This is a sparkling, original time travel novel - the story of Tom, who travels back in time to the 18th century where he meets a group of people who are displayed as monsters at Bartholomew Fair. Against a vividly-drawn background, Tom is able to help them tackle some of their difficulties, while at the same time acquiring the strength to tackle his own, modern-day problems. Julie Hearn was formerly a tabloid journalist, and studied Creative Writing with Philip Pullman, who is a supporter of her work. There has been much pre-publication excitement, including press coverage a full year before publication in the "Bookseller", "Publishing News", and the "Times".
Tom is dealing with his mother's cancer. His father is in Australia and his mother decides that it's time to visit her mother and make amends.
There's something odd in the basement though, voices and smells filter through from the early 18th century, and through a gap in the room, Tom finds himself in 18th Century London, among the Freaks from a freakshow.
Their Giant is dead and they want to save him from the Anatomists. Passing from his own time to the earlier time - where he's invisible but his clothes aren't! Being in the past hurts too but Tom wants to help.
An interesting story about coming to terms with things and trying to learn to live with both the things you can change and the things you can't and the courage to do what you can to change both yourself and to help others.
Reading updates
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Started reading
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1 March, 2007:
Finished reading
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1 March, 2007:
Reviewed