Official Review: Time Changes Everything

[desantismt_17]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Time Changes Everything" by Jane Craig Sebok.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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We’ve all been there—that moment as a teenager when you get so fed up with your parents for not understanding you. It’s a universal experience that author Jane Craig Sebok captures brilliantly in Time Changes Everything.

Caitlin has always been on the outside. Add that her best friend moved away in middle school and her father left two years ago, and Caitlin feels like the most lonely, uncool kid around. It doesn’t help that she’s always at odds with her mom. When she reaches her breaking point, Caitlin decides to go to North Carolina and live with her dad. At the bus stop in the middle of the night, she meets a Mr. G, who tells Caitlin he can help if she trusts him. Not knowing quite why, Caitlin does.

The next thing Caitlin knows, she’s a college student in the 1970s with her nineteen-year-old mother as a roommate. Caitlin can barely believe this smoking, swearing girl is her mother, but doubts aren’t her biggest problem. Mr. G sent her back in time to learn something, and Caitlin’s only got a week to figure out what it is.

I absolutely loved this story. Caitlin’s emotions and struggles are ones I can vividly remember dealing with in my teen years. Having survived high school, there were many times I found myself talking to my Kindle while reading this, telling Caitlin to realize she’s making a poor choice or that she shouldn’t do something. Like my mother’s lectures during my teen years, my advice fell on deaf ears.

This book’s concept is one that will stick with me for a long time. I can’t be the only person who’s ever wondered what her parents were like as teenagers. It’s easy to picture one’s parents as entities who popped into existence as adults. While my parents have told me stories about reckless choices or nights where they just shouldn’t have had one more drink, this book put the parent-adult child relationship into perspective for me. I loved watching Caitlin realize that her mother was once a teenager who made poor choices. Even better was Caitlin yelling at her mom for the same bad choices Caitlin got yelled at for in the future. It was role reversal at its finest.

This book is full of important lessons for teenagers, especially those feeling lonely and scared. Caitlin’s character arc is beautifully illustrated. Without spoiling, I loved that, even toward the end, she was still waffling about what to do. It was a perfect example of how decisions aren’t always so simple. It’s not always clear what the right thing is, and even if it is, there are lots of factors that can cloud making the right choice.

At first glance, this looks like a book aimed at teenagers, which, in a way, I suppose it is. In my opinion, it’s much more than that. While Caitlin’s experiences are ones teens could benefit from reading, I think those same experiences might turn teens away from this book. I know there are exceptions, but what geek in high school wants to be told “don’t be cool?” I feel like the teenagers most likely to connect with Caitlin’s story are the ones that don’t need the lessons. That said, I would absolutely recommend this to readers as young as thirteen or fourteen, girls especially. More so, though, I think adult readers who want to look back at their teen years and have the fictional experience of meeting their parents as young adults would really enjoy this.

The book was edited well. It’s written in third-person past tense, but a large chunk of the narration is put into Caitlin’s direct first-person thoughts. While there was more of this than I would have liked, it didn’t detract from my overall reading experience. It is with great pleasure that I award Time Changes Everything 4 out of 4 stars. My specific reader recommendations are outlined above, but I encourage everyone to give this book a try. Not on board yet? In Caitlin’s English class, the teacher asks what the main themes of Romeo and Juliet are, to which one kid replies “Uh, if you love something too much, you die?” There’s an example of the humor accompanying all the deep emotions. If that doesn’t convince you this book is the real deal, I don’t know what will.

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Time Changes Everything
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Like desantismt_17's review? Post a comment saying so!

[kandscreeley]

Going back in time to meet your parents at an earlier age would be fascinating. It would be a different perspective for sure. I would love to see what lessons she learns. Thanks. Thanks.

[Julie Petitbon]

What a unique and interesting concept! It would be so cool to go back in time and hang out with my parents. Like you, I've wondered what they were like when they were young. On top of that, that student response to Romeo and Juliet is not only funny but authentic. It reminds me of my time as an English teacher and some of the funny and crazy things students would say about the literature. I can see why you gave it such an outstanding review. I am going to add this to my "to read" shelf.

[Dentarthurdent]

There are so many great lessons to be learned from this book, and it appears, the lessons are given in a captivating manner. It seems to be a great use of perspective that we should all learn to apply, not only when it comes to our parents, but everyone around us as well.

I love how well you have picked out the themes and devices used in the narrative, like pointing out that humor is integrated in the exploration of deep, yet heartbreakingly honest opinions of people, young or otherwise.
What I don't quite understand, are the motives of the Mr. G character, but I suspect I will, once I read the book (yes, I am definitely on board).

"Like my mother’s lectures during my teen years, my advice fell on deaf ears."
This is so relatable, it made me laugh out loud. Really awesome review!

[sri varshini303041]

wow, I love the plot. Sounds interesting. I will definitely check out this one. Thank you for your review

[Nyambura Githui]

My parents tell me stories of their teenage years and I've always been curious of what it they were really like. Interesting concept, I'll check it out.

[ElizaBeth Adams]

This book sounds so awesome! Currently having a teenage daughter, and also having once been a teenage girl myself, I think I'm in a stage of life where I can really appreciate this plot. I'm glad to hear that the author has taken an excellent idea and executed it well.

[kdstrack]

I love how you expanded the recommendations to a wider audience. Like you said, everyone has probably had this question floating around in their mind. This book sounds good for the story line but also for the deeper lessons it teaches. Thanks.

[ReneeBrown]

Wow, I love the concept of this book. It has a Back to the Future vibe almost. I think I would give this book a try. Thanks for the review!

[twenty7d]

sounds like a nice read, in most cases I find that reading time travelling kind of books works best than watching it on tv I get so lost you'd think I have no experience with movies and what so ever.

[writingShannon]

Sounds like a good one! I will add it to my shelves.

Is the Mr. G character believable? He sounds a little sketchy!

Thanks for the review.

[Meg98]

Wow...this is one of the most unique descriptions of a book I have ever read! Your review is incredibly intriguing, and I will absolutely be reading this book soon. Thank you for sharing your thoughts; well done

[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

Not on board yet? In Caitlin’s English class, the teacher asks what the main themes of Romeo and Juliet are, to which one kid replies “Uh, if you love something too much, you die?” There’s an example of the humor accompanying all the deep emotions. If that doesn’t convince you this book is the real deal, I don’t know what will.

That's hilarious!
I've often wondered how much I really know about my parents teenage years or how much I got a "cleaner" version of their lives. Being a teen is hard and the premise of this book is amazing and relatable. Can't wait to read it! Thank you so much for the compelling review!

[Ronel_Steyn]

This sound like a great read even for a parent. Some of us dread the teenage years of anxiety and doubt. Remembering that we were there too, might help putt things into perspective. Thank you for this wonderfully insightful review.

[Espie]

Spot on! "We’ve all been there" indeed. Now that I'm a mum of two teenagers, I could definitely see where my parents were coming from when I was at that stage. Thank you for your insightful review.