The Sterkarm Handshake (1998) - Susan Price

The Sterkarm Handshake (1998) – Susan Price

Scholastic Point, 384 pages, ISBN 9780439978965

(photo credit: www.goodreads.com)

AWARDS:

Guardian Fiction Prize, 1999

Carnegie Medal Finalist

Annotation: When a 21st century corporation funds a time travel device for the purpose of ravaging the 16th century’s gold and natural resources, the local Sterkarm clan decides this means war.  

Booktalk: Sure, in the 21st century you’re just another average-looking, slightly overweight girl, but in the 16th century, you’re every young man’s idea of the perfect woman. You understand these people, the Sterkarms, even though they’re warlike and sometimes deceitful. But are they any worse than the 21st century corporation who sent you to talk them out of their gold and precious resources? Could you betray the corporation and spend the rest of your life in the 16th century? There’s certainly a young man there who would be happy if you did. If you stay, you’ve betrayed the corporation and can never go home. If you leave, you’ve become a part of ruining the Sterkarm way of life forever. What choice will you make?

Red Shift (1973) - Alan Garner

Red Shift (1973) – Alan Garner

New York Review of Books (2011 reissue edition), 176 pages, ISBN 9781590174432

(photo credit: www.goodreads.com)

Annotation: Set in one location over a period of 1,000 years, Red Shift explores how time and place can determine who we are, for good or for bad. 

Booktalk: Tired of typical time travel stories? Red Shift is anything but typical! Tom is a teenager in a small British village who just wants to get away from his parents and spend time with his girlfriend Jan. When exploring the countryside, they discover an ancient ax-head, one used in the English Civil War by a soldier named....Thomas. And in Roman times, an ex-soldier fights wars with a very similar ancient ax. Are these three people related? Are they the same person? Is Tom being pulled into a different time?

Red Shift will challenge you and may make you ask how well you really know yourself.