The Tick Tock Man - Softcover

Clark, R. M. M.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1944816607 ISBN 13: 9781944816605

Publisher: Month9Books, LLC, 2017

Synopsis

When the clocks in town stop, 13-year-old CJ discovers an unusual clock world where most of the citizens are clock parts, tasked with keeping the big clocks running. But soon the seemingly peaceful world is divided between warring factions with CJ instructed to find the only person who can help: the elusive Tick Tock Man. With the aid of Fuzee, a partly-human girl, he battles gear-headed extremists and razor-sharp pendulums in order to restore order before this world of chimes, springs, and clock people dissolves into a massive time warp, taking CJ's quiet New England town with it.

About this title

About the Author

R.M. Clark is a computer scientist for the Department of Navy by day and children’s book writer by night. He lives in Swansea, Massachusetts.

Reviews

Gr 5–7—It's Thanksgiving morning. Thirteen-year-old CJ just wants to sleep in, but the clock in his room keeps making weird noises. CJ reluctantly gets out of bed and starts helping his parents prepare the house for visiting relatives and Thanksgiving dinner. But throughout the day, CJ notices more odd behavior from the clocks in his house and around his neighborhood. The clocks throughout the Connecticut town all seem to be stuck at 2:00, the time when, earlier that day, CJ broke (and was subsequently sucked into) an heirloom family clock. The teen soon discovers a magical clock world in turmoil that needs his help. Along with a half-human girl named Fuzee, CJ learns he must find the Tick Tock Man to restore the world's balance before it is too late. This is an unusual fantasy adventure about an alternate universe and a long-standing feud between two old-world German races. CJ's first-person narration and conversational tone will appeal to reluctant readers looking for an action novel that isn't based in romance or teen angst. The mystery of the Tick Tock Man will be solved early on, but it's an entertaining journey anyway. Give this to fans of Suzanne Collins's Gregor the Overlander or Marie Rutkoski's The Cabinet of Wonders. VERDICT A fun, fast-paced adventure that will appeal to reluctant middle school readers, especially those interested in engineering and how things work.—Leigh Collazo, Dulwich College, Suzhou, China

Edition details

• Publisher: Month9Books, LLC
• Publication date: 2017
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1944816607
• ISBN 13: 9781944816605
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 237