Out of Time

“Out of Time” by Mark Golding, illustrated by Lucian Gradinariu, is a fun, exciting fantasy sci-fi book that will have middle-grade readers raving and sharing young Joe Jackson’s adventures. Joe is twelve years old. He has a big sense of adventure and curiosity, and that comes in handy when you live in the so-called ho-hum town of Highcross, known mostly for its munitions factory.

One day he explores a World War II bomb that hasn’t been detonated yet, and it sets him on an incredible once-in-a-lifetime event that leads him to meet an extra-terrestrial being called Max, who is literally from another planet. This time-travel journey through space involves Joe, Max, and their friends Mo and the Robinsons. Dinosaurs aren’t the only things they run into. They also meet up with medieval knights and Roman Legionnaires, and of course, there is a standout villain known as Darden who is out to conquer Earth.

Golding captures the imagination in an exciting way in this book, and the stellar artwork really brings the adventure to life, especially with the otherworldly concepts. The book, with the story combined with pictures, makes you think you’re watching a sci-fi animation film, and I think young readers will really love this aspect. Besides being a fun read, it’s also a history lesson of sorts, even though it is far from the experience of reading a dry history book. Be prepared for interesting historical details, and scenes with vivid imagery, both on the illustrations and in your own mind.

The unexpected nature of the book gives it a dynamic feel because you don’t know what will happen next. The pacing is even, and the suspense builds. The dialogue sparkles and the whole book is grounded in the beginning in a nicely-described setting of where Joe lives and how his life is prior to the adventure. This is one of those great books parents can enjoy as much as their children, and then talk about it together; something that can’t be said for every book. For a science fiction adventure sure to keep middle graders turning pages, “Out of Time” by Mark Golding is a must-read.

In this middle-grade SF novel, a tween befriends an alien stranded on Earth, and together they embark on a journey across time and space to save the planet.

Twelve-year-old Joe Jackson’s life in the dull English town of Highcross takes an unexpected turn from the ordinary to the extraordinary when he befriends Maxelon, an alien from the faraway planet Proxima Centauri b. The journey kicks off with a chance discovery at the site of a controlled explosion of a World War II bomb, where Joe finds Max, who’s been marooned on Earth for nearly a year. Max “looked like he was about 15 years old. His skin was very pale, and he had jet black hair…He wore a utility belt with lots of strange-looking gadgets hanging from it.” The alien is trying to thwart the nefarious ambitions of Dardan, a member of a warmongering species from Max’s home planet, intent on seizing control of Earth. As Joe and Max become fast friends and allies, the duo uses advanced alien tech to track Dardan back in time all the way to the Cretaceous era, when dinosaurs still roamed Earth. From then on, the friends gather more companions (including the Robinsons, a family stuck in the past whom the pals rescue) and continue their trek through time—from the Cretaceous era to Roman Britain and the early-medieval period. They eventually travel to an altered present to prevent Dardan from taking over Earth while attempting to protect their own timeline. Aliens, dinosaurs, Roman legionnaires, and even King Arthur intersect in Golding’s fun time-traveling story, which focuses on Joe and Max’s evolving friendship. Gradinariu’s vivid illustrations enrich the tale, capturing the whimsical essence of the novel’s wacky escapades, from the surreal sight of Roman legionnaires charging into battle atop dinosaurs to the SF and historical capers. This entertaining story is filled with adventures, twists and turns, and a mix of historical periods and extraterrestrial encounters, telling a yarn about two brave heroes on a mission to stop a dark timeline from taking hold.

A delightfully zany time-travel tale.

Mark Golding's Out of Time is a book that starts off with a bang (literally) and never lets up.

The author is a big talent and has delivered a tale jam-packed with adventure that children will devour. The storyline is brilliantly whimsical and unique, making imaginations run wild as they follow all the unpredictably fun plot twists.

One of the things that stood out most to me was how much educational value is seamlessly integrated into the action, making it a fun way for children to learn interesting, new things.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book very much and can't wait to read more from Golding, who is sure to become a favourite author of young readers everywhere.

Out of Time is about a curious twelve-year-old boy called Joe, who loves adventure. Joe lives in a sleepy town in England where not much happens. Lucky for Joe he ends up on the biggest adventure when he stumbles on an unexploded World War II bomb in a cave. Joe bumps into another boy called Max who is from another planet Proxima Centauri b. Max is in need of Joe's help in order to restore world peace and to save earth from the evil Dardian. Joe embarks on an exciting adventure with Max traveling through time as well as space; can they save the planet earth and Maxs´ planet from the evil Dardian? This is an exciting story that takes you on a journey throughout history exploring different eras. The book takes you back to the Cretaceous period when dinosaurs ruled the earth but also to the period when Romans ruled. I would recommend this book for children who enjoy different times. I recommend this book for children who have an interest in various historical periods. Additionally, I recommend it for children who may not initially be captivated by history, as I believe it has the potential to spark their curiosity. The book has an easy flow and lovely illustrations throughout the book. The story is filled with humour and a captivating page-turner that readers will find difficult to set aside.