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herringboneshoeshine's review against another edition
I remember it being boring as a kid, and I still find it pretty boring now.
katdfleming's review against another edition
5.0
Terrific first book in a trilogy. Really thought-provoking and fun. Super page turner. I'm going to the read the sequel soon. I'm anxious to find out what happens next. :)
mysimas's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Really enjoyed the author’s attention to the small details of everyday life — that there were pests in the 18th century cuisine (in the cheese, flour), or that a character drank so much water it sloshed around in their tummy… Also really liked the humour, like the whole scene with the parson and the bandits, or the creativity linked to Peter and Kate’s blurring.
Still, though, it’s a children’s book. The 18th century world is depicted as a dark, dangerous place, but only through the experiences of the side characters. The protagonists Kate and Peter, while inconvenienced by their plight, are always lucky to encounter kind and open-minded people… No one ever accuses them of witchcraft, or punishes them for unusual behaviour. There’s nothing wrong with that, per se, but considering what happens to most everyone else, they seem encased in a protective bubble. Kate keeps complaining about sexism, but the worst thing she encounters are restrictive dresses…. No one actually tries to stop her from doing anything.
Still, I mostly liked the book, until the ending, which I thought was a bit weird. Not sure if I’ll be picking up the sequel.
Also,the Tar Man and Gideon are 100% brothers. Calling it!!
Still, though, it’s a children’s book. The 18th century world is depicted as a dark, dangerous place, but only through the experiences of the side characters. The protagonists Kate and Peter, while inconvenienced by their plight, are always lucky to encounter kind and open-minded people… No one ever accuses them of witchcraft, or punishes them for unusual behaviour. There’s nothing wrong with that, per se, but considering what happens to most everyone else, they seem encased in a protective bubble. Kate keeps complaining about sexism, but the worst thing she encounters are restrictive dresses…. No one actually tries to stop her from doing anything.
Still, I mostly liked the book, until the ending, which I thought was a bit weird. Not sure if I’ll be picking up the sequel.
Also,
verydazedragon's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
For whatever reason, I had a really hard time getting into this book. They did handle time travel differently than any other time travel book I have read. For one thing, why did they keep telling people they were time travelers? Isn’t that the first rule of time? That no one can know? The villains were all cartoonishly bad, that’s another complaint I have. I also thought it was a stretch for Kate to call Peter dumb for not knowing things like who the first man right a dictionary was, or the identity of Erasmus Darwin. And the way they traveled back in time was really iffy and glossed over.
libbytx's review
3.0
amazing story. I don't usually favor time travel or historical fiction, but these together were marvelous. I was ducked into the 1700s with the children and was captivated for the whole story.
mizpurplest's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
andrea_c's review against another edition
3.0
Bought totally for reasons of the cover. Enjoyed the time-travel conundrum speculation (branching worlds etc). Liked that the girl was kind of bitchy.