The Book of Time

Guillaume Prevost

Sam Faulkner's life was messed up ever since his mother died three years ago. His father sold their old home. Their new one was in a new school district. His dad had turned it into an antiquarian book store. His dad started leaving for days at a time on business. Now Sam is living with his grandparents. His dad has been gone over a week.

It's his 14th birthday, so Sam is sure his dad will come home. On his way to his judo tournament he accidentally crashes into the local bully, Monk. Monk is the teammate who beat everyone in judo. The tournament is delayed and Monk threatens to get even. Sam goes to the bookstore because his day is bad. Maybe his dad will be there, back from his trip.

No one is in the house or the store. Sam looks for clues to see where his father had gone. While poking around in the basement he finds a false wall. Behind the wall is a stone statue. There is a sun with rays carved in the stone. And there is an odd coin with a hole in the middle by the stone. Curiously, Sam puts the coin in the stone.

It gets hot; everything goes strange. Then Sam is puking in some...grass? Instead of a basement, he now is in a field by another stone statue. What is going on?

Sam has learned his father's secret. It's time travel. Now Sam has to figure out how to get home. And he wants to find his father.

Guillaume Prevost has written a science fiction book that will appeal to its age group and older. The Book of Time includes the right elements - the fantasy trip, heroic deeds in other times, an annoying relation (or two), a bully, a beautiful girl and a bit of history. The ending is open - Sam's father needs help. Sam will have to continue searching for him through time in the next book of the trilogy.

It was another adult who recommended this book to me. I knew it was for children. I didn't know that it was the first part. There is a satisfying ending (probably not conclusion) to one of the story lines. Sam proves himself a number of times. But there is still more to come. I've already requested the next book from the library.

The Book of Time
The Gate of Days
The Circle of Gold