Series: Genre: Publication.Date: May 10, 2011 Pages: 322 (hardcover) Published By: Henry Holt Website: Kerstin Gier Ruby Red on Goodreads My review copy:
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Gwyneth Shepherd's sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era!
Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon--the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.
(Goodreads)
Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon--the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.
(Goodreads)
Her shoulders were shaking, and her sobs sounded like the desperate cries of an injured animal. He could hardly bear it. But he knew from experiences that it was better to leave her alone. So he sat down beside her in the dew covered grass, gazed at the smooth surface of the water, and waited.
"You want to marry me? On board the Titanic? Are you out of your mind?" "It would be so romantic." "Except for the bit with the iceberg."
I'm sure it was the squirrel business hat made Lesley and me the only girls in the class who weren't crazy about Mr. Whitman. I kept trying to fall in love with him (if only because the boys in our class were all somehow totally childish), but it was no good The squirrel comparison had lodged itself in my mind and wouldn't go away. I mean, how can you feel romantic about a squirrel?
The writing is done very well and I had zero issue with the style, dialogue, or descriptions. My issue is with our main character, Gwen. All her life her cousin Charlotte has been trained for the moment she goes back in time. The time traveling gene, passed through the female line, only appears in certain family members born on certain dates - those prophesied by Issac Newton himself. This is not an issue for Gwen. She actually pities Charlotte, who missed out on much of her childhood due to training, and is constantly questioned by her grandmother and aunt as to whether or not she feels dizzy.
My issue comes into play after Gwen first time travels. She tells her best friend, Lesley, whom she tells everything to, but she doesn't tell her family. Why? Because she thinks they'll think she's crazy. Really? You're family knows there is such a thing as time travel, it's not like this would be coming out of left field.
Also, Gwen can see ghosts. Except nobody but Lesley believes her. Seriously? You're family knows time travel is real, but has trouble believing in ghosts. Her mom even tells her something along the lines of "I believe that you believe you see ghosts." Why is it so hard to imagine other paranormal aspects are out there? Aunt Maddy has visions. But Charlotte calls her Aunt Mad Maddy. This is not a stretch people!
Okay, rant over.
Seeing as I only got 100 pages in,
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