Time Lions and The Chrono-Loop

Patrick and Pearl are twins of Sri Lankan heritage. They are also prodigiously intelligent, Patrick in the area of history and Pearl in inventions, engineering, and technology. They are twelve years old and must keep their exceptional intelligence a secret.

They have both been working on a secret project, a chrono-loop or time machine. If they can get it working, what havoc will it enable them to cause? What is the secret agency, TIME, and do they have what it takes to join it? These two questions form the heart of the novel which has many complex subplots and twists.

The twins’ adventures will appeal greatly to more academically inclined young people who will see themselves validated particularly in Pearl’s attitude towards the preoccupations of teenage girls. She already has her Nobel prize acceptance speech ready!

There was one necessary suspension of disbelief which was difficult. The twins need the help of a hapless doctoral candidate. His price for helping them – a historical thesis on ancient Greek marriage rites. Patrick completes this in a week. That really stretches credulity.

That aside, this is a very enjoyable time travel adventure with two very likable protagonists and a strong strand of feminism.