Time out of Time: Book Two: The Telling Stone

by Maureen Doyle McQuerry

Overview

In book two of the Time out of Time series, the excitement and mystery continue as Timothy; his sister, Sarah; and their friend, Jessica, journey to Edinburgh, Scotland, where they seek the Four Treasures, especially the Telling Stone. They must keep the treasures from falling into the hands of Balor, who will use them to deprive the world of good. The children pass through Time out of Time as they undertake their quest, encountering mythic and folkloric characters, including the Tuatha Dé Danann, Gwydon, and Cerridwyn. A code hidden in an ancient map is the key to finding the Telling Stone. The book includes a four-color map and concludes with a glossary of the many historical, literary, and folkloric references mentioned in both this and the first Time out of Time volume.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781613127643
Publisher:	ABRAMS
Publication date:	05/12/2015
Series:	Time Out of Time
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	6 MB
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Maureen Doyle McQuerry is an award-winning poet, author, and teacher. She was the 2000 McAuliffe Fellow for Washington State and has published two nonfiction books and numerous poems. She is the author of the Time Out of Time duet. She lives in Richland, Washington. Visit her online at maureenmcquerry.com.

Editorial Reviews

"A code embedded in an old map adds an interesting element and gives readers a chance to play along, while the enticing cover is sure to beckon kids in."

Booklist

Fresh from his last adventure, Timothy returns to the otherworldly market and discovers that the Dark forces have mobilized again. After temporarily halting Balor’s evil army, Timothy, Jessica, and Sarah find that Timothy has received the crown that designates him the new Filidh, keeper of all stories. In order to continue their quest to destroy Balor’s forces, the children must find the powerful Telling Stone. Timothy is gifted a map that has neither a key nor a compass, and despite their best efforts, the gang cannot decipher it. Timothy’s father is given a job opportunity in Scotland during Christmas break, so the family, including Jessica, travels to the land filled with history and tradition. While in Scotland, the children encounter allies, including Julian the fantastical reference librarian. With the good, though, also comes the Dark. During their trip Timothy, Jessica, and Sarah learn more about the Four Treasures. They also fight for their lives and for the future of humanity. The transition between the first (Time Out Of Time [Abrams, 2015/Voya August 2015]) and second book in the series is seamless. Action-filled sequences abound. The protagonists (and readers) are hardly given the opportunity to take a breath. Again British, Welsh, and Celtic mythologies are expertly woven together, with an introduction to Scottish history and tradition. Readers will appreciate Timothy, Jessica, and Sarah’s inquisitiveness and strong problem-solving skills. Character development is strong throughout; the tween characters behave realistically and it will be a treat to stick with them as they grow up. This intelligent, engaging series is highly recommended for middle-grade and teen readers, who will eagerly look forward to the next installment. Reviewer: Morgan Brickey; Ages 11 to 15.

VOYA, February 2015 (Vol. 37, No. 6) - Morgan Brickey

03/01/2015
Gr 4–7—In this sequel to Beyond the Door (Abrams, 2014), the action picks up right where it left off in the first installment. Sarah is still in her ermine form, Peter is a ferret, and Timothy is back in the Travelers' Market. A battle temporarily defeats Balor, and finally everyone is returned to human form; however, the Dark isn't finished with them yet. They are only briefly back in the real world when they are given a map that they must decode to find the Four Treasures, one of which includes the legendary Stone of Destiny. Once Timothy steps on the stone, he will know whether or not he is the true Filidh. Of course, Balor and the Dark are attempting to secure the map for their own evil purposes. Timothy and Sarah's parents plan a Christmas trip to Edinburgh, Scotland, and it just so happens that Jessica, the school bully who offered some surprising help in the previous volume, needs to tag along. Many new characters are introduced, both to help and to harm the children, most of whom are not what they seem—a plot device that quickly becomes tiresome. The first quarter of this book belongs at the end of the last one and is rushed and choppy. Once the children finally embark on their adventure to Edinburgh, however, the second book finally comes into its own. VERDICT Readers who enjoyed the first book will likely appreciate this adventure, but purchase only where the first has a following.—Mandy Laferriere, Fowler Middle School, Frisco, TX

School Library Journal

2015-02-16
Timothy James Maxwell and his friends continue their adventure in cosmic realms. Think of The Dark is Rising and A Swiftly Tilting Planet: when Celtic forces of good, evil, and the fairy folk come together, snow flies, winds rise, and mere mortals are caught off balance. McQuerry dives right in, picking up where she left off in series opener Beyond the Door (2014). The one-eyed evil representative of the Dark, Balor, wreaks havoc on the Marketplace out of time, while armies of trees and birds join to beat back his reptile and insect forces. An enigmatic map and a Christmas (when "the Light comes into the world") trip to Edinburgh set the stage for another mythic encounter between good and evil. McQuerry borrows freely for her tropes, tossing in ancient tales, the Scottish regalia, Macbeth's Dunsinane, the Wild Hunt, and fairy folk with a great deal of scope and ambition. Though she slides distractingly from one point of view to another in early chapters, she sticks with young Timothy for most of the rest, engaging readers in his predicament and the web of cosmic tension. The overlap of mythical and present is nicely realized, with adults especially not what they seem, whether representative of good or evil.Uneven yet at moments exceedingly exciting: readers who stick through to the end will be looking for the next in the series. (Fantasy. 9-13)

Kirkus Reviews