Kaethe

This is the first volume of a trilogy that involves pretty much everything. Tucker, a twelve-year-old boy in the midwest inadvertently discovers a time-travel portal over the roof of his house; adventure ensues. Although the cast grows significantly, the story most closely follows Tucker and Lia, a neighbor girl of about the same age. There will be fighting, and many different sorts of culture, technology, cooking, religion, faith, moral quandaries, and a kitten named Bounce who never grows or ages.

As much metaphorical time and space as he covers, Hautman never disappoints in the worldbuilding and characterization. All of his places feel plausible and the people feel real, no matter how strange the circumstances. Readers who are in it for the adventure will find plenty to keep their attention, but there are plenty of Big Questions to muse over, as well. Because of the religious issues, this might be most similar to Philip Pullman's Golden Compass series, but also feels a bit like L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time.

Library copy