Time Like a River [Hardcover]

Randy Perrin (Author), Tova Perrin (Author), Hannah Perrin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1997

Margie Belzer, 13, is studying for her Bar Mitzvah when her mother falls mysteriously ill. Margie travels back in time to find out the cause, and her miraculous journey forms the heart of this book.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-7?Until her 13th birthday celebration, Margie Belzer's biggest worry is preparing for her upcoming Bat Mitzvah. Then her veterinarian mother begins displaying some alarming medical symptoms. Over the next few days, her condition deteriorates even more. It is while working on a history assignment that Margie and her friend Isabel discover a diary written by Lee Chau Wing, an early California immigrant and herbalist. In it, Mr. Lee documents the illness that eventually kills him. Since his symptoms so closely resemble her mother's, and modern doctors have no answers, Margie travels back in time to convince Lee's son to perform an autopsy on his father. Once she understands the nature of Lee's sickness, she is able to relate it to her mother's condition, and doctors are able to treat Mrs. Belzer. This tries to be a time-travel novel, a mystery, and the story of a brave teenager facing a life-threatening situation, and the subsequent pace robs all three of their immediacy and emotional impact. Margie's journey through time is too easily accepted by the people she encounters, and she rather easily overrides the Lee family's concerns about an autopsy. There are brief nods to the mysteries of time and the concept of life in balance, but no discussion that asks, or answers, the questions that such mysteries pose. Readers who are accustomed to lightweight commercial fare will find this an acceptable read and perhaps a bridge to stories with more depth, such as Jean Marzollo's Halfway Down Paddy Lane (Dial, 1981; o.p.) for time travel or Cynthia Rylant's Kindness (Orchard, 1988; o.p.) for a life-altering crisis.?Patricia A. Dollisch, DeKalb County Public Library, Decatur, GA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Unforgettable" is the word best used to describe Time Like a River by Randy Perrin and his young daughters, Hannah and Tova. This book has several themes. The first illustrates the friendship between 13-year-old Margie, who is Jewish, and her best friend, Isabel, who is Catholic. The second is about Margie's mom, a vet, who has become dangerously ill with an unknown disease. The third is about a school history project the girls are working on which takes them to an historical archive where they find a diary written by a Chinese man 100 years before. The book then takes an eerie turn when Margie travels back in time to visit the Chinese man who recently lost his father to a mysterious malady. Through this experience Margie figures out the disease her mother has and helps the doctors save her life. The characters in this well-written novel have depth and sensitivity. The book also teaches children that history is fascinating. Social Studies teachers can also learn how much more important it is to emphasize how people lived, thought, and felt in the past, rather than make children memorize isolated facts. I recommend this book for everyone 4th grade level and above. -- From Independent Publisher

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: RDR Books; 1st ptg. edition (August 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 157143061X
• ISBN-13: 978-1571430618
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,580,332 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!, August 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Time Like a River (Hardcover)

Randy Perrin, et al, wrote a wonderful book. This book, unlike many on the market, actually sounds like it was told from the point of view of a teenager. I enjoyed it beginning to end, and read it many more times. Definetaly read this book!

4.0 out of 5 stars Captivating and magical, January 26, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Highland Park, New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Time Like a River (Hardcover)

"TIME LIKE A RIVER" is a captivating and magical story with interesting characters and suprising plot twists. Whatever minor flaws it may contain, they certainly do not detract from the telling of the story. This book reads like a fairy tale with modern characters and themes. Excellent for all ages.

4.0 out of 5 stars Rich in plot, intelligent language, humor and history., January 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Time Like a River (Hardcover)

My ten year old daughter (who I converse with as an adult) and I enjoyed reading this book separately. It was clever, suspenseful and written in a way that should be appealing to adults as well as young people. The historical details and the ethnic references ring true and are woven together very naturally, aiding considerably in supporting the science-fiction like plot which is the only part that slightly tarnished our appreciation. We had a similar reaction to the same kind of story we saw in a Hallmark program called "Love Letters." Overall, however, all the essential elements of a good book fit together very tightly. I would highly recommend this book to adults and kids who want to read a book together for thought, discussion and shared enjoyment. I've always been amused by those people who think Mark Twain's books were written for kids. Hopefully, people won't make the same mistake about this book.