, best friends Rachel and Cooper were dreading going to middle school based on terrifying rumors they heard. They wished their summer would never end. When a crow brought a mysterious pen to the window, Rachel soon discovered its magical powers. She quickly learned the lesson ‘be careful what you wish for’ when problems began to manifest themselves. In this easy-to-read novel, Jason Lady amusingly portrays the concept of time through the narrative of an imaginative preteen.
Time Problems: A Magic Pen Adventure is a humorous novel for middle school readers brought to life with eccentric characters. Using her pen, Rachel found herself equipped with an attack pig for a bodyguard, and a magic duck with two hedgehogs in tow. As the story unfolded, surprising discoveries about others were revealed to her. The author included a handful of valuable learning lessons for the reader through the challenges that followed for the protagonists. Rachel and Cooper’s fears about transitioning to middle school make them relatable to a wide audience. Their relatability, friendships, and an intriguing ending to the novel leave the reader curious about what comes next for the characters of Time Problems.
Sublime line: “Eccentric characters, wit, and magic make Time Problems a must-read for middle schoolers.”
Storyline & Concept = 4.5
Writing & Delivery = 4
Editorial = 5
Taking place during the summertime, best friends Rachel and Cooper were dreading going to middle school based on terrifying rumors they heard. They wished their summer would never end. When a crow brought a mysterious pen to the window, Rachel soon discovered its magical powers. She quickly learned the lesson ‘be careful what you wish for’ when problems began to manifest themselves. In this easy-to-read novel, Jason Lady amusingly portrays the concept of time through the narrative of an imaginative preteen.
Time Problems: A Magic Pen Adventure is a humorous novel for middle school readers brought to life with eccentric characters. Using her pen, Rachel found herself equipped with an attack pig for a bodyguard, and a magic duck with two hedgehogs in tow. As the story unfolded, surprising discoveries about others were revealed to her. The author included a handful of valuable learning lessons for the reader through the challenges that followed for the protagonists. Rachel and Cooper’s fears about transitioning to middle school make them relatable to a wide audience. Their relatability, friendships, and an intriguing ending to the novel leave the reader curious about what comes next for the characters of Time Problems.
Sublime line: “Eccentric characters, wit, and magic make Time Problems a must-read for middle schoolers.”
June 22, 2023
My boys and I LOVED this action-packed, fantasy adventure book by Jason R Lady.
We devoured this book together reading a few chapters each night at bedtime.
Rachel was such a fun character and of course we thoroughly enjoyed Attack Pig and Timeduck. My boys love to draw so they were beyond excited that these characters came to life after Rachel drew them with her magic pen.
Jason R Lady’s writing is creative and humorous. The Magic Pen Adventure series is perfect for elementary and middle schoolers.
Now we’re off to read the other two books in this wonderful series!
We devoured this book together reading a few chapters each night at bedtime.
Rachel was such a fun character and of course we thoroughly enjoyed Attack Pig and Timeduck. My boys love to draw so they were beyond excited that these characters came to life after Rachel drew them with her magic pen.
Jason R Lady’s writing is creative and humorous. The Magic Pen Adventure series is perfect for elementary and middle schoolers.
Now we’re off to read the other two books in this wonderful series!
July 12, 2023
My daughter was so relieved to find that Time Problems is a series and we could continue our time with the magic pen! And I was so relieved to find a chapter book that is equally enjoyable for the adult reader and the child listener. We read a chapter a night and honestly, it was hard to put down each evening. This book was fast paced, full of adventure and we both found ourselves giggling throughout the story!
For parents who love to read but want a story that will appeal to them as well, check out Time Problems! We can’t wait to check out Monster Problems and Super Problems next!
For parents who love to read but want a story that will appeal to them as well, check out Time Problems! We can’t wait to check out Monster Problems and Super Problems next!
July 31, 2023
This is such a fun exciting adventure book for intermediate and middle graders. I loved the use of art and imagination as a way to cope with age appropriate fears. There's a lot of humor and action in the chapters to keep young readers focused and enjoying the story while also exploring the theme of global awareness. It would be a great way to continue reading with your child and promote interesting and insightful conversations. There are two other magic pen books to check out as well.
I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 17, 2023
If you're looking for a super entertaining mid grade novel that will have you and your kids chuckling, look no further!
Time Problems starts out with a crow bringing a mysterious pen to Rachel's window. Rachel soon finds out that the pen has magic powers and she should really learn to be careful what she wishes for. There are valuable life lessons to be learned through this book and an attack pig to make kids laugh while they learn their lessons. Seriously, it's a great read!
Time Problems starts out with a crow bringing a mysterious pen to Rachel's window. Rachel soon finds out that the pen has magic powers and she should really learn to be careful what she wishes for. There are valuable life lessons to be learned through this book and an attack pig to make kids laugh while they learn their lessons. Seriously, it's a great read!
August 15, 2023
𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘶𝘯!
What a delightful story, I enjoyed this story since the very beginning; I had so much fun, it was full of magic and adventure. A great read for middle graders and adults. I loved it.
Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours for this tour invite.
𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝘀 by Jason R Lady- Author released August 18, 2022.
https://www.instagram.com/booksandcof...
What a delightful story, I enjoyed this story since the very beginning; I had so much fun, it was full of magic and adventure. A great read for middle graders and adults. I loved it.
Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours for this tour invite.
𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝘀 by Jason R Lady- Author released August 18, 2022.
https://www.instagram.com/booksandcof...
November 26, 2023
My daughter and I have enjoyed the whole Magic Pen Adventure Series, but Time Problems is my favorite. I love the theatre camp plot line, and the secondary characters (especially the hedgehogs!) are so much fun. These books are funny and sweet and totally relatable for late elementary/middle schoolers.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews