The Time Trials by Jon and Dayna McConnell- Book review/Blog Tour

I’m pleased to be part of the  Write Reads Tours for The Time Trials by Jon and Dayna McConnell which placed 8^th in the  BBNYA2022

After the deaths of his parents in a horrific car accident — one that he considers his own fault — Walkman-toting, guitar-playing Finn Mallory would do anything to turn back time…to press “rewind.” When he’s admitted on full scholarship to an elite boarding school, things get more complicated: he becomes an “Unfortunate” in a sea of rich kids whose shoes cost more than his late parents made in a week. An invitation to a boring-sounding history club changes everything, as this team does much more than research and field trips.
Well….they do take field trips. Just not the kind you’re thinking. For Finn, the present was already enough to deal with, but now he finds that he also must reckon with the past, in more ways than one.

Review

I was pleased to be chosen as one of the Book Bloggers Novel of The Year 2022 bloggers and I have to say this Young Adult sci-fi, The Time Trials, by Jon and Dayna was one of my favourites- I’m not surprised it placed 8th overall.

Read more: The Time Trials by Jon and Dayna McConnell- Book review/Blog Tour

I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.

Finn, the lead character, is still struggling to come to terms with the loss of his parents and has to adjust to living as ‘unfortunate’ when he receives a full scholarship to a posh boarding school. But his life changes when he is introduced to a time-travelling history club ( probably every history nerd’s dream come true).

The book explores the reality of childhood grief- Finn’s guilt and self-blame is realistic and how this actually impacts his life, unlike some YA and middle-grade books that often gloss over the real lasting impact of losing a parent. This makes his eventual friendship with the rest of the Time Trial team so much more satisfying.

While the rest of the team feels like the usual YA stereotypes, Evelyn, Valerie and Edison have their own difficulties to navigate including neurodiversity, parental expectations and abandonment. The book captures that feeling of being an outsider. 

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves books on Time Travel at any age!