Thought that this was a great follow up to the first book. My daughter who is 9 also enjoyed i and has asked to read more from the author

Seven years or so on from the first book in the series (https://www.thebookbag.co.uk/reviews/Time_Travelling_with_a_Hamster_by_Ross_Welford), comes this sequel, which starts with the hero, his antagonist/love interest/step-sister-in-another-world, his current Biff Tannen and his hamster, all back with the time travel and by accident way, way back – with the pterosaurs and other dinosaurs. The first book had him go back to the past to save his dad's life and keep sure that his own could happen, but it's led to some kind of butterfly effect reaction in the multiverse – which is starting to flap back. When his grandfather gets injured, and starts to lose his precious and near-complete memory, it's time to get back to the time travel, and sort out the odds and ends the first adventure resulted in.

But this still didn't feel anything like an essential addition, however welcome Al was once more, as a half-Indian Geordie character fond of lists and recognisably awkward with the whole friendship thing. Talk of photoshopping and the use of domestic door-cams and AI make this very 2024, when the first book – I'm sure, if I were to read it again – would be 2016, and those eight years in between make more difference than is healthy for this.

There's also the issue of a character called Al being in a book with AI – boy, can it slip you up. But this seemed flawed – and I was reading the paperback, and not the early digital copy, for once. Details just seem to arrive from midair at the halfway point, and when they're as important as a gammy leg you ought to remember them. That aside, the book has a whole issue, with the time travel peril's being turned up to eleven (there are dinosaurs, if you've forgotten) and that just not combining nearly at all well with the family drama of the amnesiac grandfather and the prior book to rectify.

It all makes about as much point as putting a mahoosive plot point in the back cover blurb, such as this does – spoiling an event that is past the halfway mark by just blurting out about it for no reason. That and the novel itself then are very slapdash, taking us back to this world and proving far too inessential. I see many very positive reviews for this – but to my mind a lot of people have been short-changed here. I'd almost prefer to go back in time and unread it – two stars feel very generous.

I had read Time Travelling with a Hamster and really enjoyed it, so I was looking forward to this second instalment, and I wasn't disappointed. While it is easy to read, as befits its age rating, it is also a book of very deep thoughts and questions. While the time travel element is exciting, funny and expertly handled, it is also not the main point of the story, which addresses much bigger questions of life, death, love, and ethics. It is perfect for the 9+ age group, and also a good read for adults. I very much enjoyed it.

I really enjoyed reading this book and I think it's a brilliant sequel to 'Time travelling with a Hamster.' Ross Welford is incredibly talented authors who creates very vivid and memorable characters, fast pace and suspenseful plots and touches upon themes like friendship, family love, science and philosophy in an engaging an unputdownable way. I can see children 10 and above massively enjoying this book. It's easy, fun and a jolly good adventure! Al is so likable and witty, you can't help but reading with a big smile upon your face. It's so wonderful when you come across a children's book you as an adult reader can enjoy in equal measure!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my review copy, all opinions are my own.

Time travelling with a tortoise
By Ross Welford
Published by HarperCollins Publishers

Another exciting and funny time travelling story from Ross Welford, the bestselling debut author of Time Travelling with a Hamster.

Recap - 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 some sort of normal.

But then an accident takes away Al’s beloved Grandpa Byron world-beating memory, and Al is forced back in time again, this time leaving someone really important behind, trapped in a prehistoric dimension. Who would have thought?
Al now has a rescue mission on his hands to recover his friend from the past… and to ensure that the future will be waiting for them.
This time travelling is far more complicated than Al thought.

This honest, heartwarming, and clever story is what authors do best! Another extraordinary and adventure-packed story that any 8+ reader will devour.
Get it on the classroom and library shelves - you won’t see it for dust!

Joanne Bardgett - teacher of littlies, lover of Children’s literature.
#Netgalley

What a wonderful whirlwind adventure through time. I loved the first book and this one was everything I'd hope it'd be. Moving, thoughtful, funny and a full-on page-turner!

Time Travelling with a Tortoise is the second book in the Al Chaudhury series by British author, Ross Welford. It’s a few weeks after Al Chaudhury travelled back in time (well, to be precise, Relatively Shifted Between Spacetime Dimensions) to save his father’s life, and he’s living with his mum and dad in Chesterton Road: he should be happy, right?

Except things don’t feel quite right: the place smells wrong; Grandpa Byron is dressing differently, and has a tuk-tuk instead of a moped; and he doesn’t know anyone at school, although the school bully seems intent on being his friend. He feels like an imposter in his own life.

Then, while avoiding a cat, Al and Grandpa Byron have a nasty accident in the tuk-tuk, and Grandpa’s injuries adversely affect his incredible memory. Suddenly, the man who was so disapproving of Al’s venture into the past wants him to go back to prevent the accident.

Quite how he ends up in Grandpa’s tuk-tuk with “my hamster (Alan Shearer, remember him?), a small tortoise (Tortellini, don’t ask), my former stepsister Carly, and the soon-to-be-eaten Paulie MacFaddyen – the nephew of Macca, the meanest kid I ever met back in 1984” dodging hungry dinosaurs, apparently sixty-four million years back in time, involves a typically pushy Carly, broken computer code repaired by an AI program, and a hamster bite.

The rest of them manage to return, but it doesn’t end well for Paulie, and Al begins to wonder “Can I ever get back to the world I was born in? The world with my real mum and my real grandpa? A world where I haven’t caused someone to get eaten by a dinosaur?” Can he?

With the same quirky cast as Hamster, Welford gives the reader lots of action and plenty of humour, and even if the intended reader age is nine years and over, you don’t have to be a kid to enjoy this very entertaining sequel.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Harper Collins UK Childrens.

Personally I didn't enjoy this book. but if I had to pick my favourite bit then it would definitely be at the start when the girl is sick!

"Time Travelling with a Tortoise" by Ross Welford proved to be another exciting and delightful adventure that hooked me from beginning to end. As a sequel to the beloved "Time Travelling with a Hamster," it exceeded my expectations with its mix of humour, heartwarming moments, and mind-bending cleverness.
The story picks up right where the first book left off, with Al Chaudhury successfully saving his father's life by travelling back in time. However, Al soon realises that altering the past has consequences that he never anticipated. His present no longer feels like his own, and when his beloved Grandpa Byron becomes entangled in a life-threatening accident, Al must once again rely on time travel to make things right.
The book introduces even more captivating time travel scenarios, taking readers further back in history than ever before. The blend of scientific concepts and philosophical quandaries kept me engaged and fascinated. And, of course, adding a tortoise to the mix brought an extra layer of charm.
What I particularly appreciated about this continuation was the exploration of the downsides and complexities of time travel. It was a reminder that meddling with the past can have far-reaching implications, and it added depth to the story.
Welford's ability to create memorable characters shines in this book. Al's journey is supported by a cast of friends, family, and rodents who feel like old acquaintances. Their presence made the story feel familiar and heartwarming, like reuniting with old friends.
As the narrative unfolded, I was completely absorbed in Al's mission to rescue a friend trapped in another dimension and save his beloved Grandpa Byron's life. The book effortlessly weaves together different timelines, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. The plot was intricate and occasionally messy, but the underlying theme of friendship and its simple yet profound messages were refreshing. It was a reminder of the importance of genuine connections and the lengths we would go to for the people we love.
Overall, "Time Travelling with a Tortoise" gave me pure enjoyment and familiarity. It felt like spending time with old friends, embarking on a thrilling and heartwarming adventure together. It was a fast-paced and fun read that left me satisfied, even if things became a bit complicated along the way. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a captivating time-travel tale filled with laughter, wisdom, and a genuine message.

So I'm a big fan of Welford's books, so was really excited to read this sequel. And as a story it didn't disappoint. It was fun, daring and had me on the edge of my seat. Very exciting read over all!
But having read the first book there was a little bit of me thinking 'why bother writing a sequel? It was fine as it was'. Now this is not to say it's bad, it's not. It just felt like an odd choice for a sequel. But still a great book and I recommend reading but you have to read time travelling with a hamster first

The children got very excited about this book. We had recently reread the previous book, Time travelling with a hamster, and remembered why we loved it so much. Now Ross Welford has come up with this cracking follow up and we loved it !

Fulfilling sequel with heart (and science).

4.5 stars

It's been several years since I'd read TTWAH, the predecessor to this, and I was very glad of Welford's recap! I don't remember the ending and implications for the changes caused by time travel.

But this picks up where the last one left off (you might need to back up and read Hamster first) where Al (short for Albert), having saved his Dad's life by travelling back and meeting him as a boy, has now changed his present so much that his life doesn't feel like 'his' anymore. And now his beloved Grandpa Byron is caught up in an accident that might prove fatal - sending Al back to his father's homemade machine to see if he can put things right.

But will meddling with time again have implications?

With some familiar characters and some even more exciting time travel scenarios (think waaaaaaaaay further back than the 1980s) this brings readers the same science and philosophy conundrums as previously, with added Tortoise.

A fabulous continuation, with the downsides of time travel apparent to readers, and a collection of memorable friends, family and rodents making this a book children won't want to put down until they've found out how Al's story ends.

For ages 9-13.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.