When Miranda moves with her family to a new house in a small Massachusetts town, she discovers a mysterious antique--a dollhouse. Through the windows, she is shocked to find what seem to be living people in the tiny rooms, and gradually she realizes that scenes from the lives of the big houses past inhabitants are being replayed there.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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From Publishers Weekly
Miranda can't explain her fascination with the dollhouse in the attic of her family's big, old house--no one would believe that she has discovered a time machine that allows her to see into the sometimes frightening lives of her house's previous occupants. But when her family begins to mirror the dollhouse family's ugly behavior, Miranda must act quickly to prevent disaster. Reiss puts a new twist on time travel in this suspenseful first novel. Reminiscent of The Indian in the Cupboard in its validation of children's play, this intricately woven ghost story pits its heroine against the forces of child abuse and untimely death in a deft, entertaining and inventive style. Ages 10-up.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From School Library Journal
Grade 5-9-- Moving from New York City to an old house near Boston, Miranda, 14, becomes obsessed with what she sees through the windows of a dollhouse she finds in the attic. She discovers that her new home is haunted by beautiful, angry, abusive Lucinda. In 1904, Lucinda locked her young daughter, Dorothy, in the attic and left her stuffy husband to run away with a lover, and then was killed in a train wreck. Her malignant influence soon begins to work on Miranda's mother. In a page-turning climax, Miranda realizes that only she can save her mother from madness by rescuing Dorothy and changing the past. Although the book raises profound philosophic questions and deals with strong passions, its style, characterization, and emotional trajectory do not match its potential. The greatest problem is Lucinda. Readers are never sure whether she is an archetypal figure of pure evil or a strong-willed woman declaring her independence from a narrow, repressive husband. Is she caricature or character? How and why does she influence the other characters? Also, a love interest between Miranda and the boy across the street occurs with implausible ease. Pam Conrad's Stonewords (HarperCollins, 1990), Eleanor Cameron's The Court of the Stone Children (Dutton, 1973), Diana Wynne Jones's Fire and Hemlock (Greenwillow, 1984), and Ursula K. LeGuin's adult novel The Lathe of Heaven (Bentley, 1982) all create more complex characters while facing the philosophical implications of changing the past. Still, the well-structured mystery, the fast-moving plot, and the accessible prose make this a useful addition to fantasy shelves. --Margaret A. Chang, Buxton School, Williamstown,
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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First Sentence
Miranda's parents were singing Sinatra's old song "New York, New York" in the corniest way, trying to harmonize. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Miranda's parents were singing Sinatra's old song "New York, New York" in the corniest way, trying to harmonize. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Leah
Format:Paperback
When I was a young girl, I loved to read, and was especially fascinated by books that involved time travel. Time Windows by Kathryn Reiss was my all-time favourite novel, I must have read it a dozen times. The protagonist Miranda finds a doll house in the attic of her family's new house, and when she looks out through it, she is transported back to be able to see the past inhabitants of the house through the windows. It is an original, well written mystery story that I always found utterly engrossing. The most surprising thing about Kathryn Reiss' books is that I still remember the plots so vividly, well over 15 years later.
I recommend this book highly for any young kid who loves to imagine the scope of time travel. Other books that I would recommend along the same lines are The Root Cellar by Janet Lunn, Tom's Midnight Garden by Philippa Pierce, and A Time for Andrew by Mary Downing Hahn (or anything by Mary Downing Hahn, really). Also, Kathryn Reiss' other book Dreadful Sorry incorporates similar mysterious and time elements, and has stuck with me through the years as well. If your child enjoyed any of those books, they will love Time Windows!
I recommend this book highly for any young kid who loves to imagine the scope of time travel. Other books that I would recommend along the same lines are The Root Cellar by Janet Lunn, Tom's Midnight Garden by Philippa Pierce, and A Time for Andrew by Mary Downing Hahn (or anything by Mary Downing Hahn, really). Also, Kathryn Reiss' other book Dreadful Sorry incorporates similar mysterious and time elements, and has stuck with me through the years as well. If your child enjoyed any of those books, they will love Time Windows!
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Would you spend all of your time in a stuffy, old, crummy attic with a dollhouse that looks like your own house? Well Miranda Browne does. But this is not any ordinary dollhouse you see in stores!! While you read this book you will find out that this dollhouse has windows that you can see flashbacks through. All these flashbacks in this horror book are from along time ago! No wonder they call this book Time Windows By Kathryn Reiss.
Kathryn Reiss has also written Riddle Of Prance Bride and Where Did the Thief Go? If you have read Holes or Dollhouse Murders you probably think Time Windows has a connection with each of these books. Well they probably do! In Holes there are a lot of flashbacks. In Time Windows there are also a lot of flashbacks.
In Dollhouse Murders the dolls come alive!! The same is true for Time Windows!
This book will make you think. You will want to argue with the book at times. You may get confused some times, only because of the flash backs they sneak in. That is in the beginning. But in the end all of those flashbacks come together to tell a story. Since the book has many confusing flashbacks, I recommend this book to people 12 and up. Will you have to break a spell by getting clues from dolls in a dollhouse?
Kathryn Reiss has also written Riddle Of Prance Bride and Where Did the Thief Go? If you have read Holes or Dollhouse Murders you probably think Time Windows has a connection with each of these books. Well they probably do! In Holes there are a lot of flashbacks. In Time Windows there are also a lot of flashbacks.
In Dollhouse Murders the dolls come alive!! The same is true for Time Windows!
This book will make you think. You will want to argue with the book at times. You may get confused some times, only because of the flash backs they sneak in. That is in the beginning. But in the end all of those flashbacks come together to tell a story. Since the book has many confusing flashbacks, I recommend this book to people 12 and up. Will you have to break a spell by getting clues from dolls in a dollhouse?
By Laura
Format:Paperback
Thirteen-year-old Miranda Browne is moving with her parents from a cramped New York apartment to an old house in a small Massachusetts town. As her family settles in, she finds a beautiful miniature version of her house in the attic. But this is no ordinary dollhouse - it has a secret magic to it that only Miranda can witness. And through the dollhouse's secret, she learns of her own house's secret tragic history. Let me tell you, once I came to the part where Miranda finds out about the dollhouse's magic, I wouldn't put the book down - not even for a dentist appointment. Eh heh heh...
Anyway, this is a wonderfully complex tale of transcending time and changing the past. Indeed, to fully enjoy this story you must pay full attention to it and don't skim, like I habitually do, if you don't want to keep flipping back a few pages to recap what has happened.
Miranda is a believable character, and Ms. Reiss has done a marvelous job of relaying her thoughts and feelings. The reader feels as if he/she IS Miranda, and is impatient to learn the whole story of her house. The other characters, such as her parents and new friend Dan Hooton, are strong as well, and Miranda's interactions with them aren't the typical bland personality-lacking conversations you sometimes read. You can actually relate to these interactions and the characters.
Overall, Time Windows is an excellent book, brilliantly written and captivating. If you are a fan of sci-fi or fantasy, you will definitely enjoy the book. Heck, if you're anybody old enough to appreciate this kind of literature, you'll enjoy it.
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4.8 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best books of all time (pardon the pun)
I cannot believe that this book has recieved so little recognition. You never hear anyone talking about this book. Ever. Read more
Published on Nov 2 2003 by Jillian
5.0 out of 5 stars
awesome
this book is so great it is just like once you start you just can't put the book down until you have finished reading it. Read more
Published on July 2 2003
5.0 out of 5 stars
A real page-turner!
I got this book when I was still in elementary school...I am now 21. I found it again when I was cleaning my room some time ago and decided to read it again! Read more
Published on May 6 2003 by Sarah Rowe
4.0 out of 5 stars
An old friend
I read this book many many years ago, and I still consider it to be one of my childhood favorites. I have the first version of the paperback, all tattered from so much use. Read more
Published on Mar 3 2002 by ChickLit Fan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Finally found it!
Time Windows is by far the best book that I have ever read. I read it for the first time when I was in third grade and I couldn't put it down. Read more
Published on Feb 15 2002 by "pwgreen6201"
4.0 out of 5 stars
Incredible Story
TIME WINDOWS by Kathryn Reiss had an intricate plot, a great deal of suspense, dashes of humor and took a little too much work to figure out. However, Ms.. Read more
Published on July 21 2001 by A 12-year old reader
5.0 out of 5 stars
AWESOME STORY!
I originally read this book when I was 12, and in 6th grade, for a book report. I loved it soo much that I rented it a lot, and finally bought the book off here last X-mas! Read more
Published on April 12 2001 by Cortnie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Do not start unless you intend to finish!
I Love reading it is a passion of mine! When I read a book even if I like it alot, I have a hard time reading it again. Read more
Published on Feb 24 2001
5.0 out of 5 stars
you may dream
what if you moved to a small town where you are the only strange their. you have moved in to a house has been diserted for years. Read more
Published on Feb 15 2001
5.0 out of 5 stars
Time Windows
I absolutely LOVE this book! This book is considered perfect in my opinion because there is absolutely no flaw in it. I'll try to get more books by the same author this weekend.
Published on Oct 20 2000 by Tammy Bui
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