The Time School series follows four friends as they navigate their way through the first year at secondary school, whilst returning to the past at different time-periods. During these time-travelling adventures, they each discover something about their family history, as well as how events that were going on at that time affected their families. This is an opportunity for the children to understand how the past affects your present life and for Jess, Nadia, Ash and Tomma, how these events have affected them personally.

I apologise I did not get to this one. I did however purchase and finished copy and will review on Goodreads as soon as I complete.

It is clear from the beginning what the author is trying to plan for the young audience, to introduce them to a part of history that is significant to all of us, even though we have now moved on from that time. That sometimes we all need a little perspective of what happened in order to have a better appreciation for the life we are currently living.

The concept of this book seems like a nice and compelling one, especially targeted to a young audience. I could see many a young child gleefully not only reading all the words off the page in anticipation, but also learn something which is a part of all our histories. Because we have all had that dream of being able to be a part of a major part in history, when we know what is to happen, due to living in the future from the event.

Even though this is a fairly short book, it can serve more as an introduction to a young child and their knowledge of the first world war. Although it is not the most perfect book, there are some positives, such as giving some background to how school was like, how people celebrated the end of the war, to helping people in need because it is the right thing to do. It may seem like because it is a short book not much ground could be covered, but this is not necessarily true for Time School.

However, I feel like despite the book highlighting some aspects of history and how these friends help those who need to be helped, it feels a little flat. There isn't much to do with conflict where instead it feels like a fairly easy journey of the plot going from point A to point B. Obviously this is still a children's book and it is not meant to be too complicated, but I think it would have been a little bit more engaging.

Ultimately, while I don't particularly feel like this is a great book, I don't think it is a really bad book either. I think maybe this book would be a no-brainer during this particular time when trying to get children to read, yet still learn and be entertained.

A sensible title to read. A book the children can get their teeth into. The should enjoy this book if they enjoy magic. A book worthy of being on every classroom shelf.

I loved this time travel adventure! Four children take the train for school. It’s not their regular train, they realize later, and it takes them to school alright, but back to November 1918. They learn about WWI and Armistice Day, and rescue a little girl who could have died without them. When they finally return home to the right year by the same train, they know they’ve had a life-changing adventure — an important one as the identity of the little girl is revealed. Well-written with characters you care about — and a terrific way to teach history to young readers!

5 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 05 Mar 2020

Thanks to the author, Hashtag Press, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

#TimeSchool #NetGalley

I have heard so many rave reviews about this book I was really looking forward to reading it. Unfortunately despite trying numerous times the file would neither download to my net galley app nor open as a separate document. Meaning I am left in limbo unable to read it. Very disappointed as have heard so many good things about it.
*Edit* following posting the above I recieved an email with a link to the book attached. This opened the book and I was able to read it..
The book most certainly did not disappoint, a relatively short book but definitely not lacking in likable characters and plot. I felt the story was highly relevant to young high school age children trying to fit in and find their way. It beautifully demonstrated relationships between friends and between multiple generations of family all linking modern day with WW2.
Well written and an enjoyable story.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from netgalley for a review!

I thought this was a well done time travel story for early middlegrade readers; it reminded me of the Magic Treehouse series. There were some hand waving moments, like the school having clothes for all the kids in their sizes and the fact that their names were on roll and nobody in the future noticing they were missing, but that wasn’t the point of this lighthearted adventure story.

The main point is mentioned early on—it’s about connecting with the past to make sense of the present.

I thought the friends were cute together and I liked the main character’s family. There are enough hints throughout that the ending isn’t surprise for an adult reader, but maybe it will be for a younger audience?

A spell-bounding adventure through time. This book had me hooked all the way through. I loved the characters, I loved the plot, I loved the author's writing style. Jess was a timid shy girl but her hidden braveness shone through at the end. Time travelling and saving your ancestors was the key theme of the book and the execution of it was brilliant. The plot was weaved carefully and I devoured it!
There were some questionable bits though. For example, near the end, Martha's mum meets the foursome however doesn't question their modern attire. It was the only bit I had a problem with really but overall it was a great read. I would definitely read more of the author's works again.

Travel back in time to save the life of your Great Granny! Take the train to preserve your family’s lineage and your own existence. What an adventure! Learn about life in the past, how WW1 started and when it finished. High drama and history for children (MG)
Loved by my 10 year old boy!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review

I loved this very much! The characters, the actions and even the plot itself! Very inspiring for my own book too!

Oh this was a fantastic find! Reminded me a bit of Charlotte Sometimes which is one of my faves that I must read again. I do love a good time travel story and this was brilliant. I was also really relieved when the way they got to 1918 was the same way they could get home again - time travel stories kinda stress me out when I'm worried they're gonna get stuck haha. And this was such an interesting idea, how they went back to their school, but there was a place for them there, like they were on the rolls and all the teachers knew them. Loved it. I see there's another Time School book too, yay! I hope I can find it. I am a fan.

This is a really enjoyable, well done middle grade book about four British children who accidentally go back in time to 1918. The four friends end up experiencing the end of the first world war as children in their own school, seeing what it was like back then for the kids who attended. They begin by getting on the wrong train, a steam engine that takes them back to the past. They experience attending their school as it was when it was new, learn what it was like for families during the war, and see how their town looked in those days. The story moves along well and the characters are likeable.

This would make a great read-aloud to accompany a unit on WW1 and that era. I'd love to see this become a series like the Magic Treehouse books, since it's a similar premise with slightly older kids (7th grade) and better writing. Sweet, educational and fun, this is a short read but a good one.

I read a digital ARC of this book for review.

Great book. I enjoyed reading this to my children. It had just the right amount of information without being to much for that age group. They really enjoyed listening to it too which was great

Thank you @Netgalley and to the author Nikki Young, for allowing me to read this book in return for my honest review.

The story begins as Jess and her three best friends, Nadia, Ash and Tomma experience simultaneous power cuts, causing their alarm clocks to fail. Running late for the train, they take a shortcut through bushes, jumping into the last carriage, just in time. In their hurry they fail to notice how old the and slow the train is, and where are all the other passengers?
Arriving at school, they realised they have in fact traveled through time to 1918 in the midst of the first word war.

An inspirational pre-teen novel which combines historical fiction with mystery and time travel. This would make an ideal series, teaching our young people important periods in history in a fun and modern way.

First sentence: “Has anyone ever asked where you come from? Do you know? Mr Mundair?” “Yes, Miss. I came from Kirkshaw this morning.” Ash Mundair. Already firmly established as the class joker within the first few weeks of the Year Sevens beginning their secondary school careers.

Premise/plot: Four friends: Jess, Nadia, Tomma, and Ash find themselves running late for school one day--they catch the morning train--just barely. But they sit in the last car, something they've never done before. They soon notice that all is not as it should be! Their train is now a STEAM TRAIN. The destination remains the same--the village where their school is located. But they've gone BACK IN TIME.

What was Hickley School like in 1918?!?!

My thoughts: I love, love, love, love, love time travel stories. I do. I would recommend this one to anyone who loves time travel stories OR to those with an interest in world war I.

Time School by Nikki Young is a fun yet informative children's book aimed at the middle grade, or children of 8 to 12 years. It is a time slip story that takes a group of four young friends into the past and follows them as they learn about the history of their area. It all starts with a disastrous morning where all four are running late for school and just about make it onto the last carriage of the train that takes them from their village to the nearby town where they attend school. Its only when they have calmed down from the fluster of racing for the train that they notice that the carriage seems very old fashioned , and then when they arrive at the school they notice that none of their friends are there, and the children who are are dressed in a strange and very old fashioned uniform. It seems that they have travelled back in time to 1918, and are in for something of a rude awakening when they are forced to attend classes without computers , instead having to use pen and ink. Over the course of the day they learn a lot about what life is like in that time, making friends with a girl whose brother is away fighting in the war, and whose mother is a nurse working in a nearby hospital caring for wounded soldiers. Despite enjoying the experience they are glad to return to their own time , but when they realise that they could experience Armistice Day they decide to travel back again, and when they do, they not only experience a moment in history at first hand, but also manage to save the life of one of their ancestors.
This was a simply but very well written book, one that children would not struggle to read , and not only would they enjoy the adventure story but they would also learn about a difficult period in history. I loved the four friends, they each brought something different to the story, and although the focus is on Jess, it is clear that a lot of care and attention has gone into each character. The character growth for Jess throughout the book is really good, she develops her confidence in a way that would be encouraging to other shy children,
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

I love time travel stories and this one really hit the spot. When four school friends find themselves taken back to their school, but during WWI, they have to try and find out why it has happened and how they can get back to their own time and their families. this makes for an exciting story, but also a brilliant introduction to studying the period, particularly if you happen to go to a fairly old school. It is definitely one to include on a reading list for upper primary children.

This book was an interesting read. At first I was not sure where the plot was going but by the end of made so.much sense. I think this is an excellent book for middle grade kids. I would use this as a history study. I would recommend this to other educators.

Time School by Nikki Young: 4 time pieces out of 5!

The story sets out as four friends, a power surge and a series of morning disasters causing each of them to be at risk of missing their train to school! Once at the station the foursome barely make it on only to find that that they have boarded a train that leads them a down surprisingly new but much older path – to 1918! What ensues is an adventure the four friends will never forget!

This story was read with my 10-year-old daughter, who stated she liked the time travelling premise and how the four friends were different in diversity, gender and personality but together make up a solid friend pact! She liked the historical learning and enjoyed new ways to look at events from the past with modern eyes. We both enjoyed aspects that spoke to the meaning of friendship, foraging together to problem solve and learning to trust each other but also one’s self! The book was inviting to young readers, used friendly and engaging language and created an interesting atmosphere that left my daughter wanting to know where the next adventure might take the foursome!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hashtag press for an electronic ARC in trade for an honest review!

Time School is a wonderfully written story about a group of friends that travel back in time to an era of great importance. An easy read and age appropriate for middle schoolers. This can easily be used to realate to school instruction during time periods of importance. It will be easy for children to relate to the characters and relive these stories from the past.