The Time Box

Gr 6–8—This debut novel follows Tommy Johnson through the year after he turns 13. He wrestles with the kinds of questions that accompany this transition out of childhood. Tommy worries about the vastness of the universe and the legacy he will leave behind. He questions his Methodist faith and the infallibility of his parents. He ponders his changing friendships, especially his bond with his best friend Mignon, who has started to become more than just a friend to him. As a large focus of the story is on Tommy and Mignon's growing relationship, there is very little action in this reflective novel. The main story line revolves around the protagonist building and burying a time capsule. Tommy's first-person narration has the feel of a journal written by a very self-aware 13-year-old. The style of writing is simple, with limited vocabulary and short sentences. Some passages seem unnecessary for plot or character development. For example, Tommy spends half a page listing all the very basic uses he has for his iPhone.