A strong sequel to Tree in Time, we pick back up with Jenni and follow her on her next adventure. This time, through her connection with nature, it’s the Neolithic era that Jenni finds herself lost in.
Beginning a short while after Jenni’s Mesolithic adventure, readers will welcome the changes that have happened in her life as a result of meeting Druantia; what’s more, this book builds on the lessons Jenni learned in the first story and demonstrates how she has grown and progressed as a person, using her new knowledge to help her on her latest quest. The author was certainly very skilled at interweaving the plot lines from A Tree in Time into this story so that Jenni came across as a protagonist with complexities and depth. She is a likeable character and easy enough for young adults to relate to. I also liked getting to know Jonti and Ciara better although would have liked them to feature more in the book.
Some aspects of the plot gave me reason to be a little skeptical, most notably how quickly Jenni was able to change Jonti’s mind about tree spirits but as this was only a small part of the plot, it wasn’t too unrealistic. The actual adventure was much like the first: an intriguing dive into what life may have once been like this time with a much stronger plot line. However, I did feel like the problem encountered by Jenni and her Neolithic friend, Faern, was never actually resolved. Aside from that, the book certainly captured my curiosity and kept me reading to the end.
A perfect step ‘forward’ in time for Jenni as she travels back to the past once more. Reviewed on behalf of the author, The Book Dragon awards this 4 stars.
By Josephine Park