A Question of Time

by Dina Anastasio

In this contemporary ghost story, Syd Stowe, upset by her family's move from New York to Minnesota, discovers a mysterious link between a girl and four beautifully made dolls

Paperback

First published June 3, 1985

About the author

Dina Anastasio grew up and lives in New York City. She lived in West Cork, Ireland, for many years. She is a freelance writer and past editor of Sesame Street Magazine (four years). She is a mother of two with three grandchildren.

Reviews

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

First sentence: Syd opened her eyes and glanced out the window.

Premise/plot: Syd Stowe moves with her family from New York City to a small town in Minnesota. Her great-grandfather, Jake Stowe, moved from that same town to New York when he was just eighteen. That would have been circa 1900. At first she's so upset that she doesn't want to leave the house and make friends. But after discovering a toy shop with homemade wooden dolls, she becomes fascinated with the history of the town. In particular how the dolls connect to the history of the town. The shop owner says that the dolls' appearance is based on real life people.

Soon after Syd meets a girl around her own age that looks just like one of the dolls. Both of them carry a bag of marbles. Weird. The two start hanging out together. Can Laura help her figure out who the dolls are supposed to be? Can Laura help her discover the identity of their maker?

My thoughts: A Question of Time is a weird mystery. Syd, our heroine, is drawn into a mystery in the past. It's a mystery that leads her straight back to her own family. It's a book that in some ways leaves more questions for readers than it answers. I haven't decided if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

Would I have enjoyed reading A Question of Time as a kid? Probably not. I would describe this one as bittersweet at best. I did not do bittersweet as a kid. If it didn't end happy, I was MAD.

[Belita Blakeney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my favorite book as a child! I love the mystery!

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I was probably ten or eleven, this was my favorite book. I must have read it least seven times. I started wondering why I liked it so much back then, and I can sort of see why. It deals with a mystery--I like mysteries. And it deals with family history, which has always fascinated me too.

After reading it again, my "old" eyes still enjoyed it for the most part, but I was a little critical about how it was written (I wanted more details), what might have actually happened to her ancestors and just the choices Syd made. I'm glad I read it again though. My eleven-year-old self came out just a little bit today.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I re-read this last night and really enjoyed it. I want to release it but I think she needs another few months of maturity.

**** More details than you might want if you're about to read it but not full-on spoilers ****

At one point they talk about a murder that happened at a house (no firm details because it later turns out that the person wasn't murdered). And then it talks about a family that died in a boating accident.

I want to make sure she can really enjoy this when she does read it :-)

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick and very satisfying read. Nothing monumental really happens - but it a very sweet story about a little girl getting used to a new town where her family has some rather old history.

[Charlotte · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was ok.

[Dominga Quinones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was one of my favorite books as a kid. revisited it today and still really great. moves along really quickly yet somehow manages to not feel rushed.