Time Travelling with a Hamster

I adored this book! It has that rare quality of being easy to read, yet extremely well-written, and a little bit deep in a way that has you thinking about it long after you have finished it. Like John Green's 'A Fault in Our Stars', it includes literary references in a very digestible way, particularly a genius presentation of TS Eliot's key lines from A Four Quartets. The basic premise is the big existential quantum physics "spacetime dimensional thingy" underpinning a funny, original, adventurous, moving, contemporary-yet-old-fashioned story, full of twists and turns, satisfying pay-offs and a wonderful end. The intricacies of family and inter-generational relationships are beautifully explored; I laughed and cried and thought about my own. The North East setting of the tale is a breath of fresh air too. It's the kind of book you want to devour to find out what happens, yet eke out at the same as you don't want it to be over. A rollicking good read for any age, definitely not "just" for tweens.

You can't go wrong with Ross Welford, and this book is one of my favourite ever stories. It's touching, with high stakes, nostalgic for anyone who lived in the 80's, and also completely quirky. I mean, a time-travel bath tub. And an alternate time line. Brilliant.

I'm 43 and really enjoyed this book - so I would imagine it'd go down even better with the target age group. It's a perfect introduction to the concept of time travel for kids (plus, Ross Welford also throws in some great memory-recall tips, that I'm sure a lot of children will want to explore further). This is a very easy read with a hugely likable narrator (young Albert who, at 12, receives a letter from his dad (who died when Albert was 8) telling him there's a way for Albert to travel back in time and prevent his death). So, armed with a very thrown-together time machine and his hamster, Alan Shearer, Albert sets off to put right the past - but it doesn't all go according to plan. This was great fun to read - and, at points, Welford's easy prose and spot-on tone of voice put me in mind of Patrick Ness. I can see great things ahead for this writer, and I'll definitely be reading his next novel when it comes out. I'm also a big fan of books that make children think - and this one certainly will. It touches on a lot of life's big mysteries - but also those things that are important closer to home (such as family values, loyalty, love, friendship and hope). There was only one 'blooper' I spotted in the novel SPOLIER ALERT AHEAD - and maybe someone can help answer this (or maybe I've just not 'got' the time travel rule) . . . According to Welford's doppelganger effect, a person (or, indeed, object) cannot travel back to a time period they have previously inhabited. So they can't travel within their own timeline (hence why Albert's dad can't go back to save himself), nor can they re-visit a past timeline (pre-dating their birth) that they've visited before (in case they run into themselves). This is shown early on in the novel, when Albert's dad couldn't send a clock to the same point in time twice). Towards the end of the novel, Albert can't go back - so instead sends a note, and his hamster, who's been travelling with him all along. Hence my confusion - I couldn't work out how the hamster was able to go back to a timeframe it had already inhabited! A small point really which didn't affect my enjoyment of the book - but did cause me to scratch my head as to whether there was a continuity error, or I was just being dim! This is a lovely book though, and I could imagine it being well enjoyed by a young readership of 8-12 years old.

Loved it from start to finish. The characters are really endearing and the relationships are well portrayed- emotional and yet not slushy. The science is interesting and integral and yet not enough to put off anyone who is not a science buff. The nature of the time machine is so Heath Robinson that it stops you questioning how well the science of that aspect is portrayed. I teach in a primary school and would have no hesitation recommending it to the older kids, but it would be equally good for high school kids and I really enjoyed it as an adult. I just loved the little sub plot of subterfuge with the goth step sister - made me chuckle greatly, especially the photo. Don't want to spoil the plot so won't write any more - just buy it.

In 2016, Ross Welford wrote “ Time Travelling with a Hamster “ a children's science-fiction and fantasy book. It was his first book and one of his most famous. It is about a twelve year old boy named Albert Einstein Hawking Chaudhery; Al for short. Al lives with his stepdad Steve, his hamster Alan Shearer, his Mum and his step sister Carly in Northumberland, England. In this book Al travels back to 1984 to try and stop his dad's “accidental death. “ This book is filled with nail-biting action, cliffhangers and adventures full of adrenaline. Al’s character is very headstrong and brave because he likes to try new things. I know this because in the book he gets coordinates to a time machine and he is non-hesitant to try and travel back in time. As the story went on more characters made an introduction. We learnt more and more about them throughout the book. My favourite character is Al’s grandpa, Byron. I like him because he learnt to control his temper so he never gets angry. He also dresses in saffron robes to make himself stand out. I dislike Carly because she made a mean impression of grandpa Byron behind his back even though Al liked his smell. This makes the reader feel bad for Byron because he is always nice. I liked this book and recommend it to anyone from the age of 9-14. I would give it 4/5 stars. Brody - Dosbarth Eagles

I know this is a children’s book and I’m some years beyond childhood myself, but still I loved it. I admit that I’ve had a bit of a thing about time travel since reading ‘A Traveller in Time’ by Alison Uttley as a teenager. Much as I love (and recommend) that book, this book has so much more to offer the 21st Century reader. The hero, twelve year old Al, received a letter from his late father asking him to use a time machine to travel back in time to change an event that later lead to his (Dad’s) early death. Simple, thinks Al, but in the tradition of all quests everything that can go wrong does, and Al jeopardises more than his own future. I can’t say much more about the plot without spoiling a story that everyone who enjoys a good story, with great characters, real fun and true empathy should read. Give yourself a treat and try a bit of time travelling.

I loved this book from the very first line - probably one of the best story starts I have read! It draws you in and you can't wait to find out more. This book is about a boy called Al and his hamster travelling back to 1984 to save his dad. It is full of adventure, it's funny and sad at the same time - and a little bit crazy! You will like this if you are 9-11 and like mad adventures!

I really enjoyed this book as an adult. the characters were well thought out and appealing. I loved the storyline, and it worked really well, and was incredibly well thought out. Obviously a great deal of thought was put into the time travel aspect, and it showed! the book was also very funny, and a great look at a kids relationship with his father and grandfather. my only issue was that there were a few cases of animal cruelty in it, which would have been fine if they hadn't been pretty much written off, and not made a big deal out of. They were shown as being BAD acts, but i felt there wasn't enough punishment to show just HOW bad they were. especially when the bullies were going to set the cat on fire. I also worry about the hamster. Adorable little addition to the story, and it wouldn't be the same without it, but it concerns me that Al carried it around with him, lost it regularly, and generally got it into bad and dangerous situations. Alright, he always went back for it, but i think that it might be up to parents to say to their kids who read this that they shouldn't do that sorta stuff with their own hamsters, as they will probably not get them back. i hate to be that person who picks on stuff like that within a book, but it really bothered me, despite actually really enjoying the story. So i plan on reading more of Welford's books, as i was impressed with this one for the most part.

Great read, full of suspense. Once you start reading it is hard to put the bookdown. Lots of twists and turns.

This has been the most interesting book I have ever read!! I savoured every word of it and it has been an amazing journey!! Well thought out, well written, perfect book!!

Ross Welford is fast become one of my favourite Middle Grade Fiction authors and this amazing novel has all the ingredients for a classic of the genre. The twisty-turny plot is deliciously complicated and the book is never predictable. Loaded with lashings of humour, sympathetic characters and a very relatable motivations, this is an excellent read.

Fiaba per bambini, comprata per imparare/migliorare l'inglese. Storia super cute, molto dolce. Lessico facile e scorrevole, adatto anche a uno che non conosce moltissimo la lingua.

Good book