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Clockwise #1
Clockwise
Casey Donovan has issues: hair, height and uncontrollable trips to the 19th century! And now this --she's accidentally taken Nate Mackenzie, the cutest boy in the school, back in time.
Protocol pressures her to tell their 1860 hosts that he is her brother, and when Casey finds she has a handsome, wealthy (and unwanted) suitor, something changes in Nate. Are those romantic sparks or is it just "brotherly" protectiveness?
When they return to the present, things go back to the way they were before: Casey parked on the bottom of the rung of the social ladder and Nate perched high on the very top. Except this time her heart is broken. Plus, her best friend is mad, her parents are split up, and her younger brother gets escorted home by the police. The only thing that could make life worse is if, by some strange twist of fate, she took Nate back to the past again.
Which of course, she does.
Protocol pressures her to tell their 1860 hosts that he is her brother, and when Casey finds she has a handsome, wealthy (and unwanted) suitor, something changes in Nate. Are those romantic sparks or is it just "brotherly" protectiveness?
When they return to the present, things go back to the way they were before: Casey parked on the bottom of the rung of the social ladder and Nate perched high on the very top. Except this time her heart is broken. Plus, her best friend is mad, her parents are split up, and her younger brother gets escorted home by the police. The only thing that could make life worse is if, by some strange twist of fate, she took Nate back to the past again.
Which of course, she does.
288 pages, Paperback
First published November 21, 2011
609 people are currently reading
5049 people want to read
About the author
Elle Strauss
34 books572 followersHi, there! I'm Lee Strauss, (formerly Elle Strauss) USA TODAY Bestselling author, known for the acclaimed GINGER GOLD MYSTERY series as well as other cozy mystery, sci-fi, sweet romance and young adult.
You’ll find more information about all of my series by heading over to my official website leestraussbooks.com. See you there!
You’ll find more information about all of my series by heading over to my official website leestraussbooks.com. See you there!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 601 reviews
June 19, 2018
Kindle freebie, 6/19/18 (again). 3.5 stars, rounding up since I think it'll really appeal to its main intended audience, high school age girls who love some romance mixed with fantasy in their novels, and I'd definitely recommend it for that group. This is a cute time travel novel about a high school girl named Casey, who keeps getting pulled back to the year 1860 at random times. The plot thickens when she accidentally pulls her hot classmate Nate back to the past with her.
It starts out rather clichéd - Casey is an awkward girl with a mad crush on Nate, who is one of the most popular guys in her school - but the story gets much more complex and interesting as it goes along, especially toward the end. I was pleasantly surprised by some of the twists and turns in the plot.
This is definitely a story for the YA set, with a side helping of high school romance, but if you like that kind of thing it's worth grabbing while it's a freebie. The author turned it into a series, but this first book works fine as a stand-alone read.
It starts out rather clichéd - Casey is an awkward girl with a mad crush on Nate, who is one of the most popular guys in her school - but the story gets much more complex and interesting as it goes along, especially toward the end. I was pleasantly surprised by some of the twists and turns in the plot.
This is definitely a story for the YA set, with a side helping of high school romance, but if you like that kind of thing it's worth grabbing while it's a freebie. The author turned it into a series, but this first book works fine as a stand-alone read.
April 16, 2012
Alot of this book I didn't like, parts I downright hated, but I'm giving it four stars anyway. Why? Because past the terrible start and cliched insecure/obsessive main character (stuff no guy wants to read about), there's actually a great, serious time travel story here. I just wish I could excise the first part of the book from my head, but since I can't I won't mention any of it and pretend I never read any of it either, except to say the beginning of this book is really, really bad - but stick with it, it gets better.
Anyway, past that this book actually has a pretty good plot, with a serious treatment of 1860s Civil War and 1960s civil rights stuff interwoven into it. Who knew? When the main character, Casey, is actually put into situations dealing with those issues (cause she's a time traveler who can't control her traveling), she's actually serious, intelligent, and knowledgable, and comes out way better than my first impression of her. I liked her interactions with the various people in the past, particularly Willie and his family, how she hid her knowledge and stuff from the future, how she survived in the 1860s. Add to that various quite intriguing plot twists, a friend in the past being conscripted into the Union army, a proposal from a fugitive slave hunter, dealing with prejudices and all that, and I can almost completely forgive the horrid start.
Surprisingly, the modern parts of this book got good too. There are a couple of side plots with Casey's brother and family, and the past and future plots actually connected to each other quite well in the end. Since Casey basically disappears from one time and blinks into existence in the other, it could be've been very hard to follow, but all the time traveling, tracking the past plots and the present plots, was very well done.
There are quite a few loose plotlines for the sequel (including a HUGE twist from the ending), how her time traveling works, the other time travelers she's met, etc, and from the looks of the preview of the first chapter, it doesn't start as badly as this one, so I hope this series continues to be a light, fun, quick, but engaging read - just with less stuff that makes me want to vomit.
Anyway, past that this book actually has a pretty good plot, with a serious treatment of 1860s Civil War and 1960s civil rights stuff interwoven into it. Who knew? When the main character, Casey, is actually put into situations dealing with those issues (cause she's a time traveler who can't control her traveling), she's actually serious, intelligent, and knowledgable, and comes out way better than my first impression of her. I liked her interactions with the various people in the past, particularly Willie and his family, how she hid her knowledge and stuff from the future, how she survived in the 1860s. Add to that various quite intriguing plot twists, a friend in the past being conscripted into the Union army, a proposal from a fugitive slave hunter, dealing with prejudices and all that, and I can almost completely forgive the horrid start.
Surprisingly, the modern parts of this book got good too. There are a couple of side plots with Casey's brother and family, and the past and future plots actually connected to each other quite well in the end. Since Casey basically disappears from one time and blinks into existence in the other, it could be've been very hard to follow, but all the time traveling, tracking the past plots and the present plots, was very well done.
There are quite a few loose plotlines for the sequel (including a HUGE twist from the ending), how her time traveling works, the other time travelers she's met, etc, and from the looks of the preview of the first chapter, it doesn't start as badly as this one, so I hope this series continues to be a light, fun, quick, but engaging read - just with less stuff that makes me want to vomit.
March 3, 2017
This was a cute book, typical YA but enjoyable and addictive nonetheless. The romance was sweet and Casey was really amusing. It was actually just what I needed during a book slump!
April 23, 2012
Casey first time traveled at nine years old. She has no control over it but stress seems to induce the "trip" what she and her best friend call traveling. Casey always travels back to 1860 in the exact same location as she is in the present. She can be stuck there anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks but when she comes back not a single second has passed. She returns exactly the same except completely exhausted with dark rings around her eyes. Anything she is touching at the time also travels back with her but she returns wearing exactly the same thing she had on when she left. No naked time traveling! Thank goodness! Everything is fine as long as she doesn't touch anyone. When her longtime crush, Nate, asks her to dance, she is beyond happy. But with all the stress and emotions she ends up time traveling with Nate along for the ride.
I loved Casey. She was such a brave and down to earth character that I could relate to. High school is hard enough but imagine having to live that life as well as a whole other life in 1860. Casey was able to find a family in 1860 to take her in and give her work but she faces many difficulties such as trying to find food, shelter, and clothes. When she time travels she ends up in 1860 in exactly the same place she is in present day so sometimes she must travel for miles to get back to Sara and the Watsons who employ her. I also loved Nate. At first I was worried I wouldn't like him because he starts off as the typical mean jock. But when Nate travels back with Casey he gets to spend a few weeks in her world. He finally sees what an amazing and strong person she is and becomes a better person himself. Nate must live in 1860 for a few weeks pretending to be her brother and he sees how hard Casey works to survive.
There were great supporting characters as well. The Watsons were very kind to take in Casey especially since she disappears on them all the time with no warning. They also helped out another straggler named Samuel who ended up really surprising me. I loved that along with the great characters I also felt like I traveled to 1860 myself. I was reminded of some interesting American History. I could have never survived in 1860! Casey has to deal with issues such as racism, sexism, no transportation, difficult farm and family work. I read the whole book in one night and it was a lot of fun. I recommend it for anyone that enjoys time travel. It also has a great romance and I loved all the twists and turns and the way everything came together in the end. It all wrapped around in a surprising way. I plan to read the sequel very soon!
---
"So, this is your life, Casey."
"Just one big loop over and over."
"Something like that."
"Doesn't it drive you crazy? Having your life interrupted all the time. Having to be two different people. Having to survive in a strange era?"
"Your nothing like I thought you were, back at school."
"Which was?"
"I don't know, quiet, boring, uninspired."
"And now?"
"Obviously, the opposite."
I loved Casey. She was such a brave and down to earth character that I could relate to. High school is hard enough but imagine having to live that life as well as a whole other life in 1860. Casey was able to find a family in 1860 to take her in and give her work but she faces many difficulties such as trying to find food, shelter, and clothes. When she time travels she ends up in 1860 in exactly the same place she is in present day so sometimes she must travel for miles to get back to Sara and the Watsons who employ her. I also loved Nate. At first I was worried I wouldn't like him because he starts off as the typical mean jock. But when Nate travels back with Casey he gets to spend a few weeks in her world. He finally sees what an amazing and strong person she is and becomes a better person himself. Nate must live in 1860 for a few weeks pretending to be her brother and he sees how hard Casey works to survive.
There were great supporting characters as well. The Watsons were very kind to take in Casey especially since she disappears on them all the time with no warning. They also helped out another straggler named Samuel who ended up really surprising me. I loved that along with the great characters I also felt like I traveled to 1860 myself. I was reminded of some interesting American History. I could have never survived in 1860! Casey has to deal with issues such as racism, sexism, no transportation, difficult farm and family work. I read the whole book in one night and it was a lot of fun. I recommend it for anyone that enjoys time travel. It also has a great romance and I loved all the twists and turns and the way everything came together in the end. It all wrapped around in a surprising way. I plan to read the sequel very soon!
---
"So, this is your life, Casey."
"Just one big loop over and over."
"Something like that."
"Doesn't it drive you crazy? Having your life interrupted all the time. Having to be two different people. Having to survive in a strange era?"
"Your nothing like I thought you were, back at school."
"Which was?"
"I don't know, quiet, boring, uninspired."
"And now?"
"Obviously, the opposite."
December 23, 2021
3.5 stars
This is a light-hearted time-travel. Part adventure, some disaster, a dash of comedy and an edge of romance. While many things are not very well explained and the summary of the book pretty much covers everything, I did still overall enjoy it.
Casey is a typical teenager who is just trying to live her life. Yet at random, unknown intervals she finds herself thrust back in time. Particularly the 1860s. Sometimes it is for a few hours, other-times weeks she could be stuck there. While she had learned how to handle and navigate these changes she is always fearful of touching others because whatever she is touching at the time goes with her and since she has no control over when she travels it must be quite nerve-wracking.
When the guy she likes is dancing with her, suddenly, POOF! Welcome to the 1800's! Nate things of it as a prank at first but then when he realizes how real it is, he struggles to adjust. This is just the beginning! It is an interesting adventure with some surprising connections.
I did find the book e bit jumpy, especially at first and how she knew certain things didn't make much sense for awhile. But soon, I was into the story and the nuances started to slip into the backround. Overall, an enjoyable read but I do wish it was a bit more memorable. I read it a few months ago, and many details of since run away from me. I prefer to have the memories live on, especially until I finish a series when it is part of one.
*I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a fair/honest review*
This is a light-hearted time-travel. Part adventure, some disaster, a dash of comedy and an edge of romance. While many things are not very well explained and the summary of the book pretty much covers everything, I did still overall enjoy it.
Casey is a typical teenager who is just trying to live her life. Yet at random, unknown intervals she finds herself thrust back in time. Particularly the 1860s. Sometimes it is for a few hours, other-times weeks she could be stuck there. While she had learned how to handle and navigate these changes she is always fearful of touching others because whatever she is touching at the time goes with her and since she has no control over when she travels it must be quite nerve-wracking.
When the guy she likes is dancing with her, suddenly, POOF! Welcome to the 1800's! Nate things of it as a prank at first but then when he realizes how real it is, he struggles to adjust. This is just the beginning! It is an interesting adventure with some surprising connections.
I did find the book e bit jumpy, especially at first and how she knew certain things didn't make much sense for awhile. But soon, I was into the story and the nuances started to slip into the backround. Overall, an enjoyable read but I do wish it was a bit more memorable. I read it a few months ago, and many details of since run away from me. I prefer to have the memories live on, especially until I finish a series when it is part of one.
*I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a fair/honest review*
October 5, 2016
Okay, what Tadiana said. And really, that's pretty much it. It starts off rather stereotypical and develops some nice twists and turns by the end. It's a solid 3.5 that climbs well enough throughout to prompt me to round up.
September 20, 2017
So this was cute but a little off for me.
Casey Donovan is not your normal teenager. She randomly gets sucked back in time - to the 1800's. When this happens, time doesn't change in her era, so that she always returns to the exact spot she left from. Handy. Only her best friend knows her secret...oh and now the super hot football star Nate Mackenzie, who she accidentally took with her.
I liked the characters. They were fun and light. Pretty much average teens, just with time travel happening. The plot itself was also all right. It moved along and even though I figured out the "oh my gosh" moments long before they happened, I was interested in how they would eventually come to light.
But I had some issues with the writing. The characters read a little young for me and I felt like nothing was really explained. Casey had no real connection to the time traveling. It just happens and we're supposed to accept it. I guess I just wanted more emotion, more explanation. Also, why when Casey returned from time travel were her clothes the same as when she left? She always changed the minute she arrived in the past so shouldn't she travel back to her time period wearing those clothes? Like how do her original clothes just magically appear back on her body??? See, these are answers I need!
To me, the best thing about this book was the historical aspect. I loved the parts when Casey was in the past more than her actual life because things were happening. So, will I continue? I honestly don't know. I read this one because it was part of a buddy read and a freebie from Amazon, so if that happens again, I may check out the next one.
Casey Donovan is not your normal teenager. She randomly gets sucked back in time - to the 1800's. When this happens, time doesn't change in her era, so that she always returns to the exact spot she left from. Handy. Only her best friend knows her secret...oh and now the super hot football star Nate Mackenzie, who she accidentally took with her.
I liked the characters. They were fun and light. Pretty much average teens, just with time travel happening. The plot itself was also all right. It moved along and even though I figured out the "oh my gosh" moments long before they happened, I was interested in how they would eventually come to light.
But I had some issues with the writing. The characters read a little young for me and I felt like nothing was really explained. Casey had no real connection to the time traveling. It just happens and we're supposed to accept it. I guess I just wanted more emotion, more explanation. Also, why when Casey returned from time travel were her clothes the same as when she left? She always changed the minute she arrived in the past so shouldn't she travel back to her time period wearing those clothes? Like how do her original clothes just magically appear back on her body??? See, these are answers I need!
To me, the best thing about this book was the historical aspect. I loved the parts when Casey was in the past more than her actual life because things were happening. So, will I continue? I honestly don't know. I read this one because it was part of a buddy read and a freebie from Amazon, so if that happens again, I may check out the next one.
July 7, 2012
I have to admit I've encountered more than a few indie/self-published pieces throughout my exploration of the ebook market. And, let's not lie, 75-80% of those have been less than spectacular, and have featured characters, plots, and writing I have either struggled with or given up on entirely. After DFNing my latest indie novel, I have to admit I was slightly skeptical when I first started Clockwise.
And while I do admit Clockwise has its fair share of typical YAness and stereotypes, (jock boy with a sweet heart, new clothing/make-up/hair products=gorgeous, damsel in distress syndrome are just a few of many) it's definitely a gem within the labyrinth of self-publishing.
The one thing I really liked about Clockwise was the addicting aspect of the writing. It's your typical rom-com/chick-lit novel, so the writing isn't on par with the descriptiveness that usually comes out of Libba Bray or Maggie Stiefvater's pen, but is a nice mix of fun and funny that gives the novel just the right touch. Casey's (our adorable 1st person POV MC) voice, in particular, got me laughing (literally) out loud at moments, and really felt utterly real and human. The only thing that bothered me about the writing (and this truly is a minor point) was the lack of description at points, and the telling of events as time passed. But those are truly minor complaints, and in truth, the novel doesn't really need them to stand on its own in my opinion.
The romance is, perhaps, where I wasn't totally on Casey's side. Mostly because Nate was adick jerk for the majority of the novel, and only sort of redeemed himself in my eyes. (I'm always hard on redemption) The romance also slightly smelled like insta love (never a good mark in my book), and was that whole popular guy crush thing sadly. Thankfully the word love in relation to them was only uttered once, and Nate's feelings did develop enough to make me sort of okay with him.
While I absolutely adored Casey, I found she frequently put herself down (with the help of her BFF once in a while...don't get me started on Lucinda-I was not pleased with her for the majority of the novel, though I felt a little better about her redemption moment then I did with Nate), which I am not a fan of. She did have moments of potential grrl-power awesomeness, however, and only really became insecure in relation to her looks and standing with guys. In a weird kind of way, Casey was so much more confident in the 1800s than she was in the real world.
The more quieter moments of the plot, Casey's father and her parents' separation especially, while small moments, really got to me, and made the novel not only much more relatable, but more real in my mind. I also liked the focus on racism within the time travel, and how it became a small, but important theme throughout the novel.
All in all, I really enjoyed Clockwise. It was wonderfully funny, addicting (I read it in two days ya'll), and featured a nice cast of characters as well as some more serious sections that made me want to crank open a few history books myself. 3.5-4/5
And while I do admit Clockwise has its fair share of typical YAness and stereotypes, (jock boy with a sweet heart, new clothing/make-up/hair products=gorgeous, damsel in distress syndrome are just a few of many) it's definitely a gem within the labyrinth of self-publishing.
The one thing I really liked about Clockwise was the addicting aspect of the writing. It's your typical rom-com/chick-lit novel, so the writing isn't on par with the descriptiveness that usually comes out of Libba Bray or Maggie Stiefvater's pen, but is a nice mix of fun and funny that gives the novel just the right touch. Casey's (our adorable 1st person POV MC) voice, in particular, got me laughing (literally) out loud at moments, and really felt utterly real and human. The only thing that bothered me about the writing (and this truly is a minor point) was the lack of description at points, and the telling of events as time passed. But those are truly minor complaints, and in truth, the novel doesn't really need them to stand on its own in my opinion.
The romance is, perhaps, where I wasn't totally on Casey's side. Mostly because Nate was a
While I absolutely adored Casey, I found she frequently put herself down (with the help of her BFF once in a while...don't get me started on Lucinda-I was not pleased with her for the majority of the novel, though I felt a little better about her redemption moment then I did with Nate), which I am not a fan of. She did have moments of potential grrl-power awesomeness, however, and only really became insecure in relation to her looks and standing with guys. In a weird kind of way, Casey was so much more confident in the 1800s than she was in the real world.
The more quieter moments of the plot, Casey's father and her parents' separation especially, while small moments, really got to me, and made the novel not only much more relatable, but more real in my mind. I also liked the focus on racism within the time travel, and how it became a small, but important theme throughout the novel.
All in all, I really enjoyed Clockwise. It was wonderfully funny, addicting (I read it in two days ya'll), and featured a nice cast of characters as well as some more serious sections that made me want to crank open a few history books myself. 3.5-4/5
August 13, 2016
It's available on Amazon for free guys
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...
So what can I say about this book? It was cute. Like really cute but just not my style you know. There were some really nice reviews about it so I thought of just reading it and I did find it cute. But nothing more than that.
But one thing is for sure. I really did not like Nate. He seemed too arrogant. He was just plain annoying. I mean I felt as if he did not like Casey at all. Other than that, yeah the book was cute.
I guess I have no other words than cute to explain this one -.-
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...
So what can I say about this book? It was cute. Like really cute but just not my style you know. There were some really nice reviews about it so I thought of just reading it and I did find it cute. But nothing more than that.
But one thing is for sure. I really did not like Nate. He seemed too arrogant. He was just plain annoying. I mean I felt as if he did not like Casey at all. Other than that, yeah the book was cute.
I guess I have no other words than cute to explain this one -.-
Want to read
October 25, 2017FREE on Amazon today (10/25/2017)!
December 6, 2018
For 15 year-old girls who have just (re)discovered their love for reading.
October 17, 2011
www.obsessionwithbooks.blogspot.com
CLOCKWISE was kindly provided to me by the author Elle Strauss in exchange for my honest review.
15 year-old Casey Donovan is your typical shy, awkward teen with a crush on the popular school jock that doesn’t seem to notice her. She also has a very big secret which no-one but her best-friend is aware of – she is a time traveler who without knowing how transports back in time to the 1800’s.
Time stands still in the present when Casey time travels but she is able to feel when it is coming on and is left exhausted when it ends; unfortunately at a school dance while dancing (as a dare) with Nate MacKenzie, her crush they are transported back in time.
An initially disbelieving Nate handled the time travel well once it was explained and played the part of her brother Nathaniel willingly although protectively, but things went back to usual as soon as they were back in the present much to Casey’s dismay and heart-break. I am glad Nate had the opportunity to travel on a number of occasions with Casey which enabled him to get to know her outside of school, he was quite sweet and supportive of her ability.
I really enjoyed both of the worlds Casey was between; I enjoyed the history of the past - their way of living, the politics, the people both good and bad and how she was able to adapt and cope which was the same as how she was dealing with the present and the issues a regular teen faced with family and school life. I wish we could have found out more of why Casey had this ability, and how she was able to travel between times? It is the only thing I found to be missing in CLOCKWISE; I wanted to know how it all worked.
There was a slight twist at the end which I really enjoyed and definitely didn’t expect, it was a nice ending to a really enjoyable story.
I thoroughly enjoyed the interactions between all of the characters; each were thought out, likeable and written well.
I liked Ms Strauss’s detailed writing style, it was a solid and entertaining plot which held my attention and left me wanting more of the world she has created – the 19th century and present time was interweaved perfectly, Ms Strauss certainly knew her history which was impressive and the pacing was spot on for me.
CLOCKWISE is the first time travel novel I have read and I really enjoyed it, I am not sure if it is a part of a series but it would definitely be a great start. I will definitely be reading more books written by Elle Strauss.
CLOCKWISE was kindly provided to me by the author Elle Strauss in exchange for my honest review.
15 year-old Casey Donovan is your typical shy, awkward teen with a crush on the popular school jock that doesn’t seem to notice her. She also has a very big secret which no-one but her best-friend is aware of – she is a time traveler who without knowing how transports back in time to the 1800’s.
Time stands still in the present when Casey time travels but she is able to feel when it is coming on and is left exhausted when it ends; unfortunately at a school dance while dancing (as a dare) with Nate MacKenzie, her crush they are transported back in time.
An initially disbelieving Nate handled the time travel well once it was explained and played the part of her brother Nathaniel willingly although protectively, but things went back to usual as soon as they were back in the present much to Casey’s dismay and heart-break. I am glad Nate had the opportunity to travel on a number of occasions with Casey which enabled him to get to know her outside of school, he was quite sweet and supportive of her ability.
I really enjoyed both of the worlds Casey was between; I enjoyed the history of the past - their way of living, the politics, the people both good and bad and how she was able to adapt and cope which was the same as how she was dealing with the present and the issues a regular teen faced with family and school life. I wish we could have found out more of why Casey had this ability, and how she was able to travel between times? It is the only thing I found to be missing in CLOCKWISE; I wanted to know how it all worked.
There was a slight twist at the end which I really enjoyed and definitely didn’t expect, it was a nice ending to a really enjoyable story.
I thoroughly enjoyed the interactions between all of the characters; each were thought out, likeable and written well.
I liked Ms Strauss’s detailed writing style, it was a solid and entertaining plot which held my attention and left me wanting more of the world she has created – the 19th century and present time was interweaved perfectly, Ms Strauss certainly knew her history which was impressive and the pacing was spot on for me.
CLOCKWISE is the first time travel novel I have read and I really enjoyed it, I am not sure if it is a part of a series but it would definitely be a great start. I will definitely be reading more books written by Elle Strauss.
June 16, 2013
Who wouldn’t like a story about time travel, especially if you are a young adult living the day to day issues that are so much a part of growing up. Clockwise by Elle Strauss is an engaging read, light and actually a fun experience for all ages! Young Casey travels back into the nineteenth century, and really handles the situation well-especially when you realize she has no control over when she will ‘pop’ back or forward, but at least she returns to the exact moment she left! (Whew, I can imagine her trying to explain that to her friends! ) Casey also has a crush on Nate, the stereotypical hot jock, who all the girls swoon for and she just happened to be touching him when she was transported back to around 1860 in Massachusetts and guess who came along for the ride? Is this the beginning of a beautiful relationship or a terrible nightmare? Will Nate embrace her world with keen interest? What consequences are there to their presence in the past?
Elle Strauss has woven a beautiful tapestry of two worlds, contemporary YA/middle grade and historical tidbits that expose the differences in the two eras. By letting Casey tell her story, she allows us a glimpse inside the mind of a teen with a sharp sense of humor that makes her so likeable! I commend Ms. Strauss on her ability to keep the story flowing smoothly and walking that fine line between a wonderful fantasy read and mere fluff! A great read for anyone who enjoys a little time travel with a lot of adventure and fun! Perfect for summer reading!
A review copy was provided by NetGalley and All Night Reads in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: October 17, 2011
Publisher: All Night Reads
ISBN: 1466440961
Series: Clockwise, #1)
Number of Pages: 296
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Age Recommendation: Middle Grade/YA
My Rating: 5 stars
Available from: Amazon / Barnes & Noble
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.
Elle Strauss has woven a beautiful tapestry of two worlds, contemporary YA/middle grade and historical tidbits that expose the differences in the two eras. By letting Casey tell her story, she allows us a glimpse inside the mind of a teen with a sharp sense of humor that makes her so likeable! I commend Ms. Strauss on her ability to keep the story flowing smoothly and walking that fine line between a wonderful fantasy read and mere fluff! A great read for anyone who enjoys a little time travel with a lot of adventure and fun! Perfect for summer reading!
A review copy was provided by NetGalley and All Night Reads in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: October 17, 2011
Publisher: All Night Reads
ISBN: 1466440961
Series: Clockwise, #1)
Number of Pages: 296
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Age Recommendation: Middle Grade/YA
My Rating: 5 stars
Available from: Amazon / Barnes & Noble
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.
April 1, 2020
I love time traveling stories. I have such a fascination with them. It all started for me when I was a kid watching the “Back to the Future” trilogy starring my first celeb crush, Michael J. Fox (who still has a special place in heart). So when this book, “Clockwise”, came to my attention I knew I wanted to read it. Plus it was a free download on Amazon. Couldn’t pass that up!
Time traveling stories can be very entertaining if done right, yet really confusing if handled wrong. Thankfully “Clockwise” got it right, it even exceeded my expectations. Elle Strauss came up with a very intriguing and fun twist without it becoming too complicated.
However I think that I would’ve loved this book even more had it come out when I was a teenager. The main character, Casey Donovan, is a likable heroine but there were times when I got a bit exasperated with her and that was when she would go on and on about her crush, Nate Mackenzie, who she accidentally takes back into time with her (awkward!). It was kind of annoying, the almost incessant pining, but when I thought back to my high school days and all the unrequited crushes and heartbreak that I had, then I could empathize a little. That’s why I think the 15 year old me would’ve appreciated this book more. I guess the adult me just didn’t have much patience for all that high school drama. At least not with how it was written in this book. Once you get past all that though and focus more on the awesome time traveling aspects and adventure that Casey and Nate were having, then it’s a lot of fun. I enjoyed it. Even the romance (without the drama) had its cute moments and made me smile.
This is a first in a series, so it did leave a few things left unresolved at the end. But I still liked it, there was no huge cliffhanger to agonize over. It ended on a sweet note, and with the promise of more time traveling adventures to come.
Time traveling stories can be very entertaining if done right, yet really confusing if handled wrong. Thankfully “Clockwise” got it right, it even exceeded my expectations. Elle Strauss came up with a very intriguing and fun twist without it becoming too complicated.
However I think that I would’ve loved this book even more had it come out when I was a teenager. The main character, Casey Donovan, is a likable heroine but there were times when I got a bit exasperated with her and that was when she would go on and on about her crush, Nate Mackenzie, who she accidentally takes back into time with her (awkward!). It was kind of annoying, the almost incessant pining, but when I thought back to my high school days and all the unrequited crushes and heartbreak that I had, then I could empathize a little. That’s why I think the 15 year old me would’ve appreciated this book more. I guess the adult me just didn’t have much patience for all that high school drama. At least not with how it was written in this book. Once you get past all that though and focus more on the awesome time traveling aspects and adventure that Casey and Nate were having, then it’s a lot of fun. I enjoyed it. Even the romance (without the drama) had its cute moments and made me smile.
This is a first in a series, so it did leave a few things left unresolved at the end. But I still liked it, there was no huge cliffhanger to agonize over. It ended on a sweet note, and with the promise of more time traveling adventures to come.
September 29, 2016
If I could describe this book in one word, it would be cute. The main lead was cute, the side characters were cute, and the love interest was cute. Everything about this novel made me smile, and it made for a nice easy read.
**Brief rant: one thing that kinda bothered me was the way Casey was obsessed with Nate. Or actually just boys in general. I mean these girls (meaning Casey and her friend Lucinda) spent their time watching the football players, and whatnot just to oogle cute boys. I know it isn't that much of a big deal, but the girl seriously needs to find something better to do than looking for the next cute face. Maybe it's just me, but it's difficult to relate to boy crazy characters, simply because it seems like they find their entire identity in them. Just doesn't really mesh with me. **Brief rant over**
Aside from all of that, the book was really good, and the romance between Casey and Nate was adorable. For the first book in the series it was pretty good, and I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next ones.
**Brief rant: one thing that kinda bothered me was the way Casey was obsessed with Nate. Or actually just boys in general. I mean these girls (meaning Casey and her friend Lucinda) spent their time watching the football players, and whatnot just to oogle cute boys. I know it isn't that much of a big deal, but the girl seriously needs to find something better to do than looking for the next cute face. Maybe it's just me, but it's difficult to relate to boy crazy characters, simply because it seems like they find their entire identity in them. Just doesn't really mesh with me. **Brief rant over**
Aside from all of that, the book was really good, and the romance between Casey and Nate was adorable. For the first book in the series it was pretty good, and I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next ones.
February 27, 2022
If you ever wonder why despite all the mediocre to awful books I subject myself to in the cause of getting through the endless pile of freebies I picked up forever ago I keep reading them... it's because for every, say, 10 thoroughly underwhelming reading experiences, I stumble across one I actually enjoy. Clockwise, though it took me quite a while to really get into, turned out to be one such experience for me, and I ended up liking it a lot more than I initially thought I would. This appears to be the author's debut novel, and it does show that it's a work by someone early in their writing career. There's a clear improvement in the writing itself and the pacing of the story over the course of the book. And as it turns out the entire series is available via KU, I do believe I'll be back for the next part.
August 28, 2016
"The life of a time traveler is nothing but strange."
A very cute story about a young girl who time travels. But, she can't pick the when....and, if she's touching anyone else, she can't pick to go alone.
That's exactly what happens when her crush Nate touches her - they travel. Now she's stuck trying to explain to Nate what's going on as well as hide them and try to blend into the time that's not their own. It was a very cute read and I did enjoy it. I loved the picnic and one of the near final scenes. It was great for everything to go full circle.
A very cute story about a young girl who time travels. But, she can't pick the when....and, if she's touching anyone else, she can't pick to go alone.
That's exactly what happens when her crush Nate touches her - they travel. Now she's stuck trying to explain to Nate what's going on as well as hide them and try to blend into the time that's not their own. It was a very cute read and I did enjoy it. I loved the picnic and one of the near final scenes. It was great for everything to go full circle.
July 6, 2017
I'll be honest, I almost didn't read this book because of its cover. It seemed uninteresting and I only got it because the ebook was free on Amazon at the time.
I am sooooo glad I read it though. This was such a great book. I'm not much of a history buff or one that finds history to be very interesting at all, but this book changed my view on that.
I would love to see this made into a movie but then again the film makers would probably leave so much out it wouldn't be as good.
I am sooooo glad I read it though. This was such a great book. I'm not much of a history buff or one that finds history to be very interesting at all, but this book changed my view on that.
I would love to see this made into a movie but then again the film makers would probably leave so much out it wouldn't be as good.
September 6, 2016
This is like, one of the first books I've read on Wattpad in 2011!! Ahh, the memories :)
July 21, 2017
This book was okay. Not terrific, but not terrible either—there were things I did and didn't like about the plot.
One thing I liked was how Casey goes back to the same moment in time every time and it's not just some random thing. However, speaking of randomness, why the heck is there no backstory? There's literally no explanation as to why Casey has her power. She does meet at least two or three other people with the same power, supposedly, but that doesn't happen until about 3/4s of the way through the story and the reader is just kinda left hanging. I get that these will probably be discussed in later books, but I don't really like the abruptness of it all.
Another thing I wanted to talk about was the 'love triangle.' It's true, I normally hate love triangles with a passion, but this one was at least bearable, I can give it that. The Casey/Nate thing was predictable, but Casey also ends up winning the "affections" of Robert Willingsworth. Even though I hated Robert, I thought his character was well-portrayed for being a white male in the 1860s: arrogant and an overall dick.
I loved the plot twist at the end of the book, but as far as plot goes I feel like most things were just kinda glossed over. A lot was happening, in both the past and the present, but most things don't really go in-depth. They scraped the surface, which was disappointing. The plot itself has a LOT of potential, but I feel like not much effort was thrown into it.
The ending of the story was also pretty abrupt and just kinda...meh. It wasn't necessarily a terrible ending, but, like the rest of the plot, it just kinda felt rushed and glossed over. Not the worst ending in the world, but it could've definitely been a lot better.
Overall, I don't regret reading this story, but I don't think I'll be continuing with the rest of this series.
One thing I liked was how Casey goes back to the same moment in time every time and it's not just some random thing. However, speaking of randomness, why the heck is there no backstory? There's literally no explanation as to why Casey has her power. She does meet at least two or three other people with the same power, supposedly, but that doesn't happen until about 3/4s of the way through the story and the reader is just kinda left hanging. I get that these will probably be discussed in later books, but I don't really like the abruptness of it all.
Another thing I wanted to talk about was the 'love triangle.' It's true, I normally hate love triangles with a passion, but this one was at least bearable, I can give it that. The Casey/Nate thing was predictable, but Casey also ends up winning the "affections" of Robert Willingsworth. Even though I hated Robert, I thought his character was well-portrayed for being a white male in the 1860s: arrogant and an overall dick.
I loved the plot twist at the end of the book, but as far as plot goes I feel like most things were just kinda glossed over. A lot was happening, in both the past and the present, but most things don't really go in-depth. They scraped the surface, which was disappointing. The plot itself has a LOT of potential, but I feel like not much effort was thrown into it.
The ending of the story was also pretty abrupt and just kinda...meh. It wasn't necessarily a terrible ending, but, like the rest of the plot, it just kinda felt rushed and glossed over. Not the worst ending in the world, but it could've definitely been a lot better.
Overall, I don't regret reading this story, but I don't think I'll be continuing with the rest of this series.
September 9, 2017
You know I rate books based on how much I enjoy them. I'm rating this one 5 stars because it's YA and such an enjoyable book for its target audience! What I love about the Strauss novels I’ve read so far is that they’re still fully for a YA audience so it's a good fit for someone looking for clean & sweet plots! (Yes, I’m 34 and still enjoy it)
The plot is actually pretty good: Casey’s a time traveler who cannot control her strolls into the 1860s. She needs to deal with the issues that come with this time of history in order to blend in, as her trips last as long as they please. The switches between past and present were great and did not give me any trouble at all so, well done!
I loved Casey’s character cause in her present she’s still your average high school girl constantly putting herself down, but in the past she becomes this confident and knowledgeable girl…
Nate also is your average high school jerk who’s driven by looks alone but when he started noticing different things about Casey he realized that you need to get to know someone instead of just assuming, so he redeemed himself.
Thanks to Lee Strauss for providing an e-copy for an honest review!
The plot is actually pretty good: Casey’s a time traveler who cannot control her strolls into the 1860s. She needs to deal with the issues that come with this time of history in order to blend in, as her trips last as long as they please. The switches between past and present were great and did not give me any trouble at all so, well done!
I loved Casey’s character cause in her present she’s still your average high school girl constantly putting herself down, but in the past she becomes this confident and knowledgeable girl…
Nate also is your average high school jerk who’s driven by looks alone but when he started noticing different things about Casey he realized that you need to get to know someone instead of just assuming, so he redeemed himself.
Thanks to Lee Strauss for providing an e-copy for an honest review!
September 23, 2017
I really enjoyed this book! It was a fun read that was easy to get through and kept me wondering. There are plenty of twists to keep you into the story and made you continuously wonder what was going to happen next. I definitely see myself reading more of this stories when I need a light hearted easy read.
July 6, 2017
2017 reading challenge: a book with a one-word title
April 24, 2012
I gotta say I had no idea what this book was going to be like. You know about time travel novels. Sometimes they can be very complex. And honestly, after the things I've been reading lately, I was in a mellow reading mode. I was not disappointed! This is not a confusing time travel novel. Casey travels back to the same place every time she travels back. She's got it down to a science. She even has a stash of clothes and a few other items that make life easier for her, or so she thinks. There isn't any rhyme or reason to why she travels back in time, but if you shake hands with her, you better be careful! She might just take you back to 1860 Massachusetts right outside of Boston. You all remember what was about to happen then don't you?? Well, trouble is brewing and the women are getting feisty wanting a say in voting, Lincoln is running for President. It's actually an exciting time, until you realize the Civil War is about to start.
Casey is a great character. She's like every high school girl. She and her best friend, Lucinda stay after school to watch the sports teams practice, because, hey, the guys are cute. She muses, "As usual, we were watching the yummy football players, rather than the scrimmage going on because really, who cared about the actual game?" (Kindle ARC) So true, Casey, so true! She's athletic and catches a football at the practice, Nate Mackenzie's Tom Brady autographed ball. But when he comes to get it she gets so nervous it triggers her "tripping". "Unbelievably" she thinks, "there are some things worse than puking in front of the football team." I loved her unflappable sense of self preservation. She just kept going. She'd go back in time and just resume her role as if she'd never left. There was an unusually kind family that always took her in so she knew she always had a place to go. She's extremely resourceful at finding clothing and food when necessary. She hated her hair (I remember those days) and her height (too tall) and the fact that her parents were separated, but when her brother got hauled home by the police, Dad came right over and laid down the law. So the parents are wholly in the story. There are even parents in the 1860's story, just not Casey's.
So, why should you read another time travel novel? It's easy to understand. Casey is just on a loop. She always ends up in the same spot when she travels back so she's never lost. She's at her home, only her home wasn't built yet. No she doesn't know why she travels, but there are a few clues later in the book.
Casey and Nate in the past are so adorable as a couple. Casey never feels sorry for herself. She does spend an inordinate amount of time obsessing over Nate after they travel back in time, but I think I would too, mixed messages and all. It's the first in a trilogy. Great snippets of time in history and reminds you of all you have to be thankful for, like bathrooms! And central heat! And the writing was so easy and smooth. I only took a few hours to read this it was so easy to read. There were no love triangles! And for Casey with the great sense of humor and lines like "Pack your bags self pity!" and she wears Spongebob pants and monkey slippers! Read it! You will so enjoy this wonderfully quirky Casey and Nate story as they travel into the 1860's and navigate the waters of high school hierarchies. I loved it! I'm already reading the second book Clockwiser! Oh, and there are some very interesting twists that you won't believe just to keep things a little crazy! I'd definitely be friends with Casey, but I don't think I'd shake her hand.
Heather
I received a copy of this from the author as part of the Clockwise Tour! Thank you Elle Strauss and AToMR Blog Tours for the copy. My review was not influenced by participating in the blog tour nor by receiving the copy of the novel.
Casey is a great character. She's like every high school girl. She and her best friend, Lucinda stay after school to watch the sports teams practice, because, hey, the guys are cute. She muses, "As usual, we were watching the yummy football players, rather than the scrimmage going on because really, who cared about the actual game?" (Kindle ARC) So true, Casey, so true! She's athletic and catches a football at the practice, Nate Mackenzie's Tom Brady autographed ball. But when he comes to get it she gets so nervous it triggers her "tripping". "Unbelievably" she thinks, "there are some things worse than puking in front of the football team." I loved her unflappable sense of self preservation. She just kept going. She'd go back in time and just resume her role as if she'd never left. There was an unusually kind family that always took her in so she knew she always had a place to go. She's extremely resourceful at finding clothing and food when necessary. She hated her hair (I remember those days) and her height (too tall) and the fact that her parents were separated, but when her brother got hauled home by the police, Dad came right over and laid down the law. So the parents are wholly in the story. There are even parents in the 1860's story, just not Casey's.
So, why should you read another time travel novel? It's easy to understand. Casey is just on a loop. She always ends up in the same spot when she travels back so she's never lost. She's at her home, only her home wasn't built yet. No she doesn't know why she travels, but there are a few clues later in the book.
Casey and Nate in the past are so adorable as a couple. Casey never feels sorry for herself. She does spend an inordinate amount of time obsessing over Nate after they travel back in time, but I think I would too, mixed messages and all. It's the first in a trilogy. Great snippets of time in history and reminds you of all you have to be thankful for, like bathrooms! And central heat! And the writing was so easy and smooth. I only took a few hours to read this it was so easy to read. There were no love triangles! And for Casey with the great sense of humor and lines like "Pack your bags self pity!" and she wears Spongebob pants and monkey slippers! Read it! You will so enjoy this wonderfully quirky Casey and Nate story as they travel into the 1860's and navigate the waters of high school hierarchies. I loved it! I'm already reading the second book Clockwiser! Oh, and there are some very interesting twists that you won't believe just to keep things a little crazy! I'd definitely be friends with Casey, but I don't think I'd shake her hand.
Heather
I received a copy of this from the author as part of the Clockwise Tour! Thank you Elle Strauss and AToMR Blog Tours for the copy. My review was not influenced by participating in the blog tour nor by receiving the copy of the novel.
December 20, 2012
Casey Donovan is an awkward teenage girl and for her, high school is Hell. In that respect she's very normal. The one little thing that sets her apart is her pesky time-travelling problem! She never asked to be transported to the past every time her life gets stressful. But after six years of it happening, Casey is used to it. Then the unthinkable happens and Nate, her crush and the most popular boy in school, is transported back with her! The year is 1860 and the country is on the brink of a Civil War. The two find shelter and work with the Watson family, old friends of Casey's who have always helped her when she's in the past. But to preserve her reputation, Casey tells them Nate is her brother. They have plenty of adventures together, helping a runaway slave named Samuel hide from the slave-catchers and going to hear famous abolitionists speak. Casey even receives a marriage proposal, albeit an entirely unwelcome one from a cruel man with Southern sympathies. After they return home, Casey and Nate return to their lives apart from each other, in different social spheres. Casey's heart is broken and her family is falling apart, plus her best friend Lucinda is angry and feels left out. When she and Nate are carried to the past again, can they make things right with each other? And will both of them make it home in one piece? Also, who among their new friends is a traveler like Casey and are they connected closer than they ever could have imagined?
This was such a fun book. I absolutely ADORE anything that had time-travel in it, especially if the characters travel into America's past. I identified with Casey a lot, because I know what it feels like to be a dork and an outcast as a teenager. I loved Lucinda, who was hilarious and a great friend. To me Nate seemed very shallow at first but exhibited the most character development of any of the teens in the book. Casey's family issues on top of her school stress acted as a trigger for the time travel, which was basically a double life for her. The relationship with the Watson family was great and I loved the way they took in Casey, a.k.a Cassandra as one of their own. The fact that Casey always returns at the exact moment she left, only exhausted and with huge dark circles under her eyes, was a great plot device. It definitely provided a realistic explanation for why her parents and the people around her never discovered her absence and the truth of where she was. And the mystery of Sam being another traveler and the incident where Casey accidentally travels with him to his time was totally unexpected. It did explain a lot of things to me though and I loved their hidden connection revealed at the end. Overall a fun book, with a cute romance and some mystery to it. It managed to touch upon some important historical issues and was very relevant to me, as a young adult who was quite recently a teenager. I highly recommend it to fans of time travel and YA books.
VERDICT: 4/5 Stars
**No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book is now available in stores, online, or maybe even at your local library.**
This was such a fun book. I absolutely ADORE anything that had time-travel in it, especially if the characters travel into America's past. I identified with Casey a lot, because I know what it feels like to be a dork and an outcast as a teenager. I loved Lucinda, who was hilarious and a great friend. To me Nate seemed very shallow at first but exhibited the most character development of any of the teens in the book. Casey's family issues on top of her school stress acted as a trigger for the time travel, which was basically a double life for her. The relationship with the Watson family was great and I loved the way they took in Casey, a.k.a Cassandra as one of their own. The fact that Casey always returns at the exact moment she left, only exhausted and with huge dark circles under her eyes, was a great plot device. It definitely provided a realistic explanation for why her parents and the people around her never discovered her absence and the truth of where she was. And the mystery of Sam being another traveler and the incident where Casey accidentally travels with him to his time was totally unexpected. It did explain a lot of things to me though and I loved their hidden connection revealed at the end. Overall a fun book, with a cute romance and some mystery to it. It managed to touch upon some important historical issues and was very relevant to me, as a young adult who was quite recently a teenager. I highly recommend it to fans of time travel and YA books.
VERDICT: 4/5 Stars
**No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book is now available in stores, online, or maybe even at your local library.**
June 5, 2012
I came to this story with two things: a love of time travel and a general leeriness for YA that focuses on high school drama.
Strauss does a good job at writing a teen time travel story that succeeds in avoiding most stereotypical high school drama, and for that, I liked the book. But beyond that, I really enjoyed her twist on the notion of time travel. She’s got a refreshing new take on it, which really enriched my experience of the story. When Casey travels back in time, her “trips” are always successive, meaning that although she always goes back to the 1860s, each trip occurs sometime later than the one before it. Because of that, she has friends and contacts in the old time that she can call on for help. The other neat thing about Casey’s trips is that while she may be stuck in the past for hours or weeks, her return to the present is instantaneous: it’s as if she never left. Because of this, she never has to worry about missing some of the present.
Strauss’s strength in writing is her characters that come alive, leaping from the page with their individual quirks, mannerisms, and voices. Casey and Nate are believable and interesting. The dynamic between the two of them is what kept me reading and interested in the story.
The book started off a little slow, but once Casey accidentally brought Nate back to the past, I was hooked. From there on, it was a quick read. It also had a nice surprise near the middle of the book that I won’t give away but will say was a great twist.
I had only two main complaints about the book, which is why I rated it four out of five stars. First, the theme of prejudice and overcoming racial inequality is woven through the story—don’t get me wrong, that’s a great theme for a YA book. However, sometimes that message felt a little forced and not quite authentic—as if it was being merely regurgitated by the characters and not their own opinions, but what they’d been told to say. This is the only time I thought people spoke out of character. I also felt like the book simplified it a bit. At one point a statement was made that nowadays an interracial couple would never be bothered by anyone because of their different races, an idea I don’t see as entirely accurate. I don’t believe our world (or even our country) has entirely conquered prejudice.
Second, the book was filled with errors and typos. While the plot worked well, it read as a book that hadn’t seen an editor—a bit annoying.
Other than those two issues, I enjoyed the story and plan on reading the next book in the series.
Strauss does a good job at writing a teen time travel story that succeeds in avoiding most stereotypical high school drama, and for that, I liked the book. But beyond that, I really enjoyed her twist on the notion of time travel. She’s got a refreshing new take on it, which really enriched my experience of the story. When Casey travels back in time, her “trips” are always successive, meaning that although she always goes back to the 1860s, each trip occurs sometime later than the one before it. Because of that, she has friends and contacts in the old time that she can call on for help. The other neat thing about Casey’s trips is that while she may be stuck in the past for hours or weeks, her return to the present is instantaneous: it’s as if she never left. Because of this, she never has to worry about missing some of the present.
Strauss’s strength in writing is her characters that come alive, leaping from the page with their individual quirks, mannerisms, and voices. Casey and Nate are believable and interesting. The dynamic between the two of them is what kept me reading and interested in the story.
The book started off a little slow, but once Casey accidentally brought Nate back to the past, I was hooked. From there on, it was a quick read. It also had a nice surprise near the middle of the book that I won’t give away but will say was a great twist.
I had only two main complaints about the book, which is why I rated it four out of five stars. First, the theme of prejudice and overcoming racial inequality is woven through the story—don’t get me wrong, that’s a great theme for a YA book. However, sometimes that message felt a little forced and not quite authentic—as if it was being merely regurgitated by the characters and not their own opinions, but what they’d been told to say. This is the only time I thought people spoke out of character. I also felt like the book simplified it a bit. At one point a statement was made that nowadays an interracial couple would never be bothered by anyone because of their different races, an idea I don’t see as entirely accurate. I don’t believe our world (or even our country) has entirely conquered prejudice.
Second, the book was filled with errors and typos. While the plot worked well, it read as a book that hadn’t seen an editor—a bit annoying.
Other than those two issues, I enjoyed the story and plan on reading the next book in the series.
April 17, 2012
I was in the mood for a quick, fun read, and this book gave me just that - something quick and fun. I found myself enjoying this book, but disappointedly, not as much as I was hoping.
Did I think this book was cheesy and cliche? Yes, but I'm a sucker for romantic comedies, and that's not why I was disappointed. It's kind of hard to explain, but I didn't really connect with the characters as much as I waned to. I found Casey to be a bit grating on my nerves, but she does grow on me a bit later. And unlike most books like these, I didn't swoon over Nate or feel giddy by the words that came out of his mouth. The romance pretty much glossed over the surface, and I felt Strauss concentrated more on the yo-yo effect than the depth of how they felt. Most of all, I was disappointed with the lack of interaction with Willie and Lucinda since these were the two people who were really close to her the whole time before the book started. I would have liked either or both of them to have a bigger role in this book, especially Willie. I wouldn't have even minded a prologue about the first time Casey traveled.
As for the time traveling part itself, I didn't feel Strauss did a good job explaining her concept. First of all, you had to wait until the end of the book to find somewhat of a reason out why Casey time traveled. And this is fine, but you never know why people in general time traveled. Why did Casey's reason time traveled? I don't want to go too much into it because Stauss obviously kept it a secret until the end for a reason. What about Adeline? But I also didn't understand why Casey kept time traveling back to the same time? Why not to a different time period? Why does this particular time period impact her directly that she keeps going back?
Despite the flaws in the concept, I liked the actual story of the time travel. I enjoyed reading about Casey's experiences during the pre Civil War era, and also Nate's experiences. I do wish Strauss had elaborated a bit more about the setting in the past - after all, that's the whole point of writing a book about history right? And I do find it odd that the Watsons are always willing to welcome them with open arms, but hey, that's fiction for you. And I did enjoy the surprise visit to the 1960s, which gives you insight on that time period and that character.
So this book didn't have much to go on beyond "quick" and "fun." But it was still a very enjoyable read, and I wouldn't mind finding out what happens next.
Did I think this book was cheesy and cliche? Yes, but I'm a sucker for romantic comedies, and that's not why I was disappointed. It's kind of hard to explain, but I didn't really connect with the characters as much as I waned to. I found Casey to be a bit grating on my nerves, but she does grow on me a bit later. And unlike most books like these, I didn't swoon over Nate or feel giddy by the words that came out of his mouth. The romance pretty much glossed over the surface, and I felt Strauss concentrated more on the yo-yo effect than the depth of how they felt. Most of all, I was disappointed with the lack of interaction with Willie and Lucinda since these were the two people who were really close to her the whole time before the book started. I would have liked either or both of them to have a bigger role in this book, especially Willie. I wouldn't have even minded a prologue about the first time Casey traveled.
As for the time traveling part itself, I didn't feel Strauss did a good job explaining her concept. First of all, you had to wait until the end of the book to find somewhat of a reason out why Casey time traveled. And this is fine, but you never know why people in general time traveled. Why did Casey's reason time traveled? I don't want to go too much into it because Stauss obviously kept it a secret until the end for a reason. What about Adeline? But I also didn't understand why Casey kept time traveling back to the same time? Why not to a different time period? Why does this particular time period impact her directly that she keeps going back?
Despite the flaws in the concept, I liked the actual story of the time travel. I enjoyed reading about Casey's experiences during the pre Civil War era, and also Nate's experiences. I do wish Strauss had elaborated a bit more about the setting in the past - after all, that's the whole point of writing a book about history right? And I do find it odd that the Watsons are always willing to welcome them with open arms, but hey, that's fiction for you. And I did enjoy the surprise visit to the 1960s, which gives you insight on that time period and that character.
So this book didn't have much to go on beyond "quick" and "fun." But it was still a very enjoyable read, and I wouldn't mind finding out what happens next.
October 19, 2011
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Let’s get real. When I picked up Clockwise I thought it would cute, but I worried it would be a little too young for my taste. However, I was excited to read it because it was different from all of the books I have read recently. This book turned out to be better than I imagined, and surprisingly, it wasn’t too juvenile. The biggest reason it didn’t feel too young was because of the main character, Casey. She is only a sophomore in high school, but she is really mature for her age. She started traveling back to the 1860’s when she was only ten years old, so she has learned to take care of herself. She is resilient and extremely independent. She is also entertaining, comical, relatable (well, except the whole time travel thing), and very likeable.
From the first sentence in the book, I knew she and I would be great friends.
“Everyone has to live with something.
For instance, my hair is the unmanageable kind of curly, the color of burnt toast. Imagine waking up every morning looking like the Lion King, or having to spend a disproportionate amount of your allowance on hair products that don’t deliver. Like the ones under my bathroom sink. Row after row of half-empty containers of mousse, gel, and hair tamer standing dejectedly like the third string of a basketball team that rarely gets to play.
The thing is, I would be fine with rag mop hair, truly, if only I didn’t have this other issue: uncontrolled time travel to the nineteenth century. I’ve never met anyone else with the same problem, either, so that also classifies me as some kind of freak.” - Excerpt from Clockwise
This story has a great plot, enjoyable characters and a fun romance. I think a lot of young adults will enjoy this novel.
I gave Clockwise by Elle Strauss 3 STARS (3.5 STARS) – meaning good, really good. This is a great novel for young adults. It’s highly entertaining and fast paced; it flies by really quickly. Who knew time travel could be so fun?
-XOXO
READING, EATING AND DREAMING
Let’s get real. When I picked up Clockwise I thought it would cute, but I worried it would be a little too young for my taste. However, I was excited to read it because it was different from all of the books I have read recently. This book turned out to be better than I imagined, and surprisingly, it wasn’t too juvenile. The biggest reason it didn’t feel too young was because of the main character, Casey. She is only a sophomore in high school, but she is really mature for her age. She started traveling back to the 1860’s when she was only ten years old, so she has learned to take care of herself. She is resilient and extremely independent. She is also entertaining, comical, relatable (well, except the whole time travel thing), and very likeable.
From the first sentence in the book, I knew she and I would be great friends.
“Everyone has to live with something.
For instance, my hair is the unmanageable kind of curly, the color of burnt toast. Imagine waking up every morning looking like the Lion King, or having to spend a disproportionate amount of your allowance on hair products that don’t deliver. Like the ones under my bathroom sink. Row after row of half-empty containers of mousse, gel, and hair tamer standing dejectedly like the third string of a basketball team that rarely gets to play.
The thing is, I would be fine with rag mop hair, truly, if only I didn’t have this other issue: uncontrolled time travel to the nineteenth century. I’ve never met anyone else with the same problem, either, so that also classifies me as some kind of freak.” - Excerpt from Clockwise
This story has a great plot, enjoyable characters and a fun romance. I think a lot of young adults will enjoy this novel.
I gave Clockwise by Elle Strauss 3 STARS (3.5 STARS) – meaning good, really good. This is a great novel for young adults. It’s highly entertaining and fast paced; it flies by really quickly. Who knew time travel could be so fun?
-XOXO
READING, EATING AND DREAMING
January 4, 2013
One of the books that really fascinate me is Clockwise. Written by Elle Strauss this book is perfect for anybody who likes action, adventure, and romance. It takes place in Cambridge, Massachusetts 2012, but it also takes place in the 19th century. Casey Donovan is a girl with a not so normal life. She has a list of flaws about her. They are: crazy hair the color of burnt toast, a crush on Nate Mackenzie (the captain of every sports team in the school), extreme height, and one more thing: the ability to time travel to the 19th century. That's not the bad part. One evening, at the school dance Nate asks her to dance. Now this was probably not something ordinary for Casey. So of course she said yes (wouldn't you?), but that wasn't a very good idea, because once they’re on the dance floor, she does something unexpected (the excitement got the best of her). She takes him back in time! That's not the only bad part. When she tells Nate the truth, he doesn't believe her! They embark on a journey where amazing things happen, but I won't tell so you will have to read for yourself and find out.
One of the things I liked most about this book is Casey's best friend Lucinda. She is loveable, nice, and energetic. She always sticks by Casey no matter what, in the middle of the book there is some rising tension between Lucinda and Casey. Lucinda thinks Nate and Casey are dating; many things happen and Lucinda starts to feel left out, but in the end Casey shows her that there's nothing to be mad about (I knew she'd find a way). They become friends again (you'll have to read the book to find out how they were able to overcome their problems).
The one thing I didn't like is that at the beginning, Nate is kind of a jerk to Casey when they first get back. I don't know why, but it might have something to do with the fact that he's a senior and she's a junior and Nate already has a girlfriend. As they go along Casey has some difficulties (like trying to pretend Nate's her brother) and dealing with a lot of stress (school, friends, Nate, and family), but in the end after many adventures Casey’s world is turned around. So if you ask me this book should be rated 5 stars. I read it and now you should read it, too. HAPPY READING.
One of the things I liked most about this book is Casey's best friend Lucinda. She is loveable, nice, and energetic. She always sticks by Casey no matter what, in the middle of the book there is some rising tension between Lucinda and Casey. Lucinda thinks Nate and Casey are dating; many things happen and Lucinda starts to feel left out, but in the end Casey shows her that there's nothing to be mad about (I knew she'd find a way). They become friends again (you'll have to read the book to find out how they were able to overcome their problems).
The one thing I didn't like is that at the beginning, Nate is kind of a jerk to Casey when they first get back. I don't know why, but it might have something to do with the fact that he's a senior and she's a junior and Nate already has a girlfriend. As they go along Casey has some difficulties (like trying to pretend Nate's her brother) and dealing with a lot of stress (school, friends, Nate, and family), but in the end after many adventures Casey’s world is turned around. So if you ask me this book should be rated 5 stars. I read it and now you should read it, too. HAPPY READING.
June 6, 2013
*Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
4.5 stars
Brief Summery: Casey is a time traveler. She travels again and again to the year 1860, never knowing how long she'll be stuck in the past or the troubles she might encounter while there. When she returns to her present time, though, it's always as though no time as transpired at all. When she accidentally takes Nate, the boy she has a crush on, to the past with her, Casey suddenly has a whole other set of problems. Can he adapt to living in past? Will she be able to get him back to the present? And most importantly, could he possibly like her too?
Review: This book was a delight, and I easily finished it in one sitting. I really didn't know much going into it, except that it involved time travel. A lot of time travel books can be too sci fi and involve time paradoxes in the plot that just confuse me. That wasn't the case with this one. The author made it very easy to understand the mechanics of Casey's time and the world building was easy to follow.
The plot takes place over the course of several months and involves several trips back to the past. I enjoyed both Nate and Casey's characters better when they were in 1860. I loved how capable and adaptive Casey was to her ever changing circumstances. In the present plot-line, it kind of bothered me that Casey seemed to lose a lot of that self-assurance. (Her friend Lucinda, who was a loving and supportive BFF, was also totally boy crazy.) I can't say that I felt much for Nate. Many times, like Casey did, I was asking myself, "What is he thinking?" However, I just saw that the author has a novella with events from his point of view. I'll probably read it before the second book.
The ending felt balanced. Some questions were answered, and others were not. I'm hoping that book two definitively answers why 1860 and what significance the characters there hold for Casey and her family.
Recommendation: I would recommend this to anyone from middle grade up to adult. It was a great YA,adventure book with a hint of romance....a great diversionary read :) It's also free on amazon!
My other reviews at http://www.fictionsnoop.com
4.5 stars
Brief Summery: Casey is a time traveler. She travels again and again to the year 1860, never knowing how long she'll be stuck in the past or the troubles she might encounter while there. When she returns to her present time, though, it's always as though no time as transpired at all. When she accidentally takes Nate, the boy she has a crush on, to the past with her, Casey suddenly has a whole other set of problems. Can he adapt to living in past? Will she be able to get him back to the present? And most importantly, could he possibly like her too?
Review: This book was a delight, and I easily finished it in one sitting. I really didn't know much going into it, except that it involved time travel. A lot of time travel books can be too sci fi and involve time paradoxes in the plot that just confuse me. That wasn't the case with this one. The author made it very easy to understand the mechanics of Casey's time and the world building was easy to follow.
The plot takes place over the course of several months and involves several trips back to the past. I enjoyed both Nate and Casey's characters better when they were in 1860. I loved how capable and adaptive Casey was to her ever changing circumstances. In the present plot-line, it kind of bothered me that Casey seemed to lose a lot of that self-assurance. (Her friend Lucinda, who was a loving and supportive BFF, was also totally boy crazy.) I can't say that I felt much for Nate. Many times, like Casey did, I was asking myself, "What is he thinking?" However, I just saw that the author has a novella with events from his point of view. I'll probably read it before the second book.
The ending felt balanced. Some questions were answered, and others were not. I'm hoping that book two definitively answers why 1860 and what significance the characters there hold for Casey and her family.
Recommendation: I would recommend this to anyone from middle grade up to adult. It was a great YA,adventure book with a hint of romance....a great diversionary read :) It's also free on amazon!
My other reviews at http://www.fictionsnoop.com
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