Time machine & other stories

Mary McCallum has edited this collection of 18 short stories and a novella by Melinda Syzmanik. The stories range in length from just three pages to ten pages, making it an excellent book for teachers to choose one to read aloud. Some of the stories e.g. A Winter’s Day in 1939, are excerpts from Melinda’s earlier books but there is a lot of new and exciting reading here.

With a wide variety of genre included there will be something to appeal to every reader: the adrenaline rush of a home-made billy-cart race; history during the second-world war; and the magic of a crocodile tooth, or a mother who has eyes in the back of her head and can predict your next moves. Some stories have an unexpected twist and some stories just have that feel-good satisfying ending. The theme of time machines carries through the book with three different stories relating to time, past and present.

Theo Macdonald has done a superb job of the front cover with bright colours and a reference to HG Wells’ book of a similar title. Within the book are some black and white illustrations, adding detail and expression to the stories.

This book would be an excellent addition to any home or school library.

Title: Time machine & other stories

Author: Melinda Szymanik

Illustrator: Theo Macdonald

Publisher: Ahoy, imprint of Cuba Press

ISBN: 9780995119741

RRP: $25.00

Format: paperback (also available as an ebook)

Date of Publication: 9 August 2019

Ages: 9-14

Reviewer: Nova Gibson, Library Manager, Massey Primary School, Auckland

How are you recommending this book? Highly Recommended

Opening line: Just outside the driveway of Number Four was the bottom of the big hill.

You can buy this book here

Melinda Szymanik is available to visit schools through the Writers in Schools programme