Martin Conway comes from a family filled with heroes and disgraces. His grandfather was a statesman who worked at the US Embassy in London during W...
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reviews
Jun 29, 2008
Michele
rated it: 
Wow! This is a great book. I picked it up at random at the library. The prologue grabbed me, then the next few chapters had me wondering what it had to do with the story. But the story rolled like a train gathering speed until you knew the destination and wondered how the protagonist was going to get there. On his way he took his whole family to a new destination and ... well, you'll have to read it yourself.
I would agree with the library that this is a teen/young adult novel, mostly More...
I would agree with the library that this is a teen/young adult novel, mostly More...
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Jan 14, 2011
Ruhama
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Martin’s grandmother has recently died, and left him an old fashioned radio—the kind from the 1940s. He’s excited to have it, as he’s been relatively close to his grandmother. Little does he realize, though, that this radio is going to be a time machine of sorts. Through the static comes the story of Jimmy, a boy who lived in London during the Blitz, and he manages to get his story told through Martin, and several truths about events that happened between the United States and England politic
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Sep 16, 2010
Shannon
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My ten year old selected this from the library when another book by the same author wasn't available. I picked it up to read between chapters of a non-fiction book. Little did I know how much I would enjoy London Calling - it's very appropriate for younger readers, but contains a depth that kept me fully engaged.
London Calling follows young Martin Mehan through time to the blitz of London during WWII. While I love history from before the 20th century, I'm not at all well-versed in More...
London Calling follows young Martin Mehan through time to the blitz of London during WWII. While I love history from before the 20th century, I'm not at all well-versed in More...
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Jul 04, 2010
Blakleayahoo.com
rated it: 
"London is calling", and I should have hung up. I only read the book to the end, so that I could review it completely. One star because Bloor wrote a book and the other star because I like his rather simplictic prose style. That's it. Johnny the teenage main character who lives in modern day New Jersey inherits an old fashioned World War II radio which mysteriously connects with the World War II London boy named Jimmy as Johnny time travels to the 1940's. Leaving his dysfuctional fa
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Feb 09, 2010
Zach
rated it: 
Having really enjoyed Bloor's Tangerine, and being a big fan of the classic Clash album, I was excited to read London Calling. Bloor's novel is a tale of courage, forgiveness, and family that crosses decades and oceans by means of a time-traveling radio.
Martin is a student at a prestigious private school in central New Jersey. He is content to spend his summer vacation cooped up in his basement, instant-messaging with friends and reading. When his grandmother passes away, though, and M More...
Martin is a student at a prestigious private school in central New Jersey. He is content to spend his summer vacation cooped up in his basement, instant-messaging with friends and reading. When his grandmother passes away, though, and M More...
Aug 03, 2009
Lisa
rated it:
This is the third book I've read in my Edward Bloor binge, and my least favorite so far. Unlike "Tangerine" and "Crusader", "London Calling" is a something of a fantasy novel. The main character, a contemporary Catholic teenage guy, travels back to 1940s London to right a wrong. The thing about time travel YA novels is that they're mostly all very much alike. Things that made this one stand out a little were the protagonist's Catholicism--there are several scene
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Sep 23, 2009
Nelson_h
rated it:
Edward Bloor’s London Calling a compelling science fiction history novel that pulled me in and never let go.
The theme of this book is a teenage boy finding himself. He learns to trust himself and realizes that his life is worth something after all.
The style of Bloor left nothing to be desired. Bloor gives a very real sense of where the book is set. I could almost hear the main character describing his adventures. The narrator is not unique in his way of presenting his s More...
The theme of this book is a teenage boy finding himself. He learns to trust himself and realizes that his life is worth something after all.
The style of Bloor left nothing to be desired. Bloor gives a very real sense of where the book is set. I could almost hear the main character describing his adventures. The narrator is not unique in his way of presenting his s More...
Dec 01, 2011
Erin
rated it:
London Calling
by Edward Bloor
Martin Conway lives in the shadow of his grandfather’s memory, who lived at the American Embassy in London during WWII and served the famous General “Hollerin’ Hank” Lowery. In fact, the prep school Martin attends is funded in Lowery’s memory, and Lowery’s grandson attends there also, bullying Martin and the other “Scholarship” kids. Martin longs to go to Garden State Middle and escape the family legacy, so much so that he sinks into a deep depression. An More...
by Edward Bloor
Martin Conway lives in the shadow of his grandfather’s memory, who lived at the American Embassy in London during WWII and served the famous General “Hollerin’ Hank” Lowery. In fact, the prep school Martin attends is funded in Lowery’s memory, and Lowery’s grandson attends there also, bullying Martin and the other “Scholarship” kids. Martin longs to go to Garden State Middle and escape the family legacy, so much so that he sinks into a deep depression. An More...
Mar 12, 2011
Josiah
rated it:
"History repeats itself only in that, from afar, we all seem to lead exactly the same life. We are all born; we all spend time here on earth; we all die. But up close, we have each walked down our own separate paths. We have stood at our own lonely crossroads. We have touched the lives of others at crucial points, for better or for worse. In the end, each of us has lived a unique life story, astounding and complicated, a story that could never be repeated."
—London Call More...
—London Call More...
Oct 18, 2009
Vicki
rated it:
I thought this was really excellent, and I might reasonably credit this book as the one that got me to appreciate the joy of audio books. The story pulls you in so quickly, and makes you feel so strongly for the characters and their disappointments, but also their hope, when it does show up. Martin Conway is a 13 year old kid on a scholarship at an expensive Catholic school that he hates. His mother's sense of honor won't let him leave the school, and he's pretty depressed. He's also victimiz
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Dec 11, 2011
Beverly
rated it:
London Calling is part historical fiction and part realistic fiction. I think it would have been a much stronger book if Edward Bloor had focused more on the historical fiction story. Martin is a sullen, withdrawn young teen trying to survive being bullied at his elite prep school and recover from the loss of his much loved grandmother. When Martin starts listening to the 1930's radio left to him by his grandmother, he travels back to WWII Blitzkreig era London. Every time he travels back in ti
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Jun 17, 2009
Shannon
rated it:
It seems that is has been ages since I have seen anything from Edward Bloor - who wrote one of my favorite YA books - Tangerine. I was excited to see this book at the library book sale. The main character, Johnny, inherits an old 1920s cathedral radio from his grandmother, who is said to have had rather mystical powers. This radio has the power to send him back to World War II London, where he meets a young boy named Jimmy. Jimmy tells him that when you die, only one question matters. It is
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Aug 17, 2009
Kris
rated it:
Recommended for gr. 5-9. This is a contemporary story of Martin Conway, who does not fit in at his private school (he attends because his mother works in the office and gets free tuition). He and some friends are bullied by a gang led by Hank Lowery, the grandson of a WWII hero who gave a lot of money to the school. Martin inherits a 1940's era radio that belonged to his grandmother. While listening to the radio, he is transported to 1940 London where he meets a young boy named Jimmy. As he
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Aug 14, 2009
Joe
rated it: 
London Calling tells the story of Martin, a teenaged highschool student living with his mother and sister in New Jersey. Martin does not fit in at the exclusive private school where his mother works as a secretary; nor does Martin find inspiration outside of the classroom, rarely venturing out of the family basement that serves as his room. However, when Martin's grandmother starts calling him late at night with cryptic spiritual messages, it starts him on a journey that will change his life,
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Jul 08, 2010
Kay
rated it:
Fun YA read by the author of Tangerine</>. This time travel story depicts a teen named Martin who is transported through a mysterious radio to London in 1940. It was during the worst days of blitz, and Martin slowly learns through Jimmy, a boy he encounters time and again in these "dreams," that he has some kind of role to play, something useful to do. Somehow, whatever it is that Martin is supposed to do, it all relates to Jimmy and, oddly enough, to Martin and his family as wel
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Sep 26, 2009
Heidi
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This was such a good book. Unfortunately, with the audio I think I accidentally tuned out a few times and missed some great parts. Not that it was the book's fault or the narrator's fault. It was me and the particular work I was doing as I listened. I got distracted and missed things that I know would have made the book even more enjoyable. If I ever find the time, I would want to reread this one again, but would try print. It's quite well-written. Great story, plot, and flow. Good lessons if yo
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Aug 09, 2011
Liora
rated it:
Martin Conway is a seventh grader who hates his school. He attends exclusive All Souls Prep on a scholarship because his mother works there as a secretary. There is a lot of ugly tension and history between the rich kids at All Souls and the scholarship kids. In the opening pages of the book, Martin gets into a fight with the great-grandson of the school's founder, Henry Lowery, on the last day of class. Over the summer, he becomes more and more withdrawn and depressed, and rarely emerges from h
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May 06, 2009
Dee
rated it:
My son asked me to read this young adult novel, and because he asked, I picked it up. I'm so glad I did. As usual, his story sense is unerring.
This is a moving novel set partly in the present and partly in WWII London during the Blitz. It's a story about two boys who stretch across time and space to do "their bit."
Bloor must know children and teens because he gives realistic dialogue (thank goodness), and he understands the desires of the human heart.
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This is a moving novel set partly in the present and partly in WWII London during the Blitz. It's a story about two boys who stretch across time and space to do "their bit."
Bloor must know children and teens because he gives realistic dialogue (thank goodness), and he understands the desires of the human heart.
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Oct 16, 2009
I didn't really care for this book. I was reading it for one of the English teachers to see if it would be a good one to read with some of her lower reading level 7th grade classes. It was about a boy who transports back in time to London during the WWII air raids through the static of an old radio. He is supposed to give a message from a little boy who was killed in the bombings to his father who survived the war and is currently living in a small town in England very bitter and holding on t
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Jan 20, 2010
Eileen
rated it:
I wanted to like this more, since any YA book about the blitz neatly combines two of my more obvious obsessions. I also liked Tangerine, which gave me pretty high hopes. So when I realized that the characterization was mediocre to weak, the frame of the book was essentially meaningless, and the plot revolved not just around realistic "time travel" dream sequences but actual religious belief, that was pretty disappointing. Not a terrible book, and certainly helpful reading for a middl
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Mar 07, 2009
Kerri
rated it:
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book after having read Tangerine a while back. I liked Tangerine, but it seemed like I was always waiting for something drastic to happen and it never did. I picked this book because I love to read about WWII and the people of that time. I was not disappointed with this book. A beautiful story of a teenage boy who died in the London Blitz in 1940 who wants only to help his father who can't forgive himself for the death of his only son. It is very well
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Dec 22, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
Reviewed by Jennifer Rummel for TeensReadToo.com
LONDON CALLING opens with a fight at school between the rich boys and the scholarship boys. A stone hits one of the statues in the new walkway causing damage. The commotion from the fight catches the attention of the headmaster who decides that he will determine the punishment at the end of the summer vacation. Martin dreads going back for this meeting. He hates the school so much that he requests to have independent studies for the ent More...
LONDON CALLING opens with a fight at school between the rich boys and the scholarship boys. A stone hits one of the statues in the new walkway causing damage. The commotion from the fight catches the attention of the headmaster who decides that he will determine the punishment at the end of the summer vacation. Martin dreads going back for this meeting. He hates the school so much that he requests to have independent studies for the ent More...
Mar 03, 2011
Jenni
rated it:
I only read a third of this before before I finally could not take anymore. The main character, Martin Conway, has no personality and spends his entire summer vacation sleeping. The author isn't very good at writing the dialogue of 12-year-old boys; what average seventh-grade boy types online instant messages in complete sentences as if he is writing a high school English paper? Apparently every single one in America, according to the author. And Edward Bloor must not have heard many conversatio
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Aug 30, 2007
Meg
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with the exception of picture books, this was my first cover to cover read-aloud to a class. my cooperating teacher picked it for me during my practicum last spring. i wish i could say that it consequently holds a special place in my heart, but it was really just ok. there was just too much going on, which left no time for bloom to develope the chararacters as well as he did in tangereine. plus the kids didn't haven't any prior knowledge about WWI and so it was difficult for them to fallow. oh,
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Aug 23, 2007
LFPL Teen Services
rated it:
The war-torn streets of 1940’s London are calling Martin Conway. It’s a time when World War II has brought excessive bombing to the city and families are being torn apart in order to flee the war. But, Martin knows nothing of this time because he lives in suburban New Jersey more than 60 years after World War II. But, his dreams of this time are becoming more and more vivid.
On the first night, he finds himself in the house of a boy named Jimmy. The war is raging outside and all Ji More...
On the first night, he finds himself in the house of a boy named Jimmy. The war is raging outside and all Ji More...
Jul 04, 2007
Shelley
rated it:
I started this around 10:30pm, intending to read a chapter or two before bed. I finished the damn book shortly after 1am. I just could not put it down.
It started off strong - Martin, who has difficulties in school and with his family - inherits a 1930s Cathedral radio from his slightly kooky grandmother. This radio allows a young boy named Jimmy, from the London Blitz, to contact him (just as he contacted Martin's grandparents) and ask for help. About halfway through, that science-fi More...
It started off strong - Martin, who has difficulties in school and with his family - inherits a 1930s Cathedral radio from his slightly kooky grandmother. This radio allows a young boy named Jimmy, from the London Blitz, to contact him (just as he contacted Martin's grandparents) and ask for help. About halfway through, that science-fi More...
Jan 21, 2009
Cheryl
rated it:
John Martin Conway feels out of place at his exclusive prep school where the founder's great grandson torments other students. John is expelled after a fight and works at home on an independent study project. He is given a World War II-era radio by his grandmother which brings him in contact with Jimmy, a boy who lived during the London Blitz and needs John's help. Using magical realism Bloor enfolds a tale of justice and redemption.
Nov 10, 2011
Gerald
rated it:
This was a very interesting book. Here’s why. It presents some interesting studies in characters who face challenges that keep you wanting to know what they are going to decide and what they are going to do. And this is presented in a surprisingly believable, non-science fiction kind of time travel that enables us to watch what happens to people in our own time as well as in the 1940s London, during Hitler’s bombing. I quite enjoyed it.
Sep 05, 2009
Jena
rated it:
Excellent story about a boy who travels through time tot he London Blitz with the aid of an old fashioned radio left to him as a legacy. As a teacher, it reminded me of how tapping into a child's interest can have a revolutionary effect on a their approach to education. In the course of his travels through time he becomes enmeshed in a family mystery, which eventually reunites him with his father in a transatlantic trip in modern times.
May 18, 2009
Cynthia
rated it:
WOW. . . The premise behind this book, time travel and being able to change the future and trying to be the best human being one can be/helping others, is just amazing. I probably just made it sound a little boring, but it is a wondrously moody, atmospheric book that leaves you thinking about it and wondering what will happen next whenever you are unfortunate enough NOT to be reading it at the moment. It was over far too soon for me. . .
