The Time Keeper

Volume XXXI / Issue 8 - October 25 / 2024
The Time Keeper
The Time Keeper
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The Time Keeper

Author: 
Meagan Mahoney
Toronto, ON: DCB Young Readers/Cormorant Books, 2024
282 pp., trade pbk., $14.95
ISBN: 
9781770867604
Grades: 
Grades 4-8
Ages: 
Ages 9-13
Review by: 
Aileen Wortley
5
Excerpt: 

Malcolm ran his fingers over Jack’s handwritten note. He quietly hoped he would feel a warmth or closeness on the paper. After all, Jack had written these words only two days ago; there must still be a part of him left on the page. Time was playing tricks on Malcolm. In one moment it was as if Jack had been gone only for a few seconds, then in another, as if he’d been gone for years. Malcolm snorted. Jack would have scoffed at this sentiment. “Time is no trickster,” he’d say. “Time is steady, true, predictable, and faithful. ‘Tis men who play tricks. Men who aim to defy time, to deny its passage. But, in the words of Rabbie Burns, ‘Nae man can tether time or tide.’” He’d said this to Peter on his last birthday. Peter, who would have gladly have stopped time and stayed a child forever. Peter, who wanted nothing to do with the seriousness of men and the business of being grown-up. Peter, who now might never have the chance to grow up.

Malcolm, 12, is an orphan at the Home for Children run by kindly Mrs. McCardle. He is apprenticed to clockmaker, Jack Alexander, loving his wisdom, his family’s acceptance of him and his friendship with Jack’s son, Peter. Now Peter lies ill with no cure on the horizon despite Dr. Fiona MacIsaac’s care. The doctor is a brilliant physician, but her gender precludes her acceptance by the all-male medical profession of the day.

Then, horrifically, Malcolm discovers Jack’s body in a local clock tower. He has been murdered while following clues found in a broken watch. He hoped these clues would lead to a cure for Peter’s illness. Time is against him, but, with Dr. MacIsaac’s encouragement, Malcolm desperately continues the search to save his friend’s life.

The Time Keeper, an historical mystery aimed at 9-13-year-olds, is written in a straightforward, engaging manner that leads readers skillfully through the streets of 1902 Edinburgh. It credibly depicts life in Scotland at the turn of the last century, right down to the use of Scottish phraseology and insights into the occupation of clockmaking and repair. The author, a paediatrician herself, shines an authentic light on medical practices of the time, especially those involving children’s illnesses and the role of female doctors.

The plot line is gripping, featuring strong child characters who show their mettle despite their realistic fears. Malcolm and Maddie, Malcolm’s young orphan accomplice, are courageous and resourceful. Malcolm’s love for Peter and Jack transcends his trepidation as he battles confusion and threats. His grief for Peter, who comes across as a strong, resilient person despite his physical incapacity, is palpable.

The Time Keeper is a captivating read that brings history to life, capturing the humanity of ordinary people in an exciting fast paced read.

Highly Recommended
Reviewer: 

Aileen Wortley is a retired children’s librarian in Toronto, Ontario.