A MESSAGE THROUGH TIME BY ANNA CIDDOR

Felix and his half-sister Zoe, are trying to get used to each other. Their blended family is on holiday in France and they have an afternoon free before they have to meet up again with their parents and leave. They are wandering around the ancient Roman ruins of a bath house when Felix finds a message in a bottle with instructions on how to travel back in time. Zoe scoffs but Felix thinks it’s worth a try, just for fun. As he is writing the magic word on the wall of the bath house Zoe grabs him and the two of them are propelled back 1700 years. As they begin to explore their environment they meet Petronia, a young girl of high rank. Somehow, in the mix of people and the excitement of the day, when they travel back to their own time, Petronia has come too.

The siblings agree they need to return her to her time and make what they hope is a quick trip back. Things get complicated when they discover Petronia’s sleeping body has stayed behind and her family have taken her to a healing spring to try and wake her up. What follows is a great adventure that introduces the reader to some very interesting historical information about the lives of Romans from all walks of life.

Anna Ciddor’s time slip novel follows on from The Boy Who Stepped Through Time but is also a stand-alone book. Middle Grade readers will love this fast-paced, fun-fact filled, ancient adventure. While trying to avoid eating sparrows and hard, tasteless biscuits, and trying not to drown in the Rhone, the siblings must adapt to the social hierarchy. Felix is a loveable, if a bit clumsy character, whose rocky relationship with his step-sister grows through the novel. The descriptions of the houses and lives of this era are beautifully crafted. This voyage back in time will get readers wanting more.

For Ages: 8 - 13 years

Number of Pages: 336

Published: April 2023

Themes: Family, friendship and perseverance

Purchase here: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Anna-Ciddor-Message-Through-Time-9781761180125/