About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is grappling with the feeling of being an outsider or is struggling to adapt to a major life change. Diana Wynne Jones crafts a brilliant narrative for children who feel like they do not quite fit into their current environment, using the high-stakes backdrop of a city that controls time itself to explore themes of belonging and identity. Vivian, a young girl evacuated from London during the 1939 Blitz, finds herself in an even stranger world: Time City, a place existing outside history. As Vivian navigates this bizarre society while disguised as a local, the story touches on the importance of teamwork and the courage required to stand up for what is right, even when you are the smallest person in the room. It is a dense, intellectually stimulating read perfect for middle schoolers who enjoy complex world-building and mystery. Parents will appreciate how the book treats its young protagonists as capable agents of change while modeling how to handle disorientation with curiosity rather than just fear.
