From Booklist
Gr. 6-9. In this odd, intriguing novella by Australian fantasist Marsden by way of H. G. Wells, the time machine isn't just a thrilling gizmo but a vehicle for exploring the human condition. The novel's most prominent characters are mute, seemingly autistic James, who steals a time machine from the laboratory of a deceased physicist, and a girl who is separated from her parents by a bomb in an unidentified city. Their stories merge when James uses his time machine to help the war-torn family reunite. Hovering alongside these primary narratives are numerous, haunting vignettes, all sharing themes of grief and loss and reminiscent of the unsolved-mystery case studies James avidly collects. A flashback revealing a tragedy in James' recent past suggests a poignant purpose to his hops through time--and opens the elliptical story to multiple, intriguing interpretations. This won't necessarily appeal to the same audience that responded to Marsden's fast-paced Tomorrow series, but sophisticated YAs will enjoy chasing its elusive ripples of meaning.
Jennifer MattsonCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
Praise for Out of Time:
?Marsden?s intricately woven novella...will likely initially mystify and intrigue readers from the very first scene....Marsden's writing is luminous and evocative.??Publishers Weekly
"In this...intriguing novella by Australian fantasist Marsden by way of H.G. Wells, the time machine isn't just a thrilling gizmo but a vehicle for exploring the human condition....Sophisticated YAs will enjoy chasing its elusive ripples of meaning."--Booklist
"Intriguing and mysterious....For intelligent readers who will appreciate the story's originality."--KLIATT
