I absolutely loved this book and inhaled it all in a day.

The story covers two sets of children, three friends in 1944 and three in 2023. A mysterious radio and strange old shed in the garden of one of their homes somehow allows them to communicate over time. The excitement leads them to talk about their lives and they soon discover that this can be dangerous, as any actions they take differently in 1944 can affect the world in 2023. This is taken to extremes in a series of events which lead to German victory in World War II and a very different America in 2023. Can they somehow find a way to undo the damage they have done?

The children in the book are all around 12 years old and it’s perfect for any child around that age (for any age), full of excitement and tension but also very naturally written characters. The friendships all seem real and their lives very relatable so it’s a great way to get readers to really think about the past with a very believable counterfactual narrative. 2025 marks 80 years since the end of World War II and this novel is an excellent way to mark that, allowing today’s children to really think about how different life could have been and what was achieved in that victory. This would be an excellent resource for teachers, too, to discuss history and introduce some amazing creative writing opportunities.

This is one of the best new children’s books I’ve read in a long time and I very much hope it becomes a series.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

I was absolutely enthralled by this book and pretty much annihilated it in two days. Not only is the storytelling compelling but I was so invested into the shared lives of our six characters, 3 in the past (1944) and 3 in the future (2023), I couldn’t put the book down.

It was the easiest thing to pick up this book and fly through 100 pages in a blink of an eye. I blame it entirely for the fact I kept loosing track of time and may delayed a lunch time or two.

I immediately got into it and the split perspectives between Henry in our current time, and Alice back in the 40’s made for super interesting reading. When Henry discovers a buried radio in the garden (whilst burying his gerbil), it brings him together with his friends as they embark on mad conversations through time.

When they pick up the radio, neither of them expect an answer but when the answer is across the span of time, it gets even more surreal. But it couldn’t have any repercussions right? They both soon see that time is a fragile thing…

I mean, oooo, what a great premise for a book. I couldn’t have enjoyed it more! And the ending?!!! Gah. I really can’t wait for the follow up now.