Time Travelling With A Tortoise by Ross Welford

Publication Date: 4 January 2024

The Blurb

Al Chaudhury travelled back in time to save his father’s life.

And it worked – Al’s dad is alive again and life is back to the way it should be. At least, that’s what Al thinks. Because when an accident nearly kills Al’s beloved Grandpa Byron, and forces Al back in time again, this time he leaves someone behind, trapped in another dimension forever.

And now Al is forced to travel through time once more, not just to rescue his friend from the past, but also to save his Grandpa Byron’s life… and to make sure that there will be a future waiting for them all.

It turns out time travel isn’t as simple as Al thought.

Cover illustration by
Tom Clohosy Cole

The Review

Oh, what an absolute joy it was to go back and spend more time with Al, Grandpa and Alan Shearer! Time Travelling With A Hamster was one of the very first books I reviewed when I started my book blog back in 2016, so there was no way I would miss out on a trip back to the North East.

Ross takes us on a mind-bending exploration of the repercussions of meddling with time. Al is just as relatable and endearing as we left him, but his initial optimism about time travel and of having fixed his life quickly gives way to the harsh reality of its complexities. As he grapples with the unintended aftermath of his actions, we begin an emotional rollercoaster, feeling Al’s guilt, determination, and fear as he navigates the ramifications of his choices.

I loved the subtle shifts in the characters we met in book one as Al realises no-one is quite the same person, including himself. Al’s bond with his Grandpa Byron is particularly touching, and the stakes feel intensely personal as he races against time to save him.

Once again, we have been treated to a story which seamlessly weaves together elements of science fiction, adventure, and heartfelt emotion, with the addition of proper big, tear your head off dinosaurs and a brilliantly named tortoise.

Great for fans of:

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