Time Bomb [Hardcover]

Nigel Hinton (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

Betrayal by the adults in their lives sparks anger and solidarity in 11-year-old Andy and his three best friends. When the boys discover leftover WWII ordnance in their favorite play site, they make a life-changing decision as a result of these injustices. Set against a crisply realized backdrop of post-war Britian, Nigel Hinton's story will hook readers from page one and ignite discussion about right and wrong, prejudice and consequence, life and death.AwardsThe Outstanding International Books for 2007Project of the United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY) and the Children's Book Council

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8–Four years after World War II has ended, a group of 12-year-old Londoners come of age amid personal and political turmoil. The story is narrated by Andrew, who, as an adult, looks back at the summer he and his friends spent riding bikes around town and exploring the overgrown property at a bombed-out manor. Each boy is faced with personal concerns: Eddie's angry stepfather beats him; Manny is the target of anti-Semitic remarks; Bob tries to overcome a stutter that his athletic dad sees as a weakness; and Andrew finds out that his father is cheating on his mother. Add to these issues an unwarranted punishment that they received from a loved and respected teacher as the school year was ending and the feelings of adult betrayal are overwhelming. When the boys stumble upon a buried bomb at the abandoned site, they see it as a source of power: a way to get even with those who treat them unfairly. Readers will empathize with the characters and the decisions they face. Although the backdrop of Communist and Fascist protests may cause some confusion, Hinton has created a compelling story about the impact of secrets and the complexities of friendship. A map helps set the stage for the action, and the glossary defines most of the slang terms with which American readers may be unfamiliar.–Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
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From the Publisher

* Outstanding International Book, 2007--United States Board on Books for Young People. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Tricycle Press (October 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582461864
• ISBN-13: 978-1582461861
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,102,905 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 Exceptional!, September 13, 2007

By 

Grant Handsall (Brooklyn, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Time Bomb (Hardcover)

Time Bomb is, simply, a superb book that I unreservedly recommend. Great characters - schoolboys during a long hot second world war summer - in a riveting situation: they find an unexploded bomb in the piece of land they treat as a playground. The bomb is the catalyst for everything; but around the schoolboys spins the rest of the world - their arguing secretive parents, their teachers and choirmasters, and best (or worst) of all, the engimatic Cap, who works his way into their friendship and enlists their support. While the plot works perfectly, the period details are just as good. Though ultimately meant for teenagers, I'd recommend this book to anyone. In a world of adults who read Harry Potter without shame, there surely must be a small space on large bookshelves for Time Bomb. Bravo!