The Time Engine

By Author / Illustrator

Lindsay Galvin, Kristina Kister

Genre

Science Fiction

Age range(s)

Publisher

Barrington Stoke

ISBN

9780008727451

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

21-05-2026

Synopsis

Catapulted back in time by a mysterious machine, Eric joins forces with a young Ada Lovelace to find a way home in this atmospheric fusion of science-fiction and history from acclaimed author Lindsay Galvin.

When Eric Finch discovers a mysterious machine hidden in his attic, he realises that his mother has been keeping a huge secret. A brilliant mathematician, Eric's mother has used designs from an old journal belonging to her ancestor Ada Lovelace to build the machine, but Eric has no idea how it works or what it does.

Unable to resist tinkering with the machine, Eric finds himself thrust into an unforgettable adventure. But his actions have also threatened the very fabric of time, with possibly terrifying consequences ...

Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8.

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Reviews

Ruth

Part adventure, part historical fantasy, The Time Engine by Lindsay Galvin is a cracking read with a likeable central character in the form of 11-year-old Eric Finch.

Eric's scientist parents live with their son in the grounds of Cambridge University at the outbreak of the Second World War and have both been invited to work with the government of the time to aid the war effort.

The adventure for Eric starts when he discovers a Time Machine secretly built by his mother from distant relative Ada Byron's notebook and hidden away in their loft at home. Except that he doesn't realise exactly what it is until he has gone back in time and met Ada (to become Lovelace, the famous mathematician). However, travelling through time has damaged the 'time engine', and risks damaging the very fabric of time itself. The adventure becomes a heart in mouth page turner as Eric struggles to repair the machine and get back home.

The Time Engine is Lindsay Galvin's first novel for Barrington Stoke and she has written an excellent historical adventure for the dyslexia-friendly publisher. The book has been produced with their trade mark dyslexia friendly font, short sentences, paragraphs, and chapters, liberal use of illustrations and characteristic beginning, middle and end in only 106 pages.

This super-readable book is accessible for any reader but is particularly helpful for struggling and reluctant readers and is therefore a valuable addition to a key stage 2 or 3 school library (ages 9+). Highly recommended.

106 pages / Reviewed by Ruth Cornish, school librarian