From School Library Journal
Grade 6-9AThird in a time-travel series, this story continues the saga of the wealthy Stratton family in the 1890s. Tod Lockwood travels from the 1990s to save 16-year-old Devonny Stratton from an unwanted arranged marriage. He manages to rescue her on her wedding day by bringing her into the 20th century. After spending time with Tod's family, the girl feels called to return to her own time to untangle the problems she has left behind. Subplots involve Devonny's best friend Flossie's plan to elope with an Italian immigrant from the laboring class, and her father's scheme to lock his ex-wife, Devonny's mother, away in an attic room. Meanwhile, Tod and Devonny are falling in love. This tale, like its companions, is pure melodrama. Its characters are more types than fully fleshed-out individuals. Plot contrivances are numerous. Why, for instance, does Tod's mother so readily accept Devonny as a foreign exchange student from England? And would Devonny's disappearance cause a complete change of heart in her obnoxious intended husband? The book presents a very oversimplified view of the mores and morals of the wealthy class of the day. It is fun, however, to observe the reactions of the time-traveling teens to ages very different from their own. The story is not as well written as Cooney's Driver's Ed (Delacorte, 1994) or The Face on the Milk Carton (Dell, 1991) and its sequels, but adolescents are sure to enjoy the drama and romance. Prisoner belongs in collections where Both Sides of Time (1995) and Out of Time (1996, both Delacorte) are popular.ABruce Anne Shook, Mendenhall Middle School, Greensboro, NC
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
Reviewers praise Caroline B. Cooney:
Both Sides of Time:
"Romantics will be caught up by the story and will catch their breath at the cliff-hanger of an ending."
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Booklist"Cooney has written not only a love story, a time-travel fantasy, and a murder mystery, but also a provocative and powerful examination of women, marriage and relationships in two centuries."
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School Library JournalThe Face on the Milk Carton:
"It's a gripper. You can't put it down until you've gone through the whole trauma with Janie Johnson, from that first moment of horrified recognition to the thoroughly satisfying conclusion."
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Entertainment WeeklyWhatever Happened to Janie?:
*"Readers left on the edge of their seats at the conclusion of
The Face on the Milk Carton will race to get their hands on this equally gripping sequel....The power of love is wrenchingly illustrated throughout this provocative novel, which expresses multiple points of view with remarkable understanding."
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Publishers Weekly, Starred
The Voice on the Radio:
*"Cooney's outstanding command of emotional tension has taken this novel to extraordinary heights."
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School Library Journal, Starred
*"Readers of Cooney's addictive
The Face on the Milk Carton and
Whatever Happened to Janie? can start licking their chops.... Cooney seems to have a special radar for adolescent longings and insecurities, not to mention campus chic."
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Publishers Weekly, Starred
Twenty Pageants Later:
"Brisk writing, plenty of backstage nitty-gritty and the nearly irresistible glamour of the pageants themselves will keep readers turning the pages."
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Publishers WeeklyDrivers Ed:
"Wonderfully written, and very realistic. Reluctant readers as usual will find this author tops."
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Voice of Youth AdvocatesFrom the Paperback edition.
