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Saturday, December 3, 2011

Kid Konnection: The Time Time Stopped by Don Gillmor

The Time Time Stopped by Don Gillmor
Scholastic Canada
ISBN: 978-1443102131
Published Oct 1, 2011
Paperback, 152 pages
Ages 8-11

We were so excited when we got this book. It sounded adventurous and fun, and the premise about time stopping sounded good. Unfortunately, this book fell flat for us.

Tristan is the new kid in a new city with parents who always work, even on weekends. They are essentially portrayed as workaholic, clueless parents. Tristan is ignored by his older sister and targeted by a bully who threatens Tristan that he will “get it” if he doesn't steal for him. Tristan doesn't know what to do. He can't talk to his parents, or anyone and one day he feels the pressure of everything that's happening so he yells out that he hates time and wants it to end. That's when things change.

It's not that time stops but more like it doesn't really exist so things don't start or finish on time. Things seem to be at a standstill. Get it? No? Neither did we. It was quite confusing for the kids and me to understand. My son kept saying, “ But Mom, the time didn't really stop because they still have day and night.” Time stopping was more conceptual and abstract and it contrasted too much with the ideas of a Time Keeper and the Time Bandits that only showed up halfway through the book.

As we continued reading, the story became more a philosophical quest to understand time. As an adult I could see where the author was going, but for kids who absolutely do NOT have the same concept of time as adults, the story became boring and long-winded, just when it should have gotten more interesting. This book had so much potential, but unfortunately my kids and I did not think it funny, or adventurous.
  
Note: This book is rated C = clean read.
I will count this book toward the following challenges: Middle Grade Book Challenge

Reviewed by Laura

Disclosure: Thanks to Nikole Kritikos from Scholastic Canada for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.


Every Saturday, Booking Mama hosts a feature called Kid Konnection—a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, visit Booking Mama.

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4 comments :

  1. It's too bad this was a stinker. It sounds like the author should try writing for an older age group.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sorry this one fell flat. The premise did sound promising, too bad it didn't deliver!

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  3. There is such excitement in opening a new book, you never know where it's going to lead you. Too bad this one disappointed :(

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm so sorry this didn't work for you. We've been disappointed like that too.

    ReplyDelete

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