The Timekeeper

From School Library Journal Grade 4-6-In this sequel to the Australian fantasy Finders Keepers (Greenwillow, 1991), Patrick is literally racing against the clock to save the parallel world that exists on the other side of an invisible Barrier. When his new computer- through which he communicates with his friends in the other world-doesn't work, he crosses over to get help. But something is wrong: the Barrier is falling apart on the other side, and on Patrick's side, time is moving too fast. He learns that a special clock linking the two worlds has broken, and that he must repair it. But first, he must find his sister and brother, who have followed him with the vital missing piece of the broken clock. The boy's frantic mission to fix the timepiece, combined with the adventures of his siblings, make for exciting reading. Depending as it does on a concept well established in Finders Keepers, The Timekeeper lacks some of the sparkle and freshness of its predecessor. However, fans of the first book and readers looking for an action-filled fantasy with warm, believable depictions of family relationships should enjoy this one as well.