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Time Travelers #3
Prisoner of Time
Tod Lockwood has never wanted to be anyone's knight in shining armor. In fact, he wants to avoid having anything to do with girls, at least for the present. But that's before Devonny Stratton steps into his life out of the nineteenth century.
As for sixteen-year-old Devonny, she has no plans for marriage until her father arranges to wed to the contemptuous but well-connected Lord Winden. Devonny has only one hope. Someone must rescue her. Can Tod Lockwood be Time's answer to her prayers? Life never seems simple to Devonny, but do the solutions to her problems await her in the future? Or will she only become a prisoner of a different time?
As for sixteen-year-old Devonny, she has no plans for marriage until her father arranges to wed to the contemptuous but well-connected Lord Winden. Devonny has only one hope. Someone must rescue her. Can Tod Lockwood be Time's answer to her prayers? Life never seems simple to Devonny, but do the solutions to her problems await her in the future? Or will she only become a prisoner of a different time?
212 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 6, 1998
11 people are currently reading
953 people want to read
About the author
Caroline B. Cooney
129 books1,766 followersCaroline Cooney knew in sixth grade that she wanted to be a writer when "the best teacher I ever had in my life" made writing her main focus. "He used to rip off covers from The New Yorker and pass them around and make us write a short story on whichever cover we got. I started writing then and never stopped!"
When her children were young, Caroline started writing books for young people -- with remarkable results. She began to sell stories to Seventeen magazine and soon after began writing books. Suspense novels are her favorites to read and write. "In a suspense novel, you can count on action."
To keep her stories realistic, Caroline visits many schools outside of her area, learning more about teenagers all the time. She often organizes what she calls a "plotting game," in which students work together to create plots for stories. Caroline lives in Westbrook, Connecticut and when she's not writing she volunteers at a hospital, plays piano for the school musicals and daydreams!
- Scholastic.com
When her children were young, Caroline started writing books for young people -- with remarkable results. She began to sell stories to Seventeen magazine and soon after began writing books. Suspense novels are her favorites to read and write. "In a suspense novel, you can count on action."
To keep her stories realistic, Caroline visits many schools outside of her area, learning more about teenagers all the time. She often organizes what she calls a "plotting game," in which students work together to create plots for stories. Caroline lives in Westbrook, Connecticut and when she's not writing she volunteers at a hospital, plays piano for the school musicals and daydreams!
- Scholastic.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
July 27, 2016
Until running across one completely by accident a few weeks ago, I had completely forgotten these books existed. This is surprising since I was completely obsessed with them in middle school. I have always been a history buff so any tale where the heroine gets to travel back in time is right up my alley. I am no longer as smitten as I was back then (though middle school me is glaring over my shoulder demanding a 5 star review) but I still enjoyed this series.
This time around, I found myself a little disgusted with Annie and her passive, whiny nature. It feels as though she always needs someone else (or Time) to push her into action or make her decisions for her. She even openly admits wanting someone else to call the shots on several occasions. The other characters, however, completely make up for her wishy-washy nature. They step up to the plate and take control of their own destinies in a time when they should simply keep their mouths shut and do as they're told. I love it. And, by the end of the series, I was beginning to warm back up to Annie too.
All in all, I still enjoy these books!
This time around, I found myself a little disgusted with Annie and her passive, whiny nature. It feels as though she always needs someone else (or Time) to push her into action or make her decisions for her. She even openly admits wanting someone else to call the shots on several occasions. The other characters, however, completely make up for her wishy-washy nature. They step up to the plate and take control of their own destinies in a time when they should simply keep their mouths shut and do as they're told. I love it. And, by the end of the series, I was beginning to warm back up to Annie too.
All in all, I still enjoy these books!
June 20, 2008
Yes, a third book in the series! Sadly, this book was about Annie's brother, Todd, and Strat's sister, Devonny. I don't remember much about it because I was so disappointed that it wasn't about Annie ans Strat.
July 17, 2022
Sweet story that follows the two previous books. It’s a split story, and I vastly preferred one over another. Good, quick read. 3 stars
May 10, 2016
Review originally posted on Tsundokuholic.
Pre-Reread Thoughts
Ah, back to the Time Traveler’s Quartet. You may remember the first two installments of this Caroline B. Cooney series from my reviews of Both Sides of Time and Out of Time, the first two tales of superficial Annie Lockwood’s love for 1890’s rich boy Strat. If you’ve read my previous reviews you’ll know how much Annie sucks, which is good news for Prisoner of Time because ANNIE’S NOT IN IT. This time, the best character of the series thus far, Devonny Stratton, takes center stage. I only read this book once because Annie and Strat weren’t involved and I didn’t like the flirtation between Devonny and Annie’s brother (spoiler, oops) as much as I liked the batted eyes and fancy dress-ridden romance of Annie and Strat. What can I say, I was in the midst of puberty and the hormones made me have really bad taste.
So yes, I recall that this time around Devonny from the 1890’s catapults into the 1990’s instead of the other way around and meets Annie’s brother Tod and they crush on each other as she becomes accustomed to life in the 90’s. Obviously life in the 1990’s is a far cry from Devonny’s 1890’s existence and she’s in for a culture shock. That’s all I remember. Who knows, maybe I’ll like this more as an adult. I mean, I LOVED the other 3 books as a kid and now I’m like “these are crap”. When I was a kid I thought this book was crap so based on the trend this might get a 5 outta 5 this time around.
Childhood Rating: 1 out of 5 Where the Hell are Strat and Annies
Post-Reread Thoughts
Devonny Aurelia Victoria Stratton is living it up in 1898, sassy as ever and exchanging love letters between her best friend Flossie and the Italian workman Gianni who is installing a new Italian fountain at Stratton Manor. Devonny’s petty engagements are interrupted when she is forcefully engaged to Lord Hugh-David Winden, who Devonny not-so-affectionately refers to as “Winnie”. Devonny has just overheard Winnie recounting to his friends that he is after Devonny for her money and plans to keep on his relations with mistresses because Americans are so gauche. Devonny’s complaints fall on her father’s deaf ears because Mr. Stratton is thrilled that anyone is willing to marry Devonny, let alone an English nobleman. Mr. Stratton reminds Devonny that someone is blackmailing them with the threat of exposing Strat’s insanity, dashing Devonny’s hopes of making a good marriage.
Meanwhile in 1998, Tod Lockwood, Annie’s brother, is busy shilling “Stratton Point Spring Water”, a mix of tap water and water from the rusty pump at the ruins of Stratton Manor. Tod first encounters Devonny as he sips from the pump, while Devonny calls out to Strat for help across Time. Devonny tells Tod how she’s being forced to marry Winden, and Tod’s advice to Devonny is to just say no, and assures her he can’t save her. Devonny disappears, and both are rattled by their encounter. Devonny feels helpless, and Tod regrets not helping her.
Devonny and Flossie conspire to have Flossie sneak out and elope with Gianni during Devonny’s wedding after Flossie’s mother finds one of their love letters. Devonny is happy to help her friend and to see her estranged mother at her wedding, which she otherwise isn’t looking forward to. Arrangements are quickly made for a speedy wedding, and right before she walks down the aisle her father tells her that he found out who’s been blackmailing the family with threats to expose Strat’s insanity. Mr. Stratton asks Devonny if she agrees that the culprit should be locked away for the rest of his/her life and Devonny agrees, not realizing the blackmailer is her own impoverished mother. Distraught, Devonny desperately hopes for an escape from her situation only to see Tod appear in the church and brings her to 1998.
As word spreads that the bride is missing, her bridesmaids are upset that Winden will probably run back to England, meaning they won’t have a chance to snag him. They also finally notice the absence of Flossie, who, unaware that her parents discovered her plot and sent Gianni packing back to Italy, thinks she’s been stood up. Mr. Stratton declares that Devonny has been kidnapped. Winden, meanwhile, is genuinely concerned for Devonny’s well-being and suspicious about the kidnapping story. He sees that, much like his own parents, Devonny’s parents are more concerned about themselves than the fact that their daughter’s been kidnapped. This endears Winden to Devonny and he does everything in his power to find her.
In 1998, Devonny is hysterical as she implores Tod to take her to Strat who will help her get back to the 1890’s so she can save her mother. While Tod reminds her that he doesn’t know any Strat, he sees popular girls from school coming his way, obviously amused by Devonny’s enormous wedding gown. He manages to chase them away by telling them they’re being filmed, and quickly gets Devonny into a pair of jeans and t-shirt and stuffs her into his car. He whisks Devonny back to his house so he can e-mail Annie, who’s studying in Norway, for help, and then brings her to the soccer games he’s coaching. Devonny is distracted by the differences between her world and Tod’s. Women in the 1990’s are allowed to have jobs, everyone has cars and phones, women’s dress has become incredibly form-fitting….but fathers still prefer to coach their sons in sports instead of their daughters. For all the progress that’s been made since Devonny’s time, she sees that some things are still downright Victorian. Tod warms up to Devonny as she enthusiastically cheers on his team, and starts crushing on her. Back in the 1890’s, idiot Flossie is wandering the streets with vagrants and considering suicide over Gianni’s absence while Winden offers his mother’s diamond necklace in exchange for Devonny’s safe return. How will Devonny get back to her time? What will become of her once she gets back? Will Flossie and Gianni be reunited? Does anyone care? Read the book if you aren’t already bored to tears.
As I predicted, I enjoyed this book more as an adult than I did as a kid, and now I like it more than the previous two books in the series. Prisoner of Time has more substance than Both Sides of Time and Out of Time combined. Devonny and Tod don’t immediately make goo-goo eyes over each other like Annie and Strat did because they have more important things on their minds than wishing for a really hot significant other. Devonny is about to be married off to a guy who wants her money, and Tod is trying to save up money with different business ventures. Devonny’s time in 1998 allows her to see what women will one day be allowed to do, which adds fuel to her proto-feminist leanings. She also sees that even the future needs improvement, as a woman who just had a baby girl mentions that she and her husband were upset and are trying again for a boy, and in general fathers still give preferential treatment to sons. When she finally returns to 1898 she is emboldened by what her future could hold and now has the guts to go for it.
The antagonists in this book were a weak spot. Just as Walk and Mr. Whats-his-face were in Both Sides/Out of Time, the villains are once again Snidely Whiplashesque in their subtlety. You can almost hear them cackle as they say things like, “When I kill him, I shall do it swiftly so he feels no pain”. It was kind of lame that after creating protagonists with more personality than the previous two novels, Cooney couldn’t come up with more developed villains. They were so cartoonish it was hard to take them seriously.
Something I enjoyed about this book compared to the previous titles in the Time Travelers Quartet was the research Cooney obviously did about Victorian marriage arrangements. Fans of Downton Abbey are familiar with Lady Cora, an American who married English nobleman Lord Grantham, much as Devonny is betrothed to Lord Winden. From the late Victorian era into the Edwardian age it was common for English lords, desperate to keep their grand estates functioning while their pockets emptied due to social and economic changes, married the daughters of the American monopolistic captains of industry for their dowries. With their wives’ massive fortunes, nobles were able to continue their lives of leisure, being waited on hand and foot. This is exactly Winden’s purpose when he first gets engaged to Devonny. If you’re interested in this phenomenon I would highly recommend To Marry an English Lord by Gail MacColl and Carol McD. Wallace. Learning about the extravagantly petty lives of these wealthy denizens of Victorian America made me better appreciate Cooney’s research this time around, and I’m a little bit of a history nerd so it was cool to learn about the culture of High Society.
This installment of the Time Travelers Quartet, while still kind of cheesy, was a vast improvement on the previous novels. The characters had more substantial goals and wishes and went through more character development than Annie or Strat did in two books. It kind of stinks that Tod and Devonny’s stories weren’t explored in a future novel. Guess I’m gonna have to re-read For All Time to finish this quartet…
Adulthood Rating: 3 out of 5 blahs
Pre-Reread Thoughts
Ah, back to the Time Traveler’s Quartet. You may remember the first two installments of this Caroline B. Cooney series from my reviews of Both Sides of Time and Out of Time, the first two tales of superficial Annie Lockwood’s love for 1890’s rich boy Strat. If you’ve read my previous reviews you’ll know how much Annie sucks, which is good news for Prisoner of Time because ANNIE’S NOT IN IT. This time, the best character of the series thus far, Devonny Stratton, takes center stage. I only read this book once because Annie and Strat weren’t involved and I didn’t like the flirtation between Devonny and Annie’s brother (spoiler, oops) as much as I liked the batted eyes and fancy dress-ridden romance of Annie and Strat. What can I say, I was in the midst of puberty and the hormones made me have really bad taste.
So yes, I recall that this time around Devonny from the 1890’s catapults into the 1990’s instead of the other way around and meets Annie’s brother Tod and they crush on each other as she becomes accustomed to life in the 90’s. Obviously life in the 1990’s is a far cry from Devonny’s 1890’s existence and she’s in for a culture shock. That’s all I remember. Who knows, maybe I’ll like this more as an adult. I mean, I LOVED the other 3 books as a kid and now I’m like “these are crap”. When I was a kid I thought this book was crap so based on the trend this might get a 5 outta 5 this time around.
Childhood Rating: 1 out of 5 Where the Hell are Strat and Annies
Post-Reread Thoughts
Devonny Aurelia Victoria Stratton is living it up in 1898, sassy as ever and exchanging love letters between her best friend Flossie and the Italian workman Gianni who is installing a new Italian fountain at Stratton Manor. Devonny’s petty engagements are interrupted when she is forcefully engaged to Lord Hugh-David Winden, who Devonny not-so-affectionately refers to as “Winnie”. Devonny has just overheard Winnie recounting to his friends that he is after Devonny for her money and plans to keep on his relations with mistresses because Americans are so gauche. Devonny’s complaints fall on her father’s deaf ears because Mr. Stratton is thrilled that anyone is willing to marry Devonny, let alone an English nobleman. Mr. Stratton reminds Devonny that someone is blackmailing them with the threat of exposing Strat’s insanity, dashing Devonny’s hopes of making a good marriage.
Meanwhile in 1998, Tod Lockwood, Annie’s brother, is busy shilling “Stratton Point Spring Water”, a mix of tap water and water from the rusty pump at the ruins of Stratton Manor. Tod first encounters Devonny as he sips from the pump, while Devonny calls out to Strat for help across Time. Devonny tells Tod how she’s being forced to marry Winden, and Tod’s advice to Devonny is to just say no, and assures her he can’t save her. Devonny disappears, and both are rattled by their encounter. Devonny feels helpless, and Tod regrets not helping her.
Devonny and Flossie conspire to have Flossie sneak out and elope with Gianni during Devonny’s wedding after Flossie’s mother finds one of their love letters. Devonny is happy to help her friend and to see her estranged mother at her wedding, which she otherwise isn’t looking forward to. Arrangements are quickly made for a speedy wedding, and right before she walks down the aisle her father tells her that he found out who’s been blackmailing the family with threats to expose Strat’s insanity. Mr. Stratton asks Devonny if she agrees that the culprit should be locked away for the rest of his/her life and Devonny agrees, not realizing the blackmailer is her own impoverished mother. Distraught, Devonny desperately hopes for an escape from her situation only to see Tod appear in the church and brings her to 1998.
As word spreads that the bride is missing, her bridesmaids are upset that Winden will probably run back to England, meaning they won’t have a chance to snag him. They also finally notice the absence of Flossie, who, unaware that her parents discovered her plot and sent Gianni packing back to Italy, thinks she’s been stood up. Mr. Stratton declares that Devonny has been kidnapped. Winden, meanwhile, is genuinely concerned for Devonny’s well-being and suspicious about the kidnapping story. He sees that, much like his own parents, Devonny’s parents are more concerned about themselves than the fact that their daughter’s been kidnapped. This endears Winden to Devonny and he does everything in his power to find her.
In 1998, Devonny is hysterical as she implores Tod to take her to Strat who will help her get back to the 1890’s so she can save her mother. While Tod reminds her that he doesn’t know any Strat, he sees popular girls from school coming his way, obviously amused by Devonny’s enormous wedding gown. He manages to chase them away by telling them they’re being filmed, and quickly gets Devonny into a pair of jeans and t-shirt and stuffs her into his car. He whisks Devonny back to his house so he can e-mail Annie, who’s studying in Norway, for help, and then brings her to the soccer games he’s coaching. Devonny is distracted by the differences between her world and Tod’s. Women in the 1990’s are allowed to have jobs, everyone has cars and phones, women’s dress has become incredibly form-fitting….but fathers still prefer to coach their sons in sports instead of their daughters. For all the progress that’s been made since Devonny’s time, she sees that some things are still downright Victorian. Tod warms up to Devonny as she enthusiastically cheers on his team, and starts crushing on her. Back in the 1890’s, idiot Flossie is wandering the streets with vagrants and considering suicide over Gianni’s absence while Winden offers his mother’s diamond necklace in exchange for Devonny’s safe return. How will Devonny get back to her time? What will become of her once she gets back? Will Flossie and Gianni be reunited? Does anyone care? Read the book if you aren’t already bored to tears.
As I predicted, I enjoyed this book more as an adult than I did as a kid, and now I like it more than the previous two books in the series. Prisoner of Time has more substance than Both Sides of Time and Out of Time combined. Devonny and Tod don’t immediately make goo-goo eyes over each other like Annie and Strat did because they have more important things on their minds than wishing for a really hot significant other. Devonny is about to be married off to a guy who wants her money, and Tod is trying to save up money with different business ventures. Devonny’s time in 1998 allows her to see what women will one day be allowed to do, which adds fuel to her proto-feminist leanings. She also sees that even the future needs improvement, as a woman who just had a baby girl mentions that she and her husband were upset and are trying again for a boy, and in general fathers still give preferential treatment to sons. When she finally returns to 1898 she is emboldened by what her future could hold and now has the guts to go for it.
The antagonists in this book were a weak spot. Just as Walk and Mr. Whats-his-face were in Both Sides/Out of Time, the villains are once again Snidely Whiplashesque in their subtlety. You can almost hear them cackle as they say things like, “When I kill him, I shall do it swiftly so he feels no pain”. It was kind of lame that after creating protagonists with more personality than the previous two novels, Cooney couldn’t come up with more developed villains. They were so cartoonish it was hard to take them seriously.
Something I enjoyed about this book compared to the previous titles in the Time Travelers Quartet was the research Cooney obviously did about Victorian marriage arrangements. Fans of Downton Abbey are familiar with Lady Cora, an American who married English nobleman Lord Grantham, much as Devonny is betrothed to Lord Winden. From the late Victorian era into the Edwardian age it was common for English lords, desperate to keep their grand estates functioning while their pockets emptied due to social and economic changes, married the daughters of the American monopolistic captains of industry for their dowries. With their wives’ massive fortunes, nobles were able to continue their lives of leisure, being waited on hand and foot. This is exactly Winden’s purpose when he first gets engaged to Devonny. If you’re interested in this phenomenon I would highly recommend To Marry an English Lord by Gail MacColl and Carol McD. Wallace. Learning about the extravagantly petty lives of these wealthy denizens of Victorian America made me better appreciate Cooney’s research this time around, and I’m a little bit of a history nerd so it was cool to learn about the culture of High Society.
This installment of the Time Travelers Quartet, while still kind of cheesy, was a vast improvement on the previous novels. The characters had more substantial goals and wishes and went through more character development than Annie or Strat did in two books. It kind of stinks that Tod and Devonny’s stories weren’t explored in a future novel. Guess I’m gonna have to re-read For All Time to finish this quartet…
Adulthood Rating: 3 out of 5 blahs
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2024
At the beginning of this book I didn’t love it but eventually I was drawn to each character, hating them, loving them, and just wanting to see the outcome. Time travel took her away to show her how to become the woman she wanted to be and time brought her back to live in her time. Devonny as a 16 year old with an arranged marriage contract by her father to an older English man didn’t want to do so and she fled through time to present day and same place she grew up and nothing was the same.
I ended up liking it not 5 stars for me but it was good!
Favorite Quote:
“A lady cannot wait for a man to rescue her. A lady cannot be weak-minded. She cannot demand that somebody else do something! A lady must rescue herself.”
I ended up liking it not 5 stars for me but it was good!
Favorite Quote:
“A lady cannot wait for a man to rescue her. A lady cannot be weak-minded. She cannot demand that somebody else do something! A lady must rescue herself.”
October 15, 2020
Onvan : Prisoner of Time (Time Travelers, #3) - Nevisande : Caroline B. Cooney - ISBN : 044022019X - ISBN13 : 9780440220190 - Dar 212 Safhe - Saal e Chap : 1998
April 1, 2017
Still not half bad, especially because I'm a big fan of Devonny- she's an interest, contradictory character- but overall I think it suffered as compared to the first few in the series. I kept getting distracted from it.
March 23, 2009
Not a good as the first two.
It lacked depth, and seemed an unnecessary part of the series. I hope the 4th and final book is more like the others - making it a trilogy in my mind.
It lacked depth, and seemed an unnecessary part of the series. I hope the 4th and final book is more like the others - making it a trilogy in my mind.
May 6, 2025
Caroline B. Cooney's Prisoner of Time offers a compelling exploration of parallel lives separated by centuries, anchored by the captivating characters of Tod and Devonny. One of the book's significant strengths lies in the nuanced portrayal of these two individuals. Cooney deftly draws parallels between their experiences despite the vast differences in their time periods, highlighting universal themes of growth, responsibility, and the search for belonging. Tod's journey of self-discovery resonates deeply, mirrored by Devonny's own navigation of societal expectations and personal desires. The narrative truly shines in showcasing their individual places on the timeline of life, one perhaps on the cusp of adulthood and the other grappling with established societal roles.
Furthermore, the evolution of supporting characters like Lord Winden adds a rich layer to the story. His transformation is handled with subtlety and grace, providing a satisfying arc that complements the central narratives of Tod and Devonny. Cooney skillfully reveals the complexities of his personality, making his growth feel earned and impactful.
However, Prisoner of Time does have some shortcomings. A notable weakness is the minimal backstory provided for many of the characters. While Tod and Devonny are well-developed, other figures often feel somewhat one-dimensional, leaving the reader wanting a deeper understanding of their motivations and pasts. This lack of context occasionally hinders a full emotional investment in their roles within the story.
Additionally, the narrative doesn't offer a clear resolution to Tod's part of the story. Readers may find themselves wanting more closure regarding his ultimate fate and the long-term consequences of his experiences. Finally, the intriguing detail of Gianni's dedicated room in the library remains an unresolved mystery. This dangling thread, while potentially intended to pique curiosity, ultimately feels like a loose end that leaves the reader without a satisfying explanation.
In conclusion, Prisoner of Time is a thought-provoking novel buoyed by the strong characterizations of Tod and Devonny and the compelling growth of figures like Lord Winden. While the lack of extensive backstories and the unresolved plot points regarding Tod and Gianni are notable drawbacks, the book's exploration of parallel lives and its insightful character development make it a worthwhile read for those who enjoy historical fiction with a touch of mystery.
Furthermore, the evolution of supporting characters like Lord Winden adds a rich layer to the story. His transformation is handled with subtlety and grace, providing a satisfying arc that complements the central narratives of Tod and Devonny. Cooney skillfully reveals the complexities of his personality, making his growth feel earned and impactful.
However, Prisoner of Time does have some shortcomings. A notable weakness is the minimal backstory provided for many of the characters. While Tod and Devonny are well-developed, other figures often feel somewhat one-dimensional, leaving the reader wanting a deeper understanding of their motivations and pasts. This lack of context occasionally hinders a full emotional investment in their roles within the story.
Additionally, the narrative doesn't offer a clear resolution to Tod's part of the story. Readers may find themselves wanting more closure regarding his ultimate fate and the long-term consequences of his experiences. Finally, the intriguing detail of Gianni's dedicated room in the library remains an unresolved mystery. This dangling thread, while potentially intended to pique curiosity, ultimately feels like a loose end that leaves the reader without a satisfying explanation.
In conclusion, Prisoner of Time is a thought-provoking novel buoyed by the strong characterizations of Tod and Devonny and the compelling growth of figures like Lord Winden. While the lack of extensive backstories and the unresolved plot points regarding Tod and Gianni are notable drawbacks, the book's exploration of parallel lives and its insightful character development make it a worthwhile read for those who enjoy historical fiction with a touch of mystery.
February 24, 2024
Definitely the weakest of the series, it didn’t have the fire and spark and romance of the first two.
The story felt convoluted and messy with a lot of loose ends that never felt tied up. There was a character that had a library room named after them- but why?? We never got an answer.
I wish the stories were longer and took place over longer periods of time so the characters really got to spend time with each other, not just this book but the whole series. It feels so rushed, like the author was restricted to the page numbers and had to make everything fit. Like I said in my first two reviews, I wish these books were redone for adults, not YA, and allowed to be full, thick books.
I really missed Strat and Annie this book. I love Devonny, and I’m glad she got her own book, but I just wish it was better.
The story felt convoluted and messy with a lot of loose ends that never felt tied up. There was a character that had a library room named after them- but why?? We never got an answer.
I wish the stories were longer and took place over longer periods of time so the characters really got to spend time with each other, not just this book but the whole series. It feels so rushed, like the author was restricted to the page numbers and had to make everything fit. Like I said in my first two reviews, I wish these books were redone for adults, not YA, and allowed to be full, thick books.
I really missed Strat and Annie this book. I love Devonny, and I’m glad she got her own book, but I just wish it was better.
January 20, 2019
Devonny. I loved her while in middle school, but I hated her during this re-read. She’s possibly worse than Annie. Or not. Devonny tries to be a strong young woman, but is limited by being a female at the turn of the century. When she moves to Annie’s time and meets Annie’s brother, Tod, she has an awful time adjusting.
Tod is kind of a moron, but charming. He had a little more personality than Annie, Devonny, and maybe even Strat. Still didn’t like him much though. He did have growth as a character.
This book I barely remembered from my middle school days, so it was a surprise when I got to the ending.
Tod is kind of a moron, but charming. He had a little more personality than Annie, Devonny, and maybe even Strat. Still didn’t like him much though. He did have growth as a character.
This book I barely remembered from my middle school days, so it was a surprise when I got to the ending.
July 17, 2021
Oh wow!
I loved this one. This series really redeemed itself after the last novel which was so dark and depressing. Prisoner of Time was exciting! It was adventurous, there was drama, a run away bride, and all three main characters (Devonny, Tod, and Hugh-David) had major character arcs. It was a very satisfying ending to see all three of these charActers change for the better! Devonny became the head strong girl we always knew her to be, Tod fell in love (even though he had a bitter sweet ending) and Hugh-David grew a heart and learned empathize and to fall in love with Devonny.
I loved it!
I loved this one. This series really redeemed itself after the last novel which was so dark and depressing. Prisoner of Time was exciting! It was adventurous, there was drama, a run away bride, and all three main characters (Devonny, Tod, and Hugh-David) had major character arcs. It was a very satisfying ending to see all three of these charActers change for the better! Devonny became the head strong girl we always knew her to be, Tod fell in love (even though he had a bitter sweet ending) and Hugh-David grew a heart and learned empathize and to fall in love with Devonny.
I loved it!
March 15, 2025
This is not really a good book in the way good books are good. Tod and Devonny have no chemistry. In fact, reading it as an adult, the way Tod was introduced made me think he was gay. Devonny and Winston are even less compatible and reconciliation doesn't track. Having said that I do at the end of the day want a book where someone from 100 years ago comes into the present [of 1998] and gawks at a fax machine. The book might be a little trashy but it was entirely readable and enjoyable at times.
June 26, 2018
Caroline Cooney was one of my favorite authors when I was a teenager (and even in my early 20s!), but this series, which I just found on my shelves and read for the first time this year, was mediocre. At least this one was a quick read, and it filled the "young adult" slot on my library's summer reading club bingo card.
April 10, 2022
Okay, I’m going to be honest. This wasn’t great..😐.
Did we need a book on Devonny Stratton?
I found myself less invested in the romance as well. Annie and Strat are so much more believable, and Tod and Devonny were just okay. Will I read the 4th one? Probably..but this was kinda dull.
Disappointed but not surprised..3/5 and nothing more.
Did we need a book on Devonny Stratton?
I found myself less invested in the romance as well. Annie and Strat are so much more believable, and Tod and Devonny were just okay. Will I read the 4th one? Probably..but this was kinda dull.
Disappointed but not surprised..3/5 and nothing more.
September 30, 2023
I was a bit let down by this one for a few reasons. And foremost, nothing really happens in this book so the ending is just like, "okay..." 🤷♀️
And second, I wasn't expecting the shift in perspective. I thought I would be with Annie and Strat again and I wasn't, though I really liked exploring Devonny's character more since I really like her.
And second, I wasn't expecting the shift in perspective. I thought I would be with Annie and Strat again and I wasn't, though I really liked exploring Devonny's character more since I really like her.
May 3, 2020
This I definitely remember reading.
Todd truly was the most believable character out of everything.
Stratton Sr is still a horrible person.
I am still happy that in the end Devonny was able to stand up on her terms and right some wrongs.
Todd truly was the most believable character out of everything.
Stratton Sr is still a horrible person.
I am still happy that in the end Devonny was able to stand up on her terms and right some wrongs.
May 16, 2018
If time traveling love stories are your thing, you might like this book.
July 24, 2018
Historical time travel these books are a fun YA read. Annie and Strat will have you fighting for their love till the end of time.
January 11, 2020
Definitely not the winner of the series, but I’m going to read the last book anyway. I came this far
May 10, 2022
It was the storyline that I didn't know I needed in this series until I read it! A great addition to the series.
October 10, 2024
so amazing! so fabulous and perfect!!!!!
February 10, 2023
The series is so random that I wonder if the author wrote ideas onto paper, put them in a hat, and pulled them out to decide what each chapter was going to focus around.
September 18, 2015
This book is more a companion to Cooney's Time Travelers series than a proper sequel. Our protagonists in this novel are Annie's brother Tod and Strat's sister Devonny. I think that in comparison to the first two books in this series, I like this book better as an adult than I did as a kid. I was obsessed with Annie and Strat's romance as a kid, but as an adult I find myself more appreciative of the relationship between Tod and Devonny. They were certainly a relief from all the over-the-top Strat and Annie angst.
Todd can come off as irritating, brusque to the point of rudeness, and self-centered, his foremost interest being to make a quick buck the easiest way he can. That being said, however, I had no problem with Tod - he's a teenage boy after all, and they are infamous for being difficult to deal with. I also appreciated how down-to-earth his is, as compared with his flighty sister. Because of this, I think this book is also the most humorous of the series.
Devonny is my favorite character of the series, so I loved that she got to be at the center of this story. She's much more independent-minded and self-sufficient than Annie, while still being a bit of a dreamer. Her struggle as a woman trying to escape the confines of upper-class Victorian life is much more real and important than Annie's struggle to find the perfect man. I enjoyed watching her grow and gain confidence as the story progressed.
I had two main complaints with this book. The first was the lack of time spent with both Tod and Devonny in the 20th century, the most fun part of the book to imagine. My most vivid memories of this book as a kid are from the parts where Devonny is learning about and adapting to life in the future. I wish Cooney had focused more on Devonny's adventures in the 20th century and less on the events leading up to that point.
My second complaint with this book was the puzzling character development of Devonny's English fiance. He started out as an uncaring, arrogant, holier-than-thou gold-digger and somehow evolved into
Despite feeling a bit gipped on the time travel and the ending, I did rather enjoy reading this book a second time. It's certainly worthy of the fond memories I have of it from my childhood.
Todd can come off as irritating, brusque to the point of rudeness, and self-centered, his foremost interest being to make a quick buck the easiest way he can. That being said, however, I had no problem with Tod - he's a teenage boy after all, and they are infamous for being difficult to deal with. I also appreciated how down-to-earth his is, as compared with his flighty sister. Because of this, I think this book is also the most humorous of the series.
Devonny is my favorite character of the series, so I loved that she got to be at the center of this story. She's much more independent-minded and self-sufficient than Annie, while still being a bit of a dreamer. Her struggle as a woman trying to escape the confines of upper-class Victorian life is much more real and important than Annie's struggle to find the perfect man. I enjoyed watching her grow and gain confidence as the story progressed.
I had two main complaints with this book. The first was the lack of time spent with both Tod and Devonny in the 20th century, the most fun part of the book to imagine. My most vivid memories of this book as a kid are from the parts where Devonny is learning about and adapting to life in the future. I wish Cooney had focused more on Devonny's adventures in the 20th century and less on the events leading up to that point.
My second complaint with this book was the puzzling character development of Devonny's English fiance. He started out as an uncaring, arrogant, holier-than-thou gold-digger and somehow evolved into
Despite feeling a bit gipped on the time travel and the ending, I did rather enjoy reading this book a second time. It's certainly worthy of the fond memories I have of it from my childhood.
July 19, 2024
Book 3, in which for the first time Annie doesn't fall back in time...Devonny goes forward. She's desperate to escape a marriage she doesn't want to a man she doesn't like—let alone love—but the 1990s are not what she expects: "I'd stay in one of your guest rooms," pleaded Devonny. "One of your extra maids could wait on me. You wouldn't even have to seat me at your dining table. The footman could serve me in my room."*
...or maybe the real world is just not Devonny expects, as a girl who has grown up in immense privilege and never stepped outside it.
My favourite thing about the book remains the way that Devonny, even as a heroine, remains...well, a product of her upbringing:
"Perfect," enthused Mrs. Lockwood. "Now, I take the seven-oh-two train, so I will set the alarm for five-thirty."
In the morning? Yes, servants and cooks and tenders of heating systems got up at such an hour, but people didn't! "That will be fine," said Devonny, uttering one of her hugest lies.*
Neither the book nor the series even tries to get into things like racism, which is probably just as well (I cannot imagine that Devonny would come off well), but I appreciate that there are realistic limits to just how far Devonny can grow in a short period of time.
As I noted with book 2, the obsession with Thin and disgust for fatness is strong here. I'll spare you the examples, but there's a fair amount of lingering on tiny waists (for good characters) and reminders of how gross fatness is (for bad characters). This is not a problem that ended in the 90s (1890s or 1990s), but I don't love how glaring it is to my 2020s eye.
Despite that, I've been trying to decide which of the books of the series is my favourite, and I'm just coming up...stumped. Might not recommend them today, but the nostalgia factor is strong.
*I'd include page numbers, but they're useless in the library ebook I read.
...or maybe the real world is just not Devonny expects, as a girl who has grown up in immense privilege and never stepped outside it.
My favourite thing about the book remains the way that Devonny, even as a heroine, remains...well, a product of her upbringing:
"Perfect," enthused Mrs. Lockwood. "Now, I take the seven-oh-two train, so I will set the alarm for five-thirty."
In the morning? Yes, servants and cooks and tenders of heating systems got up at such an hour, but people didn't! "That will be fine," said Devonny, uttering one of her hugest lies.*
Neither the book nor the series even tries to get into things like racism, which is probably just as well (I cannot imagine that Devonny would come off well), but I appreciate that there are realistic limits to just how far Devonny can grow in a short period of time.
As I noted with book 2, the obsession with Thin and disgust for fatness is strong here. I'll spare you the examples, but there's a fair amount of lingering on tiny waists (for good characters) and reminders of how gross fatness is (for bad characters). This is not a problem that ended in the 90s (1890s or 1990s), but I don't love how glaring it is to my 2020s eye.
Despite that, I've been trying to decide which of the books of the series is my favourite, and I'm just coming up...stumped. Might not recommend them today, but the nostalgia factor is strong.
*I'd include page numbers, but they're useless in the library ebook I read.
September 21, 2012
I remembered reading this author as a teenager, so when I chanced upon it and another one at a yard sale, I said what the hey. The book was the third in a series but not hard to pick up as most of the background was explained in brief early in the story. The story itself was well written and not bad for a YA book. There were moments I felt true passion but not for the characters. A portion of the story took place in the past before women's rights. This book had the girl from the last book come forward to modern times, instead of a modern girl going back to olden times. It made me feel sad for things that had been lost, like manners, chivalry, and social graces. The two stories and I'm sure the third that I am missing, have sown our whole society tends to extremes rather then staying in the middle of the ground. That doesn't bode well for us as a whole. Otherwise, it is a cute story. Good to read if you have an hour or two, depending on how you read.
September 6, 2013
This was okay compared to the first two books in the Time Travel series by Cooney. I like it, but it doesn't have the same level of suspense. I don't understand what she was doing with Tod and Devonny, and I wish that she had kept them in their own Times and made someone else travel, like Flossie and Gianni. It really didn't make sense the way she did it. I like the concept and the characters, and it was nice to see a resolution in the story lines of a few major characters from the first two books, but this one was definitely missing something for me.
If you like the first two books, and you're interested enough, I would read this, but if you skipped it, you wouldn't be missing much. As always, one of the more interesting aspects of the book was the difference between American culture in 1899 and in 1999. That (skilfully weaving between the two Times, and in this book, making a 19th-century character note the differences between her Time and 1999) Cooney does extremely well.
If you like the first two books, and you're interested enough, I would read this, but if you skipped it, you wouldn't be missing much. As always, one of the more interesting aspects of the book was the difference between American culture in 1899 and in 1999. That (skilfully weaving between the two Times, and in this book, making a 19th-century character note the differences between her Time and 1999) Cooney does extremely well.
October 15, 2010
I'm torn between givng this book 3 or 4 stars so I'm rating it as a 3.5. It was hard to follow at first since this is the first book I read of this series, so I was like who the heck is florrie and Devoney (what kind of name for a girl is that in 1898?) So at first I was like big mistake why did I ever buy this book (It was a quarter, hardcovered, and looked interesting so I bought it.) The characters were the main problem with as you never really got to know anyone that well before things started happening and they were pretty shallow (Plus Devonney really got on my nerves the first half of the book). I did however like the ending and how the British guy changed to be a nice guy. So I don't know this book was ok, not great or wonderful, so if you like a confusing story line, fairly annoying lacking characters, and a good ending read this book.
July 4, 2013
See what happens? You start reading books from your childhood, then realize there are more in the series. Digging in with gusto, though I'm immediately disappointed by how even the most independent women (Devonny, par example), are reduced to simpering messes that get on their knees to beg strange men to save them. Also said strange man (in this case, Tod Lockwood, Annie's idiot brother) is so uninteresting as to be thoroughly irritating [to me].
I appreciate that Devonny learns (in the end) that she can and must save herself. No white knight bullshit for her. At the same time, it's not the tone that's set in the rest of the book, so overall I was a bit disappointed. Then remembered I'm reading 90s young adult and shouldn't have unrealistic expectations.
I appreciate that Devonny learns (in the end) that she can and must save herself. No white knight bullshit for her. At the same time, it's not the tone that's set in the rest of the book, so overall I was a bit disappointed. Then remembered I'm reading 90s young adult and shouldn't have unrealistic expectations.
March 8, 2016
This is the only book of Caroline B. Cooney's that I've read so far. I would like to read more in the future because this book was so good. Prisoner of Time takes you back to when women were not equal to men. Devonny tells the reader that she wants to be a self made woman, much like her father is a self made man.
When I read this book I feel like I'm there with the characters. I feel like I've developed relationships with Devonny, Tod, Lord Winden, and all the others.
I recommend this book to people who like history, and people who like romance novels. I was sucked into this book very easily and I think anyone can.
When I read this book I feel like I'm there with the characters. I feel like I've developed relationships with Devonny, Tod, Lord Winden, and all the others.
I recommend this book to people who like history, and people who like romance novels. I was sucked into this book very easily and I think anyone can.
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