Time Travel at Puddle Lane

This historical novel for children shows readers what it would have been like to live in Georgian London. Ariella and Yosef – brother and sister – are interested and curious pupils at the much-loved Puddle Lane School. In particular, they adore spending time in the library, where Yosef can indulge his fascination with history. This proves invaluable when they follow their mysterious librarian, who leads them on an unforgettable time-travelling adventure!

Stepping through a door in the library leads the siblings onto a bustling, filthy street that is clearly of the past. Yosef quickly deduces when they are but the mystery of how to get back to their own time is much tougher to solve – especially when they are interrupted by the potentially catastrophic problem of the future founder of Puddle Lane School being gravely injured.

As the pair try to help new friends, readers are introduced to a huge amount of information about Georgian Britain (fans of history are in for a treat). From the sights and smells of Georgian high streets, to the gruesome and deadly details of nineteenth century medicine, Shevah doesn’t shy away from any unpleasant or inconvenient truths about the period. Catalán’s monochrome illustrations also help readers to imagine the grimy greyness of Georgian London.

The diverse population of historical London is well-described, and readers are invited to open their minds and challenge assumptions about the past. Though the book is a very manageable length, it is rich with ideas and questions about how we used to live and features activities at the end to encourage readers to launch their own time-travelling stories.

With the whole of history at their disposal, Ariella and Yosef may have many more adventures ahead, and young readers will enjoy finding out all about different time periods with them.