The Cat's Rrar

Frozen in Time by Ali Sparkes

It is no surprise that this book has won the Blue Peter “Book I Couldn’t Put Down” and it’s Book of the Year award. Set in 2009 two modern day siblings – Ben and Rachel – find a time capsule buried in their back garden. Cryogenically frozen inside are Freddy and Polly, kept safe by their father, a scientific genius, from the dangers of 1956 Russian spies.

Awakened in 2009, Freddy and Polly attempt to adapt to modern life while trying to find out what happened to their father. Helped along the way by Ben and Rachel all four children learn valuable life lessons as they search for answers that catapult them into terrifying danger.

I love Ali’s books; she writes exciting stories with thought-provoking themes whilst taking the younger, less confident reader into consideration with a writing style that is simplistic yet not patronising. Adults will be entertained by Frozen In Time as much as children as they reflect, thanks to the story telling, on how society and especially children have changed compared with the past. Freddy is flummoxed by equality between males and females whilst Rachel cannot get her head around Polly’s cookery skills and desire to keep things nice for the boys! The comparisons between generations make for some laugh out loud moments as well as some sobering thoughts! As Ali herself hopes for, this book is about adventure, friendship, tolerance, decency, modern life, history, cookery, handling fear – and a lot of laughs.