My last review was for How to Steal Time by Christopher Edge – a thrilling puzzle-based adventure exploring quantum computing, artificial intelligence and the power of human consciousness. Moral dilemmas about what we could do if we knew the future leave readers thinking.
The Time Engine by Lindsay Galvin is a great companion text to How to Steal Time as it explores similar themes but with a historical perspective. Set in 1938, Britain is on the edge of war. Eric’s parents are incredibly intelligent and receive letters asking them to attend a secret meeting at the War Office. Since his mum has been struggling with her mental health, she declines.
One day, Eric comes back from school early and discovers his mother’s secret in the attic – a strange machine with links to Ada Lovelace (a 19th century mathematician and writer, recognised as the world’s first computer programmer). Messing around where he shouldn’t, Eric manages to get the machine working and travels back in time! Through Eric’s adventure in the past, readers learn about life in 1828, the talent of a young Ada Lovelace and the implications of playing with time. Will he make it back to his own time and reassure his mother of her own abilities? Will his being there threaten the fabric of time? Will life ever be the same again?
The Time Engine is a perfect book for Key Stage Two, linking history, science and computing. Raising as many questions as it answers, it will inspire curiosity, creativity and a sense of wonder in its readers. Along with How to Steal Time, it would also be a fantastic introduction for Rhian Tracey’s Bletchley Park mystery series.
The Time Engine is another stellar example of a powerful Barrington Stoke partnership in which entertaining and meaningful stories by top authors are accessible for every reader. With dyslexia-friendly font, spacing and page tint, everyone can enjoy these books. The manageable length and carefully chosen vocabulary encourages success and brings children back for more.
Thank you to Barrington Stoke for a copy of this fantastic book!
Click on the covers below to find out more or purchase online:
Bookshop.org:
Amazon:
Books by Kate Heap:
| Primary English In Action by Kate Heap will be published in August 2026. Preorder it now! |
Disclosure: If you buy books using the links above, I may earn a commission from Bookshop.org whose fees support independent bookshops. As an Amazon Associate, Scope for Imagination earns from qualifying purchases.
Scope for Imagination 