Time traveling with a Hamster by Ross Welford

Time Traveling with a Hamster by Ross Welford

Science Fiction, Adventure

age 11-13

grade 6-8

426 pages

c. 2016

Time Traveling with a Hamster is a mix of many things, a basic explanation of time travel, a fast paced adventure story, and a story of an immigrant family, a book dealing with issues of friendship, grief and loss and also containing humorous episodes. There are a few times when the word “God” is used inappropriately. However I still feel the book has merit.

It is the story of Albert Einstein Hawking Chaudhory, normally referred to as Al, and the surprising request he receives by a letter from his dead father on his twelfth birthday to use the time travel machine his father invented and go back in time to prevent the go-karting accident that eventually caused his father’s death as an adult. Al is pretty skeptical at first but when he actually finds his dad’s time machine he begins to believe that it just might be possible to save his dad’s life. Of course time travel is not without its problems and Al runs into many as the story progresses. He also finds himself in the awkward position of having to do things that he would normally not do, such as breaking into his parent’s old house, where the time machine is, “borrowing” his grandfather’s motorcycle to travel to the old house, breaking into a school in another time period to use the computers, and finally setting the school computer lab on fire to destroy the evidence of his being there.

There are many interesting, well developed characters in the book. Al, who is Anglo-Indian, is a sensitive, nerdy kid with the ability to think outside the box. He is a brave, loyal friend who is also dealing with some bullying at school and adjusting to his new step-father who really doesn’t understand him or his interests. He has a beautiful relationship with his grandfather, who is himself an interesting and well developed character. There are some touching and humorous moments when twelve year old Al meets his twelve year old father.

Many things go horribly wrong in Al’s attempt to save his father. Al does manage to remove the brick in the path of the go-karte but because of the actions of another boy his father drowns. This alters the space-time continuum, changing everything Al returns to a future where his grandfather has been profoundly changed by his grief in losing his son at age twelve, and his mother is married to another man and does not recognize Al. Spoiler Alert: With some quick thinking and a desperate last effort  Al manges to send a message to his father in 1984 which avoids his death by go-cart accident and changes the future for Al and his mother. Thus, Al  does manage to save his father and his hamster, which at one point was left behind in another time period. I have tried to highlight some things that some parents might find objectionable. I feel for the intended audience it is still a worthwhile read. As always I am interested in your thoughts and comments.