Kate Constable, Tumbleglass, Allen & Unwin, January 2023, 278 pp., RRP $17.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781760526962
Tumbleglass is an adventurous, magical time slip story. It’s about 13 year old Rowan who is transported back to 1999 with her older sister, Ash, when they discover a mysterious ring behind a book case at home. But when Ash does not return to the present with Rowan, she must travel back again to other earlier time periods to help conjure the magic that will rescue Ash.
A suspenseful story is woven around Rowan’s efforts to save her sister and the adventure of time travel, meeting latter day occupants of her house as they experience a significant life event. There’s a 1999 party at which Rowan meets her mother as a young woman, a 1972 Aboriginal land rights march, an afternoon tea to farewell a WWII soldier and in 1900 she meets a girl whose mother is dying.
Kate Constable, demonstrates considerable skill in bringing together this story that flows well, by seamlessly flipping from the present to the past and developing authentic characters.
This is the first kids’ time slip novel that I have read and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed its many engaging features. I love how it blends a story about a family with magical realism, adventure, and history. I was fascinating by the idea of Rowan experiencing her home during past eras. And the mystery of her parents’ puzzling lack of concern about Ash’s disappearance kept me wondering.
The target audience is middle grade (about 10-13 years old) and I recommend it for readers in that age group who like stories of adventure and magical realism with relatable characters.
Reviewed by Barbara Schwartz
