Customer Reviews

Time at the Top

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I read this 30 years ago and loved it so much that the title and even the author's quirky name stayed in memory. I have checked it out from the public library as an adult and have discovered that it's still as good as it was to my 11-year-old sensibilities. A spunky girl who lives with her widowed father and is a little bit lonely is transported back in time courtesy of her New York apartment building's elevator. She gets three chances to go to "the top," where she finds friendship and family, buried treasure, indeed a whole new life. Shall she stay? And what to tell Dad?

Susan Shaw is one of the most intriguing girls I have ever known in fiction. She comes alive as Edward Ormondroyd narrates portions of the story and lets Susan travel back to 1881 and befriend Victoria and Robert Walker. They have a unique dilemma involving their widowed mother and a very ruthless suitor. Only Susan and her knowledge of the future can prevent Mr. Sweeney's corrupt plan. The narrative is life-like, with ironic twists of humor and drama. Mr. Ormondroyd's command of the English language comes from his love of books and his career as a master librarian. This book and its sequel, "All In Good Time," are highly prized in any library of teenage and young adult fiction.

I read this book back in the 70s and it was my all time
favorite. It really appealed to my sense of adventure and
I loved the idea of time travel. Now I love reading historical
novels. If I could find it again I'd definitely buy it
to share with my children. If I could, I'd give it 10 stars!

This isn't much of a review but I remember that my sixth grade teacher read this to our class and I never forgot it. Recently, I have tried to find it to re-read, but alas no luck. Maybe some of Mrs. Willette's other students remember it, too? Also, there is a sequel.

This book was one of my favorites when I was a kid...too many years ago to mention. Oh, all right then...40 years ago. I loved Susan Shaw and was so thrilled with her adventures. It is wonderful that this book is back in print so that more kids can run away to the past with Susan.

I read this book over 25 years ago as a child, and always remembered it fondly. I remember a lonely girl in an apartment building tries to follow a mysterious child in an elevator, only to find herself teleported to a time warp in the past, where she helps her new friends and discovers important lessons such as cherishing family. I highly reccommend this book-one always remembers it

Good dialogue, wonderfully crafted story.

Protagonist is a girl, but boys love it, too. I read it at age 12, and again read it aloud to my kids when they were 8 and 10 years old.

I read this book many times as a child and loved in. I am so pleased to see it's return! I hope that they also reprint the sequel that followed it. I read that one also!!

I have a hardcover of this book - first edition - and where my kids have long since destroyed the dust jacket, the book sits amongst other treasured stories of my youth. I loved this book so much, I 'borrowed' this copy from a friend and never returned it -- another story in and of itself. But the book haunted me, as did the transgression, and when I finally offered to return the book to her some 30 years later, she told me to enjoy the book and give it to my children! Few books today capture a child's love of time travel like this one. Read and enjoy Susan's journey.

I read and re-read this book as a kid. Recently a student of mine ased abotu books on time traveling and I thought of this one and another book, "The Root Cellar" that could be of interest.
I loved Time At The Top, Susan was a great character and I truly loved to read about her comprehension of her situation and her strong decisisons to help the family she comes to know...