The Time Thief by Linda Buckley-Archer is the sequel to The Time Travelers. Two kids travel back in time to 1763, but only one of them successfully returns to the 21st century. Three weeks later Kate, the girl who made it back to the 21st century, attempts to return to 1763 accompanied by Peter's father. The main character, Peter (the boy who got stuck in 1763), waited thirty years for Kate to come back to rescue him, when she finally does. The time difference was a result of Kate not going back far enough in time. The story tells of their experiences as they try to find a way back to each other and back to their own century. The Time Thief is a good piece of literature because of its suspense and unpredictability throughout the whole book.
The Author, Linda Buckley-Archer, always uses the end of each chapter for a cliffhanger creating a suspenseful moment that pushes the reader to read on. The author also uses secondary conversations to give the main character information or clues about things they have to put together, and indirectly to the reader as well.
“Well, that's it,” Mr. Schock exclaimed bitterly. “We're stranded here and there's nothing e can do about it.
Kate felt numb. First the fast-forwarding, then the discovery that it was 1792, and now this! They were stranded in a different century and this time it could be forever! She could scarcely take it all in. And then the thought struck her like a thunderbolt.
“You don't think that Peter could still be here do you? Waiting to be rescued all of this time…? (Buckley-Archer 145)
Of course as the reader has already found out, Peter is indeed still there and is currently searching them out. This is merely one of the many instances that the author uses suspense to keep the reader drawn into the book. This one passage leaves so many questions in the readers mind as to whether or not they Peter will find them, and then what do they do? Another way that the author uses creates suspense is by changing the time frame, from one chapter to the next, even if she must make one chapter extremely short, for example chapter eight is only two pages long, when the average chapter length is ten to twelve pages long. She also incorporates suspense by skipping from one conversation to another. For example, on page 157, She switches between a conversation involving a scientist from 1792, Sir Joseph, who is helping to try and repair the time machine, over to a conversation between Peter and Queen Charlotte having a lovely conversation in the Queens palatial garden.
“So? What do you think Sir Joseph, can you fix it?” Kate asked
“Well…” [Sir Joseph]
“Kangaroos, in the garden, that's something I thought I would never see,” said Peter with much surprise.
“Yes, they truly are magnificent creatures aren't they?” Replied the Queen, happy that Peter had noticed. “I thought you might like them, this is where I come to think sometimes they are very soothing creatures to watch.”
This is an example of how the author uses suspense to keep the reader hooked; later on in the chapter she does the some thing except in reverse order, she goes from Peter and the Queen to Sir Joseph and Kate. This is an exceptional way to keep a reader tied into the book because it drives you to find out whether or not Sir Joseph can help (even though it is pretty clear that he most likely can't seeing as he is, technologically, 200 years behind). While suspense was a major part of why this book is so great there is another reason as well, unpredictability is another great attribute that this book possesses.
While using the ends of the chapters for suspense, the author also uses a lot of unpredictability throughout the book. The first of many unpredictable parts in the book was on page 57 when Kate called up Peter's father and invited him to return to 1763 with her to find Peter. This is not something that would have been anticipated by the reader, because Peter's parents had no idea what really happened, so for her to call Peter's father and then explain everything to him, was extremely unpredictable. Another unpredictable event was that once they fired up the Anti-Gravity machine (the time machine) they ended up in the wrong time! They went to 1792 instead of 1763. The author leads the reader to believe that they will have a huge adventure in 1763 trying to find a way back to the 21st century; instead they have the adventure in 1792. Kate's father was also unpredictable because in the first book he is portrayed as being an extremely moral man, but in the second book he is not portrayed in that way. He wants to destroy the Anti-Gravity machine WITHOUT going back for Peter, leaving him in the 18th century.
“Listen,” said Dr. Dyer. “I am trying very hard to keep my head and to do the right thing. I didn't say that I was happy about leaving Peter in the eighteenth century! And I'm sure that Anita isn't either but…”
Clearly he is planning on leaving Peter in the 18th century, and is going ahead with destroying the Anti-Gravity Machine.
This was especially shocking because in the first book he is the person who goes back in time to rescue the children so for him to say that he is willing to leave Peter in 1763 is completely out of character. Unpredictability is a key aspect to this book.
In conclusion, The Time Thief, by Linda Buckley-Archer has suspense and unpredictability; two attributes that are mandatory for a well-written novel. Suspense made The Time Thief an excellent book because it kept the reader wanting to know what is going to happen. It would draw the in and push them to read on even through the boring parts of the book. Likewise unpredictability was also a key factor in making this book an excellent one. It, along with suspense, could keep the reader wondering what was going to happen. It gets a person thinking and using their imagination about what kind of twists that the book might take from there. Suspense and unpredictability are like the coal that kept the fire of imagination and emotion alive and flowing throughout the whole book. These are what make The Time Thief, by Linda Buckley-Archer an amazing and truly timeless novel. This book, as well as it's prequel and sequel should undoubtedly be added to the tenth grade summer reading recommendation sheet.
