Travelling to the past, to change the future

I would like to contribute my review of the book “Time Traveling With A Hamster” by Ross Welford, which I won from Gulf News thanks to the #GNBookClub.

It is the story of a lonely young boy Albert who has his life changed when his father dies unexpectedly. His mum then remarries and they have to move out of their old home. On his twelfth birthday, Albert receives a letter from his dad that shows him a way of changing his present by travelling into the past through a time machine built by him.

Even though it’s primarily supposed to be a children’s book, the author has ensured with his writing style and captivating narrative that even adults will be left wanting more after every page.

The story of a 12-year-old boy wanting to bring his father back into his life by going into the past and averting his forthcoming death is both imaginative as well as daring, without being a cliché and boring.

Though as a children’s book, the ending can most definitely be predicted. But, on a positive note, it still kept my interest throughout, and I was definitely intrigued by all the twists and turns in the story. However, since it deals with the subject of death as the reason for the protagonist’s time travel adventures, I would maybe not recommend it for very young children to read since it may give them a sense of false and misplaced hope of someday being able to bring back a loved one.

Otherwise this book is a good read on all levels.

— The reader is based in Dubai.