Time Traveling With a Hamster

September 12, 2016
The lighthearted title of British writer Welford’s debut misleads a bit: this is a heavy story about loss that asks weighty scientific questions. Albert Einstein Hawking Chaudhury, a British boy of Indian descent, receives two unusual gifts for his 12th birthday: a hamster and a letter from his late father, Pye (short for Pythagoras), who died suddenly four years earlier, devastating Al. The startling letter makes Al’s friendless existence seem trivial: Pye wants Al to use a time machine hidden at the family’s former home to avert the childhood injury that will eventually lead to his death at age 39. “Great birthday present, Dad,” Al thinks before embarking on a risky mission that begins with vehicle theft and ends with arson. All the while, Welford has Al grapple with complex questions about the effects of altering the space-time continuum, including whether an unsuccessful mission might mean erasing himself. Though Welford’s story runs a tad long and can get rather complicated (perhaps understandably given his approach to the theoretical subject), it should find a home with readers looking for mind-expanding, thought-provoking adventures. Ages 8–12.

Bruce Mann's lively narration and reflective tone help to build the world of this poignant, inventive tale. Twelve-year-old Al Chaudhury receives a letter from his dead father directing him to a time machine. Amid a plot featuring time travel, family history, science, and brain-bending paradoxes, Welford's characters are endearing and bold. Mann's portrayals draw listeners further into their adventures. He tackles a variety of accents and personalities with fluidity and insight, and his pacing draws a keen distinction between the high stakes of the Al's time-traveling adventures and the measured world-building of his homelife. While the story builds gradually before peaking in intensity, the payoff is worth it, and listeners will enjoy the ride. Ideal for road trips, and fans of both science fiction and adventure. K.S.B. � AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine