The Girl Who Sold Time
by V S Nelson
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Pub Date 28 Mar 2025 | Archive Date 18 Apr 2025
Troubador Publishing Ltd. | Troubador Publishing
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Description
The year is 2417, and the few humans that remain live only to survive. Among these is 12-year-old Violet, who lives with her robotic best friend, Jackdaw, in a vast forest surrounding a space elevator. Travelling through the forest’s many villages, each built around the discarded shell of a gargantuan robot, Violet trades time marbles for tech. These time marbles, when taken, can pause time from seconds to weeks, allowing the user to move through frozen landscapes and travel great distances in an instant.
But not all is right in Violet’s world. The forest, one of the last inhabitable locations left on the planet, is mutating, destroying the villages and killing those who live there. Using the tech she trades for the marbles, Violet hopes to build a machine to harness the time marbles’ power and reverse the mutation.
After Violet discovers a marble that will pause time for a year, a stranger arrives in the village, desperate to possess the marble for himself. To save humanity, Violet must unravel the mysteries of the time marbles and embark on a journey that will take her through the hidden depths of the forest and to the very top of the space elevator.
A Note From the Publisher
Advance Praise
“Middle-grade readers who love thought-provoking SF will find this page-turner of a novel all but unputdownable. […] An obvious selling point here is the courageous and relatable main character, who is dealing with issues that will undoubtedly resonate with the target audience, such as the meaning of family, the power of friendship, and finding one’s place—or purpose—in the world. But Nelson’s impressively deep worldbuilding and backstory, which give the narrative an undeniable timeliness and thematic gravity, is arguably even more of a hook. The author also excels at exploring complex scientific theories and making them palatable for young readers.” Kirkus Reviews
“An exciting sci-fi adventure for young readers featuring space, robots and gadgets and time-pausing marbles. […] V S Nelson has created a great fictional role model of a girl interested in STEM subjects.” LoveReading
"The Girl Who Sold Time is a must-read for fans of imaginative sci-fi, strong female leads, and razor-sharp storytelling. If you like stories with survivalist grit, fast-paced adventure, and a touch of dark humor, this one’s for you." Literary Titan
“A top notch, sci-fi mystery filled with twists, turns, suspense and a cast of memorable characters. Fab for middle graders!” The Wishing Shelf
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9781836287223 |
| PRICE | £3.99 (GBP) |
| PAGES | 288 |
Links
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Ana V T, Reviewer
This one was a great surprise. I thought it was going to be a middlegrade dystopian, but it has some complexity and scifi elements with great plot twists. After the 50% mark, I couldn't put it down. The story becomes more and unveils a larger plot that may or not include space elevators, people who quit life to live in their "holodecks," and time traveling to save the planet. The mutation of the trees brings urgency. The use of time marbles shows creativity. I love the artwork as well. Great characters, great progressive journey, and concept.
Libby H, Reviewer
I absolutely adored The Girl Who Sold Time by VS Nelson! I loved the characters, and the worldbuilding was phenomenal. You had the lovable characters, fun and interesting world, and some mystery/intrigue to propel you forward and keep you fixated. The relationships between characters were so sweet and genuine, I couldn't get enough of the main character and her friends.
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