As a relatively smallish state, Maryland does not feature as the setting for many novels. It is even more rare for such a novel to take place anywhere outside one of the major nearby cities (Baltimore, D.C., or maybe Frederick). Truthfully, outside of a few Nora Roberts romance novels, the choices are pretty slim.
So imagine my surprise to discover that there was not only a single novel set in my home turf there was an entire series! Introducing Rysa Walker's time-travelling teenager from Bethesda, Maryland! This protagonist, Kate, not only rides the metro throughout Montgomery County, she and her friends even drive out to Laurel and up to Damascus! THE BOOK TALKS ABOUT THE ROAD I COMMUTE ON EVERY DAY! Okay, I'll stop shouting now and get to the point. Beyond just the giddiness of hometown pride, the novels in The Chronos Files series were relatively interesting.
Between trips to the past and future, explorations of the impact of ecological and religious fervor, and a bit of a love triangle, the main characters cover the typical fodder for YA novels: recognizing true love, parental oversight, friendships, destiny, etc. What makes this series stand out for me is the excellent use of the 0.5 novella structure. Many authors have begun writing these in-between novellas to keep fans patient in between major installments. However, Ms. Walker actually allows important plot points and revelations to
occur in these 0.5s. More importantly, these novellas are from the point of view of characters whose minds we cannot fathom in the main novels. These other voices and vantages give us, if not sympathy, then at least a certain sense of how such good-seeming people could end up making such patently destructive choices.
Book 1: Timebound
Book 1.5: Time's Echo
Book 2: Time's Edge
Book 2.5: Time's Mirror
Book 3: Time's Divide
Book 3.5: Simon Says
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