Time Switch by Matt Chamings
Publication: Faber and Faber (May 6, 2004), Paperback, 278 pages / ISBN 0571221130
Genre: Sci-fi, YA/Children’s
Rating: 
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Read: August 2009
First sentence: A small group of mourners stood around the open grave.
In one sentence: Like a public access children’s show in book format (that’s a good thing).
I got Time Switch mostly because of the cover. It’s so pretty! And of course the story itself sounded terribly interesting– though I think it makes it sound like there are all sorts of ghosts running around, and there aren’t. But! It’s still a good read, and time travel is nearly always better than ghosts in my view, anyway.
Summary from the back of the book:
Strange things are happening behind Jed and Lizzie’s house. The ghostly figure of a boy appears out of thin air and vanishes again. Who is he? What does he want?
Desperately searching for answers, they make a shocking discovery. One that uncovers a devastating chain of events that began 121 years earlier– with a secret machine of extraordinary powers and a boy trapped in time.
Now, as the past and present threaten to collide, Jed and Lizzie are thrown into a deadly struggle that could change the world for ever…
So: no ghosts, but there is time travel and some awesome steampunkish science going on, and there are wonderful characters, an exciting plot, and a very satisfying ending.
Time Switch reminds me a lot of either that one Ghostwriter episode or an old BBC kids show, like Dark Season. It’s slightly creepy (that whole paradox thing), yet it’s also sweet with some ridiculous funny bits that lighten it up. I really liked the characters, especially Lizzie (strong female protagonist YAY) and the scientist who makes the time machine (I love me some scientists). There’s some exciting, tense, omg-what-will-happen-next moments that keep the book moving forward. And the ending is extremely happy, if somewhat mushy and emotional.
If you like stories about time travel, or about Victorians, or just want to have the feeling of watching a show from your childhood, try Time Switch.
Other reviews: Have you written a review of this book? Give me a link and I’ll link back in my own post!
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