The notion of youths being magically whisked away to a fantastical destination is a staple of classic middle-grade and young adult literature; think of the Pevensie children accessing Narnia via wardrobe, or Meg Murry “tessered” to various outré locales in A Wrinkle in Time. Intrepid Dorothy Gale is probably the most famous example. Once a girl has seen the Emerald City, what could keep her down on that dreary Kansas farm? A clutch of recent Indie titles features young people traveling not just through space, but time as well—it’s an effective conceit, allowing young readers to easily identify with the contemporary protagonists and authors to draw upon rich stores of history and lore to fill in their fictional worlds (and maybe even smuggle in some educational value).
In Culver’s Cove: The Trapiche Emerald by D.M. Glover, tween siblings Heath and Hadden find themselves zapped into the past after discovering a glowing gem in a cave. They land in Massachusetts in the year 1776, on the very day the American colonies gain independence from Great Britain. The brothers navigate non-flushing privies and butter churns, aided by their new friend, young John Adams (give that name a second look). Glover entertainingly juxtaposes the traveler’s bemusement over 18th-century customs with the natives’ horrified fascination regarding the future the brothers represent. John’s mother, for example, is poleaxed to learn of the two upcoming world wars. As our reviewer writes, “the author’s love of history is apparent.”
Carol Fisher Saller adds the irresistible element of mismatched twins to her time-travel tale; The Time-Jinx Twins follows newly reunited identical (on the outside, at least) siblings Ellie and Kat, who are transported, via a mysterious device built by their mother, from 2020 back to the groovy 1970s (now there’s a nifty way to avoid the pandemic). Athletic, outgoing Ellie and quiet, studious Kat must learn to depend on one another and combine their unique qualities and skills (Ellie’s a parkour whiz; Kat’s an ace researcher) to find a way back home. Our reviewer deems the yarn, which eschews “the clutter of time-travel logistics that might alienate the young target audience,” to be “an endearing and engaging middle-grade adventure.”
J.A. Enfield’s Time Alleys trilogy has been a consistent delight—the second volume, The Flickering Bridge, earned a Kirkus star. An Ambush of Years, the series’ inaugural entry, establishes the concept of “time alleys,” otherworldly conveyances that thrust people into the past. Contemporary 10-year-old Chicagoan Mick Conway runs into one during a family picnic and is deposited in 1853 London, where other time-displaced kids, under the aegis of the mysterious Forsyth Institute, show Mick the ropes and help him to adjust (the time alleys only provide one-way trips). Our reviewer praises Enfield’s “intriguing premise,” “relatable characters,” and “vivid descriptions.” The follow-ups, The Flickering Bridge and The Fires of Birth, continue Mick’s story as he learns more about the Institute, the time alleys, and his new 19th-century European home. Our reviewers note the novels’ “fantastical, grounded worldbuilding, presenting a historically accurate London populated with rich, diverse characters” and the way Enfield “boldly tackles themes of imperialism, colonialism, and racism.” The more things change…
Arthur Smith is an Indie editor.
