The Chaos Clock (Contemporary Kelpie) [Paperback]

Gill Arbuthnott (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Contemporary Kelpie

"What do you mean, we are the keys?" Kate asked incredulously. "From time to time, certain people are born whose fate it is to aid or thwart the attempts of Chaos to destroy time. You and David are two such people. Look." As he spoke, the room turned misty around them. Kate and David are eleven-years-old and best of friends, playing football and doing their museum project together. But in Edinburgh, where they live, time is coming unstuck and the past is breaking loose. Old Mr Flowerdew needs their help in the war between the Lords of Chaos and the Guardians of Time, centred around the mysterious Millennium Clock at the Royal Museum. Can Kate use her grandmother's golden necklace to restrain the power of Chaos, and will David be able to help the Guardians, even if it means losing his mother all over again?

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A challenging read, with finely-drawn characters ... this novel is worthy of its famous predecessors." -- Elizabeth Finlayson, School Librarian Journal

"An unusual, enjoyable combination of fantasy thriller and psychological drama with a warmly satisfying ending." -- Kathryn Ross, The Scotsman

"Utterly convincing, written without affectation of self-consciousness." -- Di Hope, Times Education Supplement Scotland

About the Author

Gill Arbuthnott is a teacher living in Edinburgh. This is her first novel.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Floris Books (October 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0863154220
• ISBN-13: 978-0863154225
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,516,110 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome story for your older children!, April 3, 2008

By 

homeschooling mom of 4 (Central Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Chaos Clock (Contemporary Kelpie) (Paperback)

This fantasy story has it all! The dream parts where the children had to make a decision between good and bad was exciting as was when the museum came to life. My children and I cannot wait to read the sequel! This was an awesome book!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A pleasingly old-fashioned kids' fantasy, April 6, 2006

By 

Booksthatmatter "Booksthatmatter" (Brighton, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Chaos Clock (Contemporary Kelpie) (Paperback)

A perfect summer-holiday page-turner for the under 12's. The Chaos Clock has insider value for readers who know Edinburgh, but whether they do or not Gill Arbuthnott is guaranteed to engage them with a classic good vs evil adventure. Owing a lot to writers like Susan Cooper, the story is an addition to the canon of tales of great powers holding our lives in the balance. Kate and David, the children at the centre of the story are believable contemporary kids (where this firmly differs from Susan Cooper's 1960s creations). David's personal history, with his mother's death haunting him, adds a bit of grit to the narrative. Kate's family is nicely drawn - particularly the slightly harassed mother and toddler Ben.

Over all The Chaos Clock is short sweet and lively. The perfect recipe for quiet children on a not-too-long flight or car journey with the added pleasure that I enjoyed it a whole lot myself too. I look forward to its sequel.