Ruby Red

By Kerstin Gier

Gwyneth Shepherd’s sophisticated, beautiful cousin charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era! Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon—the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18^th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.

I’m always interested in time travel novels. I find them fascinating when they’re treated in a believable manner. This particular young adult novel about a girl who never expected to time travel but inexplicably does, is interesting. Gwyneth is not happy about the turn of events in her life, as she cannot control her ability. Her cousin Charlotte is even less happy because she was supposed to be the one destined to have the family time travel gene. Cue haughty and arrogant Gideon, the other time traveler from a different family, and you’ve got your love interest. Of course he’s gorgeous. Of course he hates Gwyneth in true Mr. Darcy-like fashion. And of course he starts to see Gwyneth’s courage and of course they are thrown into the middle of a mystery and possible conspiracy and have only each other to trust…or do they? Well, this story moved along at a good clip, had interesting characters, and of course lovely jaunts to the past. I liked it as I read, though I was a little miffed at the fact that the other time traveler was so pompous and obviously meant for our heroine. Another huge problem for me: the book freaking ends in the middle of a sentence. I’m not joking. It’s going along all fine and then just…nothing. That is not okay. That is just ugh. Otherwise this was a fun and entertaining read, and the first in a trilogy, and also a movie (in German). 

I give it a 3 out of 5 for being average.