Review: Time Travellers: Secrets and Spies

*Written by Sufiya Ahmed*
*Illustrations by Alessia Trunfio*
*Published by Little Tiger*

I really enjoyed Time Travellers: Adventure Calling so was eager to read the second book in this exciting series of historical timeslip adventures: Secrets and Spies.

Suhana and best friends, Mia and Ayaan, are exploring Edinburgh during the Easter holidays. As it is raining, they head in to the Museum of Scotland where they meet a tour guide who tells them about the origins of the East India Company and shares that items taken are now part of a collection in Edinburgh Castle. Visiting the Castle, the three friends see an Indian sword with a tiger head and an amulet holder, but then Suhana’s phone alarm rings … and the friends find themselves spinning backwards through time … and into another time travelling adventure …

This time, the team find themselves in 1799 Seringapatam, India with a new mission: to save a young princess. Finding themselves inside a fort, they climb the walls to see thousands of tents, cannon guns and war elephants: the fort and Sultan’s palace is under siege by troops from the East India Company.

When they are disturbed by a young soldier, they find an ally in Imran who takes them to the royal palace where they see Sultan Tipu and learn of his resistance to the invaders, but is someone prepared to betray the Sultan and his family for their own greed? Can the time travellers complete their mission and save the princess before the fort is breached by those intent on ending any resistance to Imperial Rule? And, will the team return safely home to share this forgotten history with others?

This is another brilliant adventure with plenty of fast-paced action, danger and discoveries as the children work together to save the young princess and get her to safety as they are confronted with the exploitation, disrespect and violence of the East India Company towards the Indian people. Bengal tigers, secret passages, betrayal, and daring escapades make this a thrilling read as well as one which teaches readers about British colonialism in India.

I really enjoyed the strong friendship which has developed between Suhana, Mia and Ayaan which makes them a great time travelling team. The friends are courageous and determined, and are prepared to take risks to complete their mission which leads to both danger and discoveries. They all show respect for the beliefs and culture of those they meet which is in stark contrast to how the Indian people are treated by the colonial powers forcibly expanding into their country.

There is a wonderful section at the end of the book which gives more information about the British Empire and colonialism as well as sharing more information about Tipu Sultan and one of his ancestors who played an important and heroic role in the Second World War.

This is another fantastic adventure in this time-travelling series which is perfect for children of 8+ to both enjoy as an exciting adventure and to learn more about important aspects of our diverse history which are not well known.

Thank you to Little Tiger for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Time Travellers: Adventure Calling

Time Travellers: Adventure Calling is the first in an exciting new series of historical timeslip adventures. Perfect for readers of 8+ who I have no doubt will not only be gripped by the thrilling adventure but will also find themselves immersed in learning about aspects of our missing diverse history.

Suhana, Mia and Ayaan are visiting the Houses of Parliament after having been chosen as winner and runners-up in an art competition run by their local MP. Suhana has joined Year 6, and does not really know Mia and Ayaan who are good friends. When they arrive with their Headteacher, Mr Hayes, they witness a Fridays for Future protest against climate change by a group of teenagers. Whilst Mr Hayes is disdainful of the protest, attesting that it is a waste of time, another teacher disagrees, citing the suffragette movement.

Once inside the Houses of Parliament for a tour, the children are immediately fascinated by its history and organisation. After the tour, Suhana is keen to go back to Westminster Hall to learn more about women’s suffrage, but then she hears a phone ringing, her phone … and the three children find themselves spinning back through time to 17^th June 1911, and into the middle of a women’s suffrage demonstration.

Suhana is surprised to see Indian women taking part in the march, and immediately races towards them, losing Mia and Ayaan in the crowd. She meets Lolita Roy and her niece, Reena, who are suffragists focussed on peaceful campaigning; they invite her to take part in the march. But will Suhana be reunited with her new friends in time to return to the present? Can her experiences and discoveries in the past impact on the history which is presented in the present?

This is a brilliant adventure with plenty of fast-paced action, danger and discoveries as the children race against time to find their way back home whilst learning more about the suffrage movement and the diversity within it that is not common knowledge in the present.

Suhana is an incredibly sympathetic young girl. She has joined a new school in Year 6 and has been fostered since her mother left. Her Headteacher doesn’t like her and takes every opportunity to belittle her. It is such a credit to Suhana that she remains curious, impulsive and enthusiastic: her inner strength in the face of adversity is so inspiring as is her desire to have hidden aspects of our diverse history revealed. Mia and Ayaan prove themselves to be wonderful friends to Suhana and, together, these three make a great time travelling team.

There is a wonderful section at the end of the book which gives more information about the Women’s Suffrage Movement and key over-looked figures in its movement in the UK: Lolita Roy and Princess Sophia Duleep Singh. There is also further information about Fridays for Future.

This is a terrific start to this new time-travelling series, and I’m really looking forward to joining Suhana, Mia and Ayaan in their next adventure: Secrets and Spies.

Thank you to Little Tiger for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.