TJ and the Time Stumblers

Myers, Bill. TJ and the Time Stumblers. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House, 2011.

I was excited to review a book written for a junior high audience.  Having spent six years teaching seventh grade English, I am always on the lookout for good books to recommend to my now-former students. I especially like finding books that I can wholeheartedly recommend as being free of profanity or gross elements that are generally a concern for the parents of my students.  While this book is squeaky-clean, I can't recommend it.

I can't recommend it because the writing is ridiculous.  If a seventh grader had consumed five or six energy drinks and all of his Halloween candy in one sitting, his brain would probably sound a lot like this story reads.  It's chaotic.  It's filled with words in large bold print.  The story is difficult to follow.  If one of my students had written this story, I would not have been that surprised.  However, since this story was written by an adult, I am less than impressed.

I might use this book as a last resort for a student who is absolutely opposed to sitting and reading anything of substance, but only as that last resort.  There are so many better books out there, folks.  Don't bother with this one.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purposes of review.