Book Recommendations 好書推薦 Time Cat

Time Cat

The Remarkable Journeys of Jason and Gareth
by Lloyd Alexander

​Recommended reading age: 8-12 years
Lexile measure: 660L

Time Cat is a delightful, imaginative short novel by American fantasy writer Lloyd Alexander. It tells the story of a young boy and his cat who are transported across historical eras and places, from Ancient Rome to the Incas in Peru. With a range of vivid characters, constant action and back-and-forth dialogue, Time Cat is fantastic at capturing young readers’ attention; at the same time, it engages them in a fresh retelling of significant eras in history. As the action moves from Roman Britain to Heian-era Japan to various other snapshots in time, readers not only learn a wide range of historical facts, but are also immersed in the atmosphere and subtleties of each culture.
And here are the reasons why we recommend this book, and what kids, at different ages, are expected to get from their journeys with Jason and Gareth.

Why we recommended

The author’s extensive research and personal tone allows Time Cat to combine accurate historical details with relatable, engaging characters, bringing each time-period to life. Lloyd Alexander leads us through an immersive historical journey that extends across time and continents, making the novel a perfect companion for young readers who are just beginning to learn about the world around them and the variety of cultures around the globe. Time Cat is highly recommended for those who are already interested in mythological/historical reading such as the Percy Jackson or Horrible Histories series. In particular, it makes excellent preparation for those who will study history in the future — the novel’s coverage of history between 55 B.C. to the 18th century A.D. creates a fantastic foundation for a range of time periods studied at secondary school level.
The value of the novel for a young reader also lies in the author’s approach to the different cultures he describes. While other historical fiction books often present the story from a single perspective (such as Percy Jackson that focuses on the Ancient Greeks), Lloyd Alexander includes nine different perspectives through the non-judgmental lens of a bright, empathetic boy. In this way, he encourages the readers to genuinely participate in and appreciate each culture for its traditions. This makes Time Cat uniquely valuable for children still learning how to approach cultures and ideas different to their own.
Older readers can also consider how these different perspectives conflict or agree. This particularly engages their critical thinking skills as they assess the validity of the various scientific and cultural ideas presented in each historical era. Such evaluation of perspectives is an immensely useful skill in future education including in essay-writing, debating and problem-solving.

Post-reading Questions & activities 

1. Chapters 1-9: How does Jason feel about Gareth?
2. Chapter 10: What do you think about Leonardo? Now do some research about
3. Leonardo Da Vinci. Who was he? What was his most famous painting?
4. Chapters 16-18: Why do people hate the witch? Do you think she is evil?

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The article is written by Noa Shmueli
About Noa
Graduated from Taipei European School, Noa is now majoring in English at Columbia University and Trinity College Dublin. An avid reader and writer, she was the Editor-in-Chief of the TES student magazine, PEAK, and have been editing textbooks and essays since 2016.