Timepiece

Gr 8 Up—Kaleb Ballard is part of Hourglass, an organization of people who have special abilities; however, when he is able to see time ripples, or people from the past, for the first time he gets nervous. What does this mean? Are his powers growing or changing? In addition, the Hourglass organization is given a strange ultimatum from a stranger. It must find the man who tried to kill Kaleb's father, and it has to find him quickly or somehow time itself will be altered. Emerson, Michael, and Kaleb are back in this thrilling sequel to Hourglass (Egmont USA, 2011); however, instead of Emerson, this time it is flirtatious and irresistible Kaleb's point of view that will capture readers' attention and imagination. The switch of perspective works well as it keep the series fresh, and Kaleb's character is well developed and interesting. The pacing of the plot will keep teens engaged from cover to cover as will Kaleb's brash charm and vulnerability.—Elizabeth C. Johnson, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR