This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite
Time Writer by Dani Camarena is an incredible adventure through time. Isadora has big dreams as an aspiring young author creating worlds and steampunk inventions. She’s determined to prove to her parents that she has what it takes to work in their lab where they conduct experiments they won’t let her near. When one of their experiments works, her parents disappear. Desperate to find them, Isadora embarks on her own adventure where she befriends an unlikely ally, travels through time, runs from Time Pirates, and discovers the alternate world of her dreams with steam-powered machines and clockwork creations.
This is a stunning foray into the steampunk genre, serving as a great introduction for children. The story establishes the tone cleverly with an opening scene containing looming thunderstorms. Incorporating the storms into the setting helps to create an atmosphere perfect for the experiments of two scientists. Dani Camarena incorporates several references as a way to provide hints about the genre such as The Time Machine, Madeleine L’Engle, and Jules Verne. These references are a great way to introduce classic works within the science fiction genre to children today. Isadora will inspire children, specifically girls, by showing them that you can enjoy activities such as writing stories, exploring science, or inventing things. The world details are so much fun with clockwork creations like a butterfly that has a presence strong enough to serve as another character and a beast (mechanical dog) named Fred.
Isadora’s adventure to return home is set against an epic steampunk-based world with a time travel flair that is fun and engaging. During her journey, she meets a friend named Mekasha who helps her navigate her new world and takes her to someone that can help her. This friendship adds heart to her adventure and helps fill the void in her life so that she doesn’t feel alone. The details add so much to the world such as the Professor dimming the lantern to a firefly’s glow, blood draining like a sheet of ice drawn over her body, and barrel-rolled over the side. These details fit within the steampunk attitude with visuals that help bring Camarena’s world to life. Time Writer is highly recommended with a steampunk plot, great female lead, and humorous style.
