Breaking Time

Gr 9 Up–The year is 1568. In the flash of an instant, in a dark alley, young Scots boxer Callum sees his best friend Thomas attacked by a man hidden behind a dark hood. Rushing to help, Callum hits the man only to be thrown back; finally, with luck, he gains the advantage but then the earth falls away and he falls into a vast light. Meanwhile, Klara, an American running an inn with her father in present-day Scotland, is distractedly driving into town. Noticing something in the road ahead she discovers a young man, dressed oddly and obviously stunned. Klara takes Callum to her home where they try to discover what happened, why, and what to do next. Seeking advice from her grandmother who is wise in the ways of ancient Scots traditions, Klara discovers that she is the final “Pillar”—a link between time. The man who killed Thomas is also a beast who desires the power that resides within Klara and he is determined to send her to the Other World where she will be kept prisoner throughout time. While Callum is certain that his destiny is to help Klara, having failed to save Thomas, he is unsure of his ability to do so; Klara, although confused by her newly discovered status, is determined to live up to her destiny. Action-packed, romantic, and realistic time period descriptions engage readers.