Timefire (Nean McKenzie, MidnightSun)
Nean McKenzie is the author of two previous middle-grade novels. Her latest, Timefire, interweaves a story about bushfires in Australia with supernatural and time-travel elements. Gilbert Black is drawn to fire and has a burn on his back that throbs when a fire is imminent. His mother disappeared during a big fire at Mallacoota when he was younger, and the local kids bully him, claiming that Gilbert and his mother are both firebugs. After being persuaded by a mysterious man in a black coat to walk into a burning fire, Gilbert is transported 50 years back in time to his grandmother’s house. It’s the day of an infamous fire, and his grandmother is a young girl. Gilbert slowly discovers he comes from a long line of Fire Seekers who can travel through fire. He travels back to catastrophic fires in Australian history, meeting many of his relatives, including his grandfather, who is a Time Seeker and guide along his journey. While time travel is an intriguing concept, it needs strict rules to be believable and the logistics of the story stretched credibility for this reader. Gilbert is an appealing character and readers aged 9–12 who like history or adventure stories will savour this story about catastrophic fires of Australian history.
Books+Publishing reviewer: Angela Crocombe is a senior buyer and bookseller at Readings Kids Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.
Category: Reviews