THE TIMEBOUND TWINS

Whitemarsh-Hoffmann’s middle-grade debut sees a young magic student travel back in time to find the twin whom she was never supposed to meet.

Eleven-year-old Iris resides in the Nearwoods, a realm that’s separate from but connected to Earth. She is the Novice of Light, one of six Novices—the others being of Winter, Summer, Spring, Autumn, and Time—charged with mastering the magic needed to manipulate matter and control the natural elements. (Gratifyingly, this involves a fusion of quantum mechanics and nuclear physics.) The novices are instructed, both collectively and individually, by the Bearers of each element, who, in turn, answer to their own former mentors (the Sages). Iris’ bearer and sage are, respectively, Hesper and Bettima; her mother has virtually disowned her and is preoccupied with summoning Iris’ “timebound twin”—a sibling who was consigned at birth to leave the Nearwoods and live sometime in Earth’s history. Searching for such twins is strictly forbidden, but when the fabled dark sorceress Morith makes an appearance, possessing Iris’ mother and threatening the magic that holds the world together, Iris has no choice but to travel to 1985 Milwaukee to find her timebound twin. Whitemarsh-Hoffmann tells the story through a smooth blend of narrative prose, upbeat dialogue, and poetic descriptions, such as “The River Trillium moved in torrents tonight, teeming with silver-backed trout cresting the water to gobble up the stoneflies.” The worldbuilding fizzes with wonder, and the magic-school setting will naturally evoke Harry Potter comparisons; however, Whitemarsh-Hoffmann is less heavy-handed than J. K. Rowling was in characterizing the novices. Iris’ relationship with her mother, for instance, explores the absence of parental love far more effectively than if she’d been orphaned; her relationships with Hesper and Bettima are also richer, compared to the caricatured Dursleys. White-haired, sneering Verena, Novice of Summer, is a relatively toned-down and believable villain. One criticism, though, is that moments of great import are paced similarly as ordinary events. Nonetheless, the action picks up when Iris travels back in time, which will likely engage young readers.

A vivid fantasy that’s packed with magic and imagination.