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Nick McIver Adventures Through Time #1
Nick of Time
Nick of Time is the first young reader's book written by bestselling author Ted Bell. In the grand tradition of epic novels like Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island comes a wondrous tale of time travel, adventure, and riches, in which twelve-year-old Nick McIver sets out to become "the hero of his own life." The setting is England, 1939, on the eve of war. Nick and his younger sister, Kate, live in a lighthouse on the smallest of the Channel Islands. Nick and Kate come to the aid of their father who is engaged in a desperate war of espionage with German U-boat wolf packs that are circling the islands. The information they provide to Winston Churchill is vital as he tries to warn England of the imminent Nazi invasion. One day Nick discovers an old sea chest, left for him by his ancestor, Captain Nicholas McIver of the Royal Navy. Inside, he finds a time machine and a desperate plea for help from the captain. He uses the machine to return to the year 1805. Captain McIver and, indeed, Admiral Nelson's entire fleet are threatened by the treachery of the French and the mutinous Captain Billy Blood. Nick must reach deep inside, using his wits, courage, and daring to rescue the imperiled British sailors. His sister, Kate, meanwhile, has enlisted the aid of two of England's most brilliant "scientific detectives," Lord Hawke and Commander Hobbes, to thwart the invading Nazis. She and Nick must face England's underwater enemies, a challenge made all the more difficult when they discover the existence of Germany's supersecret submarine. In this striking adventure for readers of all ages, Nick must fight ruthless enemies across two different centuries, on land and sea, to help defeat those determined to destroy his home and his family.
434 pages, Hardcover
First published December 7, 2000
About the author
Ted Bell
46 books828 followersTed Bell was the author of 12 consecutive New York Times best sellers and a former advertising executive. He began his advertising career in the 1970’s as a junior copywriter at Doyle Dane Bernbach (DDB), New York. At the age of 25, he sold his first screenplay to Hollywood, as well as became the youngest vice-president in the storied history of DDB. He then joined Leo Burnett Co., Chicago, as a creative director and four years later, he was named President, Chicago Creative Officer where he was credited with developing numerous innovative and award-winning advertising campaigns. In 1982, Bell joined Young & Rubicam, London, and in 1991 he became the Vice Chairman and Worldwide Creative Director. Ted won every award the advertising industry offers, including numerous Clios and Cannes Gold Lions, and while at Young & Rubicam, the Grand Prix at the Cannes Festival. In 2001, Ted retired to write full time. He has 10 New York Times Bestsellers to his credit: The Alex Hawke series of spy thrillers published by HarperCollins and the young adult targeted time travel adventure series, Nick of Time and The Time Pirate published by St. Martins Press.
A native Floridian, Bell graduated from Randolph-Macon College in Virginia and was a former member of the college’s Board of Trustees. He held an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Kendall College in Michigan. Bell was also an Adjunct Professor of English Literature at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida. He was a member of the Defense Orientation Conference Association (DOCA), a program run by the Department of Defense in support of America’s military. He served on the Advisory Board at George Washington’s Home at Mount Vernon, a group chaired by former Secretary of the Army, Togo West. He also served for a time as an advisor to the Undersecretary for Domestic Relations at the U.S. Department of State.
For the 2011-2012 Academic Year, Sir Richard Dearlove, Former Chief of MI6, British Intelligence, sponsored Ted to become a Visiting Scholar at Cambridge University (UK). In addition, he was named Writer-in-Residence at Sydney-Sussex College, Cambridge and studied at the University’s Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLIS) under the tutelage of Sir Dearlove, who was the Master of Pembroke College.
In May 2018, Ted published OVERKILL, the 10th book in the popular Alex Hawke spy thriller series.
In January 2019, Ted and Jon Adler of Jon Adler Films formed El Dorado Entertainment, a feature film and television production company based in New York.
In July 2019, Ted signed a two-book deal with Random House.
In July 2020, the 11th Alex Hawke thriller, DRAGONFIRE, was published.
On December 7, 2021, the 12th Alex Hawke thriller, SEA HAWKE was published.
Ted appeared on numerous television and radio programs and was a featured speaker at associations, clubs, libraries and organizations across the country.
Ted traveled the world and lived in Italy, London, France, Palm Beach, New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Maine. He last lived in a beloved 19th century farmhouse in Connecticut.
A native Floridian, Bell graduated from Randolph-Macon College in Virginia and was a former member of the college’s Board of Trustees. He held an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Kendall College in Michigan. Bell was also an Adjunct Professor of English Literature at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida. He was a member of the Defense Orientation Conference Association (DOCA), a program run by the Department of Defense in support of America’s military. He served on the Advisory Board at George Washington’s Home at Mount Vernon, a group chaired by former Secretary of the Army, Togo West. He also served for a time as an advisor to the Undersecretary for Domestic Relations at the U.S. Department of State.
For the 2011-2012 Academic Year, Sir Richard Dearlove, Former Chief of MI6, British Intelligence, sponsored Ted to become a Visiting Scholar at Cambridge University (UK). In addition, he was named Writer-in-Residence at Sydney-Sussex College, Cambridge and studied at the University’s Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLIS) under the tutelage of Sir Dearlove, who was the Master of Pembroke College.
In May 2018, Ted published OVERKILL, the 10th book in the popular Alex Hawke spy thriller series.
In January 2019, Ted and Jon Adler of Jon Adler Films formed El Dorado Entertainment, a feature film and television production company based in New York.
In July 2019, Ted signed a two-book deal with Random House.
In July 2020, the 11th Alex Hawke thriller, DRAGONFIRE, was published.
On December 7, 2021, the 12th Alex Hawke thriller, SEA HAWKE was published.
Ted appeared on numerous television and radio programs and was a featured speaker at associations, clubs, libraries and organizations across the country.
Ted traveled the world and lived in Italy, London, France, Palm Beach, New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Maine. He last lived in a beloved 19th century farmhouse in Connecticut.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 380 reviews
February 17, 2013
This was my first novel. I wrote it when I was living in London. My daughter was in the "Fourth Form"
and was reading pretty much the YA lit of the day, i.e., R. L. Stine. Nothing wrong with those, just a
tad more formulaic than, say, Treasure Island or Huckleberry Finn. So I read "TI" again, thinking I'd recommend it to the sprout. Couldn't do it. The language was too arcane, the pacing too, not too anything, just a reflection of its time. So. I decided to write a novel in that spirit, but one with language easily grasped by contemporary readers, and a quicker pace, more tension, more highs, more action. I wanted to make this book about heroism, thinking it was in short supply at the time, at least at the YA level. Since I believe there's a hero inside every boy and girl, I made my two heroes brother and sister. Nick and Kate McIver. The movie "NICK OF TIME" with Johnny Depp was years away and I thought that title rather clever, with the eponymous Nicholas. I wanted my two personal heroes, Winston Churchill and Admiral Lord Nelson, to appear in the book as role models for the ideals I was aspiring to portray. This led, obviously enough, to time travel. I'd no idea what I was letting myself in for, but as it turned out it was a good deal of fun, figuring it out as best I could. I set the book in the Channel Islands. I had a large oil hanging in my study, a lighthouse high atop a soaring cliff, a crashing sea below, and a 19th Century merchantman being driving into the rocks of a lee shore. I decided instantly that I wanted Nick and Kate to live in that lighthouse. Villains? Well, 1939 in the Channel Islands was a tough place to be. The Nazis were about to invade, the islands were surrounded by U-boats, and HM Government decided to pull all the British troops because "the islands weren't worth defending". This was done over the very strong objections of one of my heroes. Enter Winston Churchill. So, I had time travel, I had Nazis, what else did I need? Oh, I know, PIRATES. Yes, perfect. Operating on the kitchen sink principle served me well. Enter the villainous Captain Billy Blood and his evil companion Snake Eye.
If people have half as much fun reading this book as I did writing it I'll consider it time well spent. I've written eight novels since and that thrill, that absolute immersion into that world, has never been replicated. I am proud to immodestly state that my happy little book won the Chicago Librarian's "Best of the Best" First Novel in, I think, 2003 and a heartbreakingly wonderful review in the LA Times. It's not really a YA book by the way. It's a "Family" book, just like Treasure Island. I sold the film rights to Paramount a few years later, but it never got made. I'm at it again with another studio. Cross your fingers and whistle past the Hollywood graveyard...Nick Of Time
and was reading pretty much the YA lit of the day, i.e., R. L. Stine. Nothing wrong with those, just a
tad more formulaic than, say, Treasure Island or Huckleberry Finn. So I read "TI" again, thinking I'd recommend it to the sprout. Couldn't do it. The language was too arcane, the pacing too, not too anything, just a reflection of its time. So. I decided to write a novel in that spirit, but one with language easily grasped by contemporary readers, and a quicker pace, more tension, more highs, more action. I wanted to make this book about heroism, thinking it was in short supply at the time, at least at the YA level. Since I believe there's a hero inside every boy and girl, I made my two heroes brother and sister. Nick and Kate McIver. The movie "NICK OF TIME" with Johnny Depp was years away and I thought that title rather clever, with the eponymous Nicholas. I wanted my two personal heroes, Winston Churchill and Admiral Lord Nelson, to appear in the book as role models for the ideals I was aspiring to portray. This led, obviously enough, to time travel. I'd no idea what I was letting myself in for, but as it turned out it was a good deal of fun, figuring it out as best I could. I set the book in the Channel Islands. I had a large oil hanging in my study, a lighthouse high atop a soaring cliff, a crashing sea below, and a 19th Century merchantman being driving into the rocks of a lee shore. I decided instantly that I wanted Nick and Kate to live in that lighthouse. Villains? Well, 1939 in the Channel Islands was a tough place to be. The Nazis were about to invade, the islands were surrounded by U-boats, and HM Government decided to pull all the British troops because "the islands weren't worth defending". This was done over the very strong objections of one of my heroes. Enter Winston Churchill. So, I had time travel, I had Nazis, what else did I need? Oh, I know, PIRATES. Yes, perfect. Operating on the kitchen sink principle served me well. Enter the villainous Captain Billy Blood and his evil companion Snake Eye.
If people have half as much fun reading this book as I did writing it I'll consider it time well spent. I've written eight novels since and that thrill, that absolute immersion into that world, has never been replicated. I am proud to immodestly state that my happy little book won the Chicago Librarian's "Best of the Best" First Novel in, I think, 2003 and a heartbreakingly wonderful review in the LA Times. It's not really a YA book by the way. It's a "Family" book, just like Treasure Island. I sold the film rights to Paramount a few years later, but it never got made. I'm at it again with another studio. Cross your fingers and whistle past the Hollywood graveyard...Nick Of Time
December 17, 2008
This book deserves all the praise it is getting. Think Robert Louis Stevenson combined with Nazis combined with time travel--swashbuckling action adventure at it's finest! It was written recently, but the author captures a real vintage feel. Great descriptions and attention to detail. It starts a little slow, but once it gets going, Wow! Can't put it down! It's advertised as a boy's book, and my son loved it, but I did, too. Only once did the plot strain my credulity (and it wasn't the time travel--that's all part of the fun.) I give it a five because all the excitement is combined seamlessly with real, bedrock values like loyalty, courage, and duty. I love what it says about heroes. Read it, and let your kids read it! (for approx ages 10+)
June 3, 2008
I read this book because my husband bought it so I could read it to our son. Yet another book that I started with him and ended by myself. I heard an interview with the author and he said that he wrote this book for boys because all the books that his son read had no strong boy characters in them. Well, It certainly has that. Our story opens in 1939 on tiny Greybeard Island, England. Our hero is young Nicholas McIver, the son of a lighthouse keeper and "birdwatbcher". A term meaning a secret society keeping watch on the German subs and ships near their island. Because of his activities, the british government evicts him from the lighthouse. Nick's parent's go to London to sort out the mess and while he and his sister Kate are staying with Gunner, a family friend, when they make an exciting discovery, a heavy trunk. Not soon after they meet pirates that say that what Nick has found belongs to them. There's only one problem. His name is on the chest! The pirate kidnaps his dog to ensure his cooperation and Nick knows his only hope is Lord Hawke the recluse living in Hawke Castle.
November 26, 2017
Nazis and Pirates and Time Travel oh my! This was one crazy book, but crazy in all the best of ways. It was really a rather fun ride. My younger self would have probably been delighted with it—as it was, I still enjoyed it (hence the four stars)!
It starts out simply enough, about a sea-loving lighthouse-keeper’s son on an English island in 1939... but then one thing adds to another, and soon there’s a mysterious chest, pirates, an eviction notice, and a dog held for ransom. As if that isn’t enough, a time machine is thrown into the mix, and soon they’ve traveled back to 1803 to help one of Nick’s ancestors win a naval battle against a fearsome pirate named Billy Blood.
Sounds interesting, yes? (And let’s not forget the part of the book that involves being trapped on a German submarine)! That part had me on the edge of my seat, because a little girl and one of my favorite characters was involved. 0_o
The cast of characters was wide and varied. Nick himself had a wonderful arc, traveling from a little boy ashamed of being afraid and longing to be a hero, to being that hero, against all odds.
Also, I enjoyed how vivid the world was, and how all the senses were used to bring me into it. (That’s the mark of a master, let me tell you.) I had a clear mental image of just about every character there, and they all had their unique roles to play. I could tell the author did a lot of research on the time period, and it paid off. The fact that all the little details and subplots were important and wrapped up nicely by the end was a plus, too.
My only critiques, really, come in the form that almost everyone in the book had spent a lot of time on the water, and therefore most everything was filtered through a nautical lens. Which is very insightful on the author’s part, but could be a little difficult if you didn’t know anything about sailing or ships. And the cast of characters was large, as I mentioned before. I came away feeling as if I barely had a handle on all of them, kind of like the first time I read a Harry Potter book. If they hadn’t all been so different, I would have gotten lost. Finally, my last gripe is due to the fact that sometimes the pacing felt a little off, and the first chapter really wasn’t that great. (Just keep reading though, it’s worth it!)
The “stuff” comes in the form of a pretty good smattering of “d—n,” British “b—y,” and “bleeding.” God was referenced frequently, but I could never get a feel for where the author stood on the matter, since He was mentioned in a lukewarm way most of the time. Not disrespectful, per se... just lukewarm. Which can be aggravating to both believers and nonbelievers. And Nick “prays” frequently to his historical hero, Nelson, Lord of the Sea, which I found odd. Several people are shot in cold blood. Also, I don’t really view this as a negative, since I actually enjoyed them due to them being well written, but there were a couple pretty intense naval battle scenes that were mostly gore-free, but I thought I should mention anyway. Someone is executed in a submarine torpedo tube minus the torpedo, but we don’t actually see it, so it’s more the thought of it than anything, and someone tests a blade’s sharpness by cutting off the tip of their own tongue and then eating it. (Dude, I know you’re a pirate, but still!! *gags*)
Altogether, it has its issues, but I thought this was a very fun adventure through time. It might be enjoyed more by an audience a little younger than myself, but it was still a unique adventure that I’m glad I was able to take part in.
It starts out simply enough, about a sea-loving lighthouse-keeper’s son on an English island in 1939... but then one thing adds to another, and soon there’s a mysterious chest, pirates, an eviction notice, and a dog held for ransom. As if that isn’t enough, a time machine is thrown into the mix, and soon they’ve traveled back to 1803 to help one of Nick’s ancestors win a naval battle against a fearsome pirate named Billy Blood.
Sounds interesting, yes? (And let’s not forget the part of the book that involves being trapped on a German submarine)! That part had me on the edge of my seat, because a little girl and one of my favorite characters was involved. 0_o
The cast of characters was wide and varied. Nick himself had a wonderful arc, traveling from a little boy ashamed of being afraid and longing to be a hero, to being that hero, against all odds.
Also, I enjoyed how vivid the world was, and how all the senses were used to bring me into it. (That’s the mark of a master, let me tell you.) I had a clear mental image of just about every character there, and they all had their unique roles to play. I could tell the author did a lot of research on the time period, and it paid off. The fact that all the little details and subplots were important and wrapped up nicely by the end was a plus, too.
My only critiques, really, come in the form that almost everyone in the book had spent a lot of time on the water, and therefore most everything was filtered through a nautical lens. Which is very insightful on the author’s part, but could be a little difficult if you didn’t know anything about sailing or ships. And the cast of characters was large, as I mentioned before. I came away feeling as if I barely had a handle on all of them, kind of like the first time I read a Harry Potter book. If they hadn’t all been so different, I would have gotten lost. Finally, my last gripe is due to the fact that sometimes the pacing felt a little off, and the first chapter really wasn’t that great. (Just keep reading though, it’s worth it!)
The “stuff” comes in the form of a pretty good smattering of “d—n,” British “b—y,” and “bleeding.” God was referenced frequently, but I could never get a feel for where the author stood on the matter, since He was mentioned in a lukewarm way most of the time. Not disrespectful, per se... just lukewarm. Which can be aggravating to both believers and nonbelievers. And Nick “prays” frequently to his historical hero, Nelson, Lord of the Sea, which I found odd. Several people are shot in cold blood. Also, I don’t really view this as a negative, since I actually enjoyed them due to them being well written, but there were a couple pretty intense naval battle scenes that were mostly gore-free, but I thought I should mention anyway. Someone is executed in a submarine torpedo tube minus the torpedo, but we don’t actually see it, so it’s more the thought of it than anything, and someone tests a blade’s sharpness by cutting off the tip of their own tongue and then eating it. (Dude, I know you’re a pirate, but still!! *gags*)
Altogether, it has its issues, but I thought this was a very fun adventure through time. It might be enjoyed more by an audience a little younger than myself, but it was still a unique adventure that I’m glad I was able to take part in.
April 12, 2010
Ted Bell's Nick of Time is part of the Alex Hawke series, Bell's line of spy adventure novels. Nick of Time is the first young adult addition to the series, and serves well as a stand alone title. I found it enjoyable without being familiar to the earlier books.
Nick of Time is an enthralling read from beginning to end. The lead character, Nicholas McIver, is alive in the 1930s, but the character is so well-written, he could fit seamlessly in any time period (and soon does). Nick is plucky, adventurous, and is rich with boyish charm and a fervent desire for heroics of that of hero, Admiral Nelson.
His sister, Kate, is just as charming and precocious. She's admiring of her brother, and the moments between the two characters were some of my favorites. The two live with their family in a lighthouse in the smallest of the Channel Islands, on Greybeard Island. Nick spends his days sailing the waters around the island, and develops a keen sense of every rock and reef surrounding them. One day, out on such an excursion, Nick discovers a mysterious chest, sent from 1805 by his ancestor, the Royal Navy's Captain Nicholas McIver. Inside Nick finds a time machine, along with a letter, and learns the Captain and his entire fleet, Nelson's men, are under attack by the treacherous Billy Blood. And he'll stop at nothing to get the time machine, a double to the one he possesses. Meanwhile, the Nazis have their submarines in English waters and are closing in.
Kate and Nick enlist the help of the Lord Alexander Hawke, and his right-hand man, Commander Hobbes. Hobbes and Kate stay behind in 1939 to warn Churchhill of the impending Nazi invasion, while Hawke and Nick travel back to 1805 to help defeat Billy Blood, who travels throughout time, kidnapping children and livestock, and holding them for ransom. It is then that Nick discovers how he truly is a hero.
Nick of Time is action-packed from start to finish. It's well-paced, with a mixture of fantasy, sci-fi, and historical fiction. Although my grasp of history isn't that impressive, the details within the novel kept me riveted, from the descriptions of Nick's encounters with his ancestor to the battle scenes, which moved quickly and weren't bogged down in gratuitous detail. The emotional content of the novel also kept me hooked, especially in a poginant scene between Nelson and Nick. Nick of Time is a young adult book, but will capture the attention of any reader with its richly drawn characters, exciting action, and tender emotion for parents, for one's country, and for family.
Nick of Time is an enthralling read from beginning to end. The lead character, Nicholas McIver, is alive in the 1930s, but the character is so well-written, he could fit seamlessly in any time period (and soon does). Nick is plucky, adventurous, and is rich with boyish charm and a fervent desire for heroics of that of hero, Admiral Nelson.
His sister, Kate, is just as charming and precocious. She's admiring of her brother, and the moments between the two characters were some of my favorites. The two live with their family in a lighthouse in the smallest of the Channel Islands, on Greybeard Island. Nick spends his days sailing the waters around the island, and develops a keen sense of every rock and reef surrounding them. One day, out on such an excursion, Nick discovers a mysterious chest, sent from 1805 by his ancestor, the Royal Navy's Captain Nicholas McIver. Inside Nick finds a time machine, along with a letter, and learns the Captain and his entire fleet, Nelson's men, are under attack by the treacherous Billy Blood. And he'll stop at nothing to get the time machine, a double to the one he possesses. Meanwhile, the Nazis have their submarines in English waters and are closing in.
Kate and Nick enlist the help of the Lord Alexander Hawke, and his right-hand man, Commander Hobbes. Hobbes and Kate stay behind in 1939 to warn Churchhill of the impending Nazi invasion, while Hawke and Nick travel back to 1805 to help defeat Billy Blood, who travels throughout time, kidnapping children and livestock, and holding them for ransom. It is then that Nick discovers how he truly is a hero.
Nick of Time is action-packed from start to finish. It's well-paced, with a mixture of fantasy, sci-fi, and historical fiction. Although my grasp of history isn't that impressive, the details within the novel kept me riveted, from the descriptions of Nick's encounters with his ancestor to the battle scenes, which moved quickly and weren't bogged down in gratuitous detail. The emotional content of the novel also kept me hooked, especially in a poginant scene between Nelson and Nick. Nick of Time is a young adult book, but will capture the attention of any reader with its richly drawn characters, exciting action, and tender emotion for parents, for one's country, and for family.
December 15, 2009
This book is a good example of what NOT to do when writing a historical fantasy for young readers. It’s been quite a while since I’ve read something that contained so much amateuristic and unnecessary blither and blather that perhaps that only way to describe why this book should NOT be lauded as a noteworthy piece of juvenile historical fantasy is in a list:
1. It feels like a mediocre adult thriller writer’s attempt to write for children, i.e. it fails. Excessive description, lack of character development, confusing and unappealing plot.
2. The protagonist, Nick, undergoes no growth throughout the novel.
3. Dialogue is overly dramatic and artificial. Great for a puppet show performed for a crowd of pre-schoolers. As a middle-grade novel? Not so much.
4. The plot is uneven, with things dropped into the story and never to be seen again, and too-long tangents that readers will not care about. The time machine element is not even introduced until halfway through the 400+ page novel, and by then readers won’t care anymore.
5. Having Kate be the only semi-appealing character in the book does not justify the other 99% of awfulness. Six-year-old main characters are just not relatable, and more often than not become extremely annoying, even as they are supposedly charming.
6. The characters are inauthentic. The villains are overly villainified, and the “joker” characters bumble around and speak geeky nonsense.
NICK OF TIME may only appeal to those who can deal with a lot of nautical terminology, who are willing to sacrifice character and plot development for the sake of a vaguely interesting concept, and who think that one okay child protagonist makes up for all the other unappealing ones. Otherwise, I’d say don’t waste your time. There are millions of other better historical fantasy books for readers of all ages out there.
1. It feels like a mediocre adult thriller writer’s attempt to write for children, i.e. it fails. Excessive description, lack of character development, confusing and unappealing plot.
2. The protagonist, Nick, undergoes no growth throughout the novel.
3. Dialogue is overly dramatic and artificial. Great for a puppet show performed for a crowd of pre-schoolers. As a middle-grade novel? Not so much.
4. The plot is uneven, with things dropped into the story and never to be seen again, and too-long tangents that readers will not care about. The time machine element is not even introduced until halfway through the 400+ page novel, and by then readers won’t care anymore.
5. Having Kate be the only semi-appealing character in the book does not justify the other 99% of awfulness. Six-year-old main characters are just not relatable, and more often than not become extremely annoying, even as they are supposedly charming.
6. The characters are inauthentic. The villains are overly villainified, and the “joker” characters bumble around and speak geeky nonsense.
NICK OF TIME may only appeal to those who can deal with a lot of nautical terminology, who are willing to sacrifice character and plot development for the sake of a vaguely interesting concept, and who think that one okay child protagonist makes up for all the other unappealing ones. Otherwise, I’d say don’t waste your time. There are millions of other better historical fantasy books for readers of all ages out there.
October 10, 2010
Recently I finished the book "Nick of Time", in which a boy---Nick--and his little sister, Katie, find an old sea chest half-buried in the sand on one of the many beaches that surrounds the lighthouse in which they all live. Nick and his sister go visit their friend, Gunner, who used to be in the army, to see if they can find out more about the mysterious chest.
Suddenly they are all wrapped up in an adventure much more dangerous than they bargained for when two bloodthirsty pirates are after the chest also!
They manage to get the chest open with some help from Lord Hawke, who lives on Hawke Island. They discover all together the wonder of the tiny golden ball that they found inside: it is a Time Machine made by Leonardo Da Vinci!!
The pirates---Snake Eye and Billy Blood---kidnap Nick's dog, Jipper, and hold him for ransom. They want the old sea chest, but Nick is not willing to give it up. Yet.
Nick cannot run after them: Billy Blood is hiding in another place in time, so Nick must learn to use the Time Machine (there were two, and Blood stole the second one).
And so Nick, Katie, Gunner and Lord Hawke travel back in time to the place they assume Blood is hiding with Jipper.
But once there, they all are entangled into a deadly, dangerous, and scary adventure that they never guessed was waiting for them.
I REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK!!!!! It was well-written, had GREAT characters, and awsome plot!
Long live Ted Bell!
I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YIPEPEPEPEPE!!!!
Suddenly they are all wrapped up in an adventure much more dangerous than they bargained for when two bloodthirsty pirates are after the chest also!
They manage to get the chest open with some help from Lord Hawke, who lives on Hawke Island. They discover all together the wonder of the tiny golden ball that they found inside: it is a Time Machine made by Leonardo Da Vinci!!
The pirates---Snake Eye and Billy Blood---kidnap Nick's dog, Jipper, and hold him for ransom. They want the old sea chest, but Nick is not willing to give it up. Yet.
Nick cannot run after them: Billy Blood is hiding in another place in time, so Nick must learn to use the Time Machine (there were two, and Blood stole the second one).
And so Nick, Katie, Gunner and Lord Hawke travel back in time to the place they assume Blood is hiding with Jipper.
But once there, they all are entangled into a deadly, dangerous, and scary adventure that they never guessed was waiting for them.
I REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK!!!!! It was well-written, had GREAT characters, and awsome plot!
Long live Ted Bell!
I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YIPEPEPEPEPE!!!!
September 2, 2009
Another great library find. This author obviously grew up reading the books from the "blood and morality" tales shelf--from his names (many, if not all, taken from other books) to the swashbuckling, hair-raising adventurous spirit of it.
Very good message and morals.
LOVED that the kids had parents, who they loved, who weren't morons, who were somewhat part of the story. LOVED that the other "good-side" adults were also full of character and could be looked up to.
Made the point that evil is ugly, but I gave it four stars only because it got just a little too ugly (for me) there at the end. NOT over the top, but the bad guy slicing off the tip of his tongue and swallowing it just to show Nick his knife was sharp was pretty sick. ANYWAY, so it wouldn't be good for little girls, but my 10yo boy ate it up, and I was fine with him reading it.
What more could a boy want--pirates, kidnappers, Nazi's, lighthouses, dogs, naval battles, spies, submarines, Lord Nelson? It had it all and I thorougly enjoyed it. It is worthy of being put with the greats on the boy's bookshelf.
Well written and except for the violence in the end, nothing objectionable at all (one D word), no romance, etc. SUPER!
Nice line:
"A hero is merely a man never afraid of being called to heaven because he is certain he has done his duty." Attributed to Lord Horatio Nelson in the book, but don't know if he really said it. Good anyway.
I swear elsewhere in the book it says "A hero is only a man who is brave for 5 minutes longer than the other men." Something like that.
Very good message and morals.
LOVED that the kids had parents, who they loved, who weren't morons, who were somewhat part of the story. LOVED that the other "good-side" adults were also full of character and could be looked up to.
Made the point that evil is ugly, but I gave it four stars only because it got just a little too ugly (for me) there at the end. NOT over the top, but the bad guy slicing off the tip of his tongue and swallowing it just to show Nick his knife was sharp was pretty sick. ANYWAY, so it wouldn't be good for little girls, but my 10yo boy ate it up, and I was fine with him reading it.
What more could a boy want--pirates, kidnappers, Nazi's, lighthouses, dogs, naval battles, spies, submarines, Lord Nelson? It had it all and I thorougly enjoyed it. It is worthy of being put with the greats on the boy's bookshelf.
Well written and except for the violence in the end, nothing objectionable at all (one D word), no romance, etc. SUPER!
Nice line:
"A hero is merely a man never afraid of being called to heaven because he is certain he has done his duty." Attributed to Lord Horatio Nelson in the book, but don't know if he really said it. Good anyway.
I swear elsewhere in the book it says "A hero is only a man who is brave for 5 minutes longer than the other men." Something like that.
August 17, 2011
Nick of Time by Ted Bell is the first book in the Nick McIver series. Nick McIver and his sister Kate live with their parents on a small island in the English Channel. It's 1939 and a Nazi invasion of the island is a real threat. Even with the danger of U-boats, Nick loves sailing around the island with his dog Jip.
Things change though when he spots a U-boat surfacing just off the coast. Then he finds a time machine and gets a deadly threat from a long dead pirate. Nick has to go fight the pirate while Kate will have to handle the present day Nazis.
I like World War Two historical fiction. I love Robert Louis Stevenson's books. I usually love time travel stories. So I should have loved this book. But I didn't. In fact, I couldn't finish it.
The first problem I had with the book was the pacing. The first chapter is about nothing except Nick's love of sailing. I suppose it's for building character but it also eats up precious time and bloats the book.
That opening chapter is a symptom of an over all problem with the pacing. Pages and pages are spent on unnecessarily long descriptions of the island, the war, Nick's love of sailing and other settings around the island. Then out of nowhere, the pirate crew shows up. There's no build to it, no explanation. Nada. Just bam: evil pirates and a hint that they want whats in the box in the cave.
The chest in the cave was the final straw for me. They find it early on in story but don't actually use it until a hundred pages or so into the book. In most time travel stories once the device is found it's activated either on purpose or accidentally and off the main character goes to have his adventure. Here though more time and pages are wasted on introducing in a castle and a hermit.
The more that the magical device is explained, the less believable it becomes. I lost my patience and moved on to better books.
Things change though when he spots a U-boat surfacing just off the coast. Then he finds a time machine and gets a deadly threat from a long dead pirate. Nick has to go fight the pirate while Kate will have to handle the present day Nazis.
I like World War Two historical fiction. I love Robert Louis Stevenson's books. I usually love time travel stories. So I should have loved this book. But I didn't. In fact, I couldn't finish it.
The first problem I had with the book was the pacing. The first chapter is about nothing except Nick's love of sailing. I suppose it's for building character but it also eats up precious time and bloats the book.
That opening chapter is a symptom of an over all problem with the pacing. Pages and pages are spent on unnecessarily long descriptions of the island, the war, Nick's love of sailing and other settings around the island. Then out of nowhere, the pirate crew shows up. There's no build to it, no explanation. Nada. Just bam: evil pirates and a hint that they want whats in the box in the cave.
The chest in the cave was the final straw for me. They find it early on in story but don't actually use it until a hundred pages or so into the book. In most time travel stories once the device is found it's activated either on purpose or accidentally and off the main character goes to have his adventure. Here though more time and pages are wasted on introducing in a castle and a hermit.
The more that the magical device is explained, the less believable it becomes. I lost my patience and moved on to better books.
May 11, 2018
The adventure begins with a boy named Nick McIver a young lad who wants to set sail and adventure into the unknown. His sister, Katie, and him adventure into a shoal cave and find a mysterious treasure. Little known by them a mysterious pirate named Billy Blood seeks to find this treasure as well and even threatens Nick by capturing his dog and killing him if Nick doesn't hand over the treasure. On top of this a spy organization in which Nick's father is involved with has found signs of Nazis hiding underneath the island. Just as Nick receives the threat from Blood his father must seek a new house in London due to his involvement in the spy ring. He leaves the children with Gunner an old cannonier, after receiving the treasure the group sets off to Hawke Castle hoping to report the news of the treasure, pirates, and Nazis to Lord Hawke.
I felt that Nick of Time was a good and fun story to read in someone's free time. The beginning is quite slow due to it having to flesh out two plot lines seen towards the middle of the story. The introduction of the two different plot lines kept me wanting to find out what happens next. Ultimately I gave the book a four star rating because of the beginning keeps it from being a five star for me. If you find this book in the store or at the library, I strongly encourage picking it up and giving it a read.
I felt that Nick of Time was a good and fun story to read in someone's free time. The beginning is quite slow due to it having to flesh out two plot lines seen towards the middle of the story. The introduction of the two different plot lines kept me wanting to find out what happens next. Ultimately I gave the book a four star rating because of the beginning keeps it from being a five star for me. If you find this book in the store or at the library, I strongly encourage picking it up and giving it a read.
January 11, 2024
It's been ages since I read this, but I still remember how good it was.
Ted Bell really knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat. There are high stakes, time travel, gorgeous historical detail, lovable characters and flat, evil villains.
Although Bell usually writes for an adult audience, there was only one scene that felt a little too violent for a MG age group, at least to me personally. Even so, the book remains a favorite.
Ted Bell really knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat. There are high stakes, time travel, gorgeous historical detail, lovable characters and flat, evil villains.
Although Bell usually writes for an adult audience, there was only one scene that felt a little too violent for a MG age group, at least to me personally. Even so, the book remains a favorite.
March 28, 2024
A really fun time adventure book!
October 2, 2022
I liked this adventurous story for kids/teens. It was a long book with a detailed plot and lovable characters, as well as a few evil villains. I liked the historical period setting and the element of sci-fi with the time traveling device.
October 9, 2018
Nick of Time is a science fiction novel, written by Ted Bell, and originally published on May 13, 2008. The book is set in the days leading up to World War Two. Nick McIver is a 12 year old boy living on one of the British Channel Islands, and one day, while exploring, he happens on a chest hidden in a cave. What he finds in the chest will change his life forever. Inside that chest is a piece of technology dating back to Da Vinci, which sparks an adventure spanning two centuries, involving pirates, high profile kidnapping (literally, the kidnapping of a kid), espionage, Nazis, and ancient science. The theme of good vs. evil seemed to be the primary thread of the book’s content. I really like this book because the author wove the story masterfully, and switched from character to character seamlessly. I recommend this to anyone who likes sci-fi and history. This story was beautifully written, intriguing, and eloquent, as well as thoroughly enjoyable. I couldn't put it down, and I was so excited to find out that there was a sequel, called The Time Pirate.
August 6, 2016
"Nick of Time" is an epic novel for readers of any age. Author Ted Bell wrote it for kids, but adults would find it a fascinating read too. This is the story that Robert Louis Stevenson (Treasure Island) could have written if he lived in our generation.
The first chapters light upon twelve-year-old Nick McIver, the son of the lighthouse keeper on a little English island. The year is 1939. Trouble is stirring from Germany, and someone needs to spy on what the Nazis are doing. As young Nick begins to learn of the disturbing things happening above him in the air, and below him in the sea, he becomes concerned for the well-being of England and its people. Who is truly safe from the Nazis' efforts? Nick can't just sail away from these problems on his clipper, like he so enjoys doing. This time, he's in it for the fight, no matter where it takes him.
Next is the leap into time travel! It's an exciting aspect of the book, which takes the reader away from the beginning of World War II and into a time much earlier, where there's a large problem to solve at sea, and not much time to escape. Will Nick's new comrades (AKA "scientific detectives") be able to help him get back to 1939 in one piece?
Aside from the Nazis, Nick has inherited his very own personal enemy --- who is a pirate, no less. Not just any pirate either, but one who can travel through time. Nick is kept on his toes, never knowing from which direction that the infamous William Blood may appear from.
So many great characters are featured in this book! I wish I could tell you about Gunner, Commander Hobbes and Lord Hawke, but you'll have to read the book to find out about them. I truly think the author did such a wonderful job with describing his characters. Although a decidedly masculine cast takes the spotlight, there's one little girl who simply shines. Kate, Nick McIver's little sister is an adorable sweetheart, who fits in so perfectly with the action. She's smart for her age, and may as well take on the entire German Gestapo with her charm.
The only con that I found in the entire story is that it does include violence --- more so that most juvenile novels might have. Then again, this adventure isn't quite like any other juvenile novel either. It's that good.
Other notes: The audiobook with John Shea as narrator is the perfect listening material on a rainy day.
"Nick of Time" is an exciting nautical adventure, filled with peril, wit, and the element of surprise. I can hardly wait for the sequel, "The Time Pirate".
The first chapters light upon twelve-year-old Nick McIver, the son of the lighthouse keeper on a little English island. The year is 1939. Trouble is stirring from Germany, and someone needs to spy on what the Nazis are doing. As young Nick begins to learn of the disturbing things happening above him in the air, and below him in the sea, he becomes concerned for the well-being of England and its people. Who is truly safe from the Nazis' efforts? Nick can't just sail away from these problems on his clipper, like he so enjoys doing. This time, he's in it for the fight, no matter where it takes him.
Next is the leap into time travel! It's an exciting aspect of the book, which takes the reader away from the beginning of World War II and into a time much earlier, where there's a large problem to solve at sea, and not much time to escape. Will Nick's new comrades (AKA "scientific detectives") be able to help him get back to 1939 in one piece?
Aside from the Nazis, Nick has inherited his very own personal enemy --- who is a pirate, no less. Not just any pirate either, but one who can travel through time. Nick is kept on his toes, never knowing from which direction that the infamous William Blood may appear from.
So many great characters are featured in this book! I wish I could tell you about Gunner, Commander Hobbes and Lord Hawke, but you'll have to read the book to find out about them. I truly think the author did such a wonderful job with describing his characters. Although a decidedly masculine cast takes the spotlight, there's one little girl who simply shines. Kate, Nick McIver's little sister is an adorable sweetheart, who fits in so perfectly with the action. She's smart for her age, and may as well take on the entire German Gestapo with her charm.
The only con that I found in the entire story is that it does include violence --- more so that most juvenile novels might have. Then again, this adventure isn't quite like any other juvenile novel either. It's that good.
Other notes: The audiobook with John Shea as narrator is the perfect listening material on a rainy day.
"Nick of Time" is an exciting nautical adventure, filled with peril, wit, and the element of surprise. I can hardly wait for the sequel, "The Time Pirate".
November 29, 2008
Ted Bell's first YA novel is chockablock* with adventurous ideas. So chockablock, in fact, that I'm afraid he put every idea he's ever had into this one story and didn't save anything for his next book. In Nick of Time, we have lighthouses, castles, underground caves, pirates, treasure chests, bilingual talking parrots, Nazis, spies, reclusive millionaires, several types of boats, experimental submarines, aeroplanes, dognapping, and a time travel device invented by Leonardo da Vinci. And that's only in the first 100 pages! All of these elements combine to make a story that is historical fiction, science fiction, mystery, spy thriller, and adventure.
I would have enjoyed this book a lot more with a more focused story. What's wrong with a simple spy thriller set in the time before the start of World War II? Or a time travel adventure to help a great-great-grandfather defeat an evil pirate? Either one would have been nice. Combining all of the ideas in one story made this feel, at times, like a parody of the various genre.
This wasn't a terrible book. I did like some of the characters enough to read to the end to find out what happened to them. But this also won't be on the top of my purchase list for my library. I wanted it to be a fantastically exhilarating read, but it just didn't quite get there for me.
On a side note, I'm really afraid that a sequel will somehow involve a Peter Pan story. I hope he doesn't go that way. There have been too many of those lately.
*Chockablock was used twice within ten pages towards the beginning of the book. The first time, I thought it was fun to see the word in use. The second time, I almost stopped reading. Luckily, he didn't use the word again. Chockablock is a word like "plethora" that needs to be used sparingly - if at all. Too frequent use of a word like that (twice within ten pages is really pushing it) and it just becomes pretentious. Of course, I’ve managed to use it four times in this review. :)
I would have enjoyed this book a lot more with a more focused story. What's wrong with a simple spy thriller set in the time before the start of World War II? Or a time travel adventure to help a great-great-grandfather defeat an evil pirate? Either one would have been nice. Combining all of the ideas in one story made this feel, at times, like a parody of the various genre.
This wasn't a terrible book. I did like some of the characters enough to read to the end to find out what happened to them. But this also won't be on the top of my purchase list for my library. I wanted it to be a fantastically exhilarating read, but it just didn't quite get there for me.
On a side note, I'm really afraid that a sequel will somehow involve a Peter Pan story. I hope he doesn't go that way. There have been too many of those lately.
*Chockablock was used twice within ten pages towards the beginning of the book. The first time, I thought it was fun to see the word in use. The second time, I almost stopped reading. Luckily, he didn't use the word again. Chockablock is a word like "plethora" that needs to be used sparingly - if at all. Too frequent use of a word like that (twice within ten pages is really pushing it) and it just becomes pretentious. Of course, I’ve managed to use it four times in this review. :)
September 9, 2008
I liked this book a lot. It was a mixture of some of my favorite kinds of books. The characters were well done and the plot was exciting. There were a lot of twists and turns and holding my breath.
It was a bit bloodier than I thought it would be. I wouldn't read it to young children, probably 12 on up. It deals with the reality of war - it's not pleasant but the author doesn't dwell on it and make it disgusting. There is also a really bad guy and he does mean things and causes pain to many people so sensitive kids may not like it.
I will recommend this to my sons when they're a little older. And I'd readily recommend it to all of my adult friends as it was a fantastic book.
It was a bit bloodier than I thought it would be. I wouldn't read it to young children, probably 12 on up. It deals with the reality of war - it's not pleasant but the author doesn't dwell on it and make it disgusting. There is also a really bad guy and he does mean things and causes pain to many people so sensitive kids may not like it.
I will recommend this to my sons when they're a little older. And I'd readily recommend it to all of my adult friends as it was a fantastic book.
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November 7, 2022I tried, but was getting too bored to finish.
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**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell on Etsy!
June 25, 2008
There are a lot of mixed reviews on this one, so here's another to add. I bought this book for my 13 year old son. It has been a lot harder to find good books for him than it is for my girls. There are tons of books out there with strong heroines, but not nearly enough with strong adolescent boy characters. My son read this and loved it! It was action-packed and the main character, Nick, was brave, determined and honorable. I decided to read it as well. The first chapter was slow for me and I almost put it down. I'm glad I didn't. It was a fun read...pirates, nazis, battles, time machines...what boy wouldn't love it?
August 18, 2008
Mostly historical fiction but there is time travel. It has pirates, two wars (WWII and Napoleonic Wars), time travel, and lots of adventure. It's not my favorite style of book but I can definitely think of kids I would give it to. Nick lives on an island and his father is spying, looking for Nazis action and relaying that to Winston Churchill before the British entered the war. Nick discovers a time machine and one of his ancestors who wants him to travel back in time to help them navigate the rough waters that he is so familiar with. At the same time there is an evil pirate who wants the time machine and who has already been using its twin to kidnap children and ask for ransom.
July 8, 2008
I really like this one a lot!! Everyone says it's for boys, but I care to differ! My dad bought it for my little brother, but he refused to read it, so I decided to. I really think this book is gender-nuatral, but is more focused to boys. Maybe it's just because I like action, but I really really liked this one a lot. I finished it Monday morning at about 1:30 a.m. and would suggest it to anybody who likes adventure! Who would have thought pirates, sailors, Nazis, and time travel would mix this well!?
August 9, 2008
This was a great adventure...pirates, time travel, naval battles, and Nazis. And even though those may sound ridiculous together, they totally fit. While 12-year-old Nick has to go back in time to help an ancestor escape a pirate, his 6-year-old sister is on a U-Boat trying to help a British spy outwit some Nazis. (And these Nazis are a combination of the Nazis in the Indiana Jones movies and the hawks from the film Valiant. Absolutely nuts.) The characters are all great fun, and the battles and adventures are very believable. I'd probably recommend it to boys who love adventures.
October 3, 2008
The basic idea of this story is awesome. 1939, small English island near France, family on the look out for Nazis. This quest leads to Nick going back in time to 1805 to help Admiral Nelson, his hero, fight pirates, while his little sister Kate battles Nazis in their present.
It's very much written in the style of old fashioned boy adventure books - tons of action, lots of tension, overly dramatic. Even the illustrations fit that perfectly. I thought it was too overwrought most of the time, but it is a grand adventure.
It's very much written in the style of old fashioned boy adventure books - tons of action, lots of tension, overly dramatic. Even the illustrations fit that perfectly. I thought it was too overwrought most of the time, but it is a grand adventure.
May 8, 2009
I couldn't decide between 3 or 4 stars on this one. A very clever story involving a 12 year old boy, Nick, and his younger sister that live on an English channel island in 1939. While exploring the shore around their home, Nick finds a chest containing a note to him from his great great grandpa and a strange golden ball. This all leads to an time travel, an encounter with pirates in the 1800's as well as dealing with a new top secret nazi U-boat. A great read for boys (or girls) who can handle some very realistic pirate battles and encounters with egotistical nazis.
July 2, 2009
A grand sea adventure taking place around an Island in the English Channel in two different times. The 12 year old protagonist must depend on his sailing knowledge and courage as he and others are called upon to protect England from Nazis pre WWII and from an evil kidnapping pirate set on destroying the Royal Navy in 1803. Colorfully written with vocabulary approprite for the time(s)with alot of nautical terms it is suspenseful albeit graphically violent in some scenes. For this reason I feel it is best suited for older readers; 7-8th and possibly spring 6th.
November 16, 2013
I listen to most of the books I read and I believe that some books just come alive with a talented reader, who can add the appropriate accents and more suspense to the story with their well-timed verbage!
When I think of some of the books my son had to trudge thru when he was much younger, say 8-10, this book would have been a delight! Nick is a solid character right from the start, to say he shows no growth is a sad comment, it would make one wonder if that person actually read the whole story. This book is high adventure and just plain fun to read at any age!
When I think of some of the books my son had to trudge thru when he was much younger, say 8-10, this book would have been a delight! Nick is a solid character right from the start, to say he shows no growth is a sad comment, it would make one wonder if that person actually read the whole story. This book is high adventure and just plain fun to read at any age!
July 17, 2008
I heard about this book on the radio. As a mother of 13 and 11 year old boys I thought it sounded like a good one for them to read. I decided to check it out for myself. The 1st chapter was a little hard with a lot of sailing gargon but once the story got going I really enjoyed it. It was nice to see a boy be brave and do the right thing and end up being repected and admired by his heros as he becomes one himself.
July 3, 2008
It's so hard to rate books. Entertainment wise this was a five star. But, I try to reserve 5 stars for books that change me -- make me better somehow. This one was just pure fun. I read it aloud to my kids and they loved it. My only complaint with this book is that there were two areas that got somewhat graphic in the violence department.
August 21, 2008
I found this book entertaining, but not so much as others have pushed it up to be. I think it would be a great juvenile title, especially for someone who is interested in WWII era stories. There's a lot to learn from this book in relation to sailing and the sea. It did keep my attention, though... I found myself staying up far too late to finish the book!
September 3, 2008
I loved this book!!!! Nick discovers an old sea chest abandoned on the island near the light house. Little does he know that this discovery will change his life and his sister’s for ever! Admiral Nelson and Winston Churchill need them!!! Pirates, German U-Boats and espionage make this a real page turner!
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