London Calling

by Edward Bloor

In the summer after 7th grade Martin meets a boy in a dream who will change his life forever. Where did this boy come from? Is he a dream? But how can his dreams be set in London during the Blitz? How can he wake up with a head full of people and facts and events that he certainly didn't know when he went to sleep--but which turn out to be verifiably real? Recommended for ages 11-15.

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 WWII. His father is an alcoholic who left his family. His sister is an overachieving Ivy League graduate. And Martin? Martin is stuck in between--floundering.

But during the summer after 7th grade, Martin meets a boy who will change his life forever. Jimmy Harker appears one night with a deceptively simple question: Will you help?

Where did this boy come from, with his strange accent and urgent request? Is he a dream? It's the most vivid dream Martin's ever had. And he meets Jimmy again and again--but how can his dreams be set in London during the Blitz? How can he see his own grandather, standing outside the Embassy? How can he wake up with a head full of people and facts and events that he certainly didn't know when he went to sleep--but which turn out to be verifiably real?

The people and the scenes Martin witnesses have a profound effect on him. They become almost more real to him than his waking companions. And he begins to believe that maybe he can help Jimmy. Or maybe that he must help Jimmy, precisely because all logic and reason argue against it.

This is a truly remarkable and deeply affecting novel about fathers and sons, heroes and scapegoats. About finding a way to live with faith and honor and integrity. And about having an answer to the question: What did you do to help?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Time Travel, Historical, Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Edward (William) Bloor

Personal Information: Born October 12, 1950, in Trenton, NJ; son of Edward William and Mary (Cowley) Bloor; married Pamela Dixon (a teacher), August 4, 1984. Father to a daughter and a son. Education: Fordham University, B.A., 1973.

Career: Novelist and editor. English teacher in Florida public high schools, 1983-86; Harcourt Brace School Publishers, Orlando, FL, senior editor, beginning 1986.

* Tangerine, Harcourt Brace (San Diego, CA), 1997.
* Crusader, Harcourt Brace (San Diego, CA), 1999.
* Story Time, Harcourt (Orlando, FL), 2004.
* London Calling, Knopf (New York, NY), 2006.
* Taken, Knopf (New York, NY,) 2007.

Media Adaptations:
Tangerine audiobook, Recorded Books, 2001.
Story Time audiobook, Recorded Books, 2005.
London Calling audiobook, Recorded Books, 2006.

Reviews

[Jay G · Rating 1 out of 5]

Want to see more bookish things from me? Check out my youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfer...

13 year old Martin Conway inherits an old radio from his Nana and finds him self time travelling through London during the Blitz of WWII. He meets a boy named Jimmy who asks for his help in delivering a message to his father in the present day, James Hawker.

I found this book to be very dull and boring. I didn't feel like anything exciting occurred. I did like how the historical facts in the book were accurate though. I'm not religious in any way so that aspect being so heavy in this book was completely lost on me. I feel like many people would enjoy this book, it just wasn't for me..

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 the history of the two world wars. I enjoyed seeing the blitz from this perspective and the use of real life characters like Joseph Kennedy (ambassador to England at the time) was well done.

But what I enjoyed most about London Calling was its spirituality and its affirmation of the belief that not everything can be explained. While there are zillions of children's books that are fantastical, most are so far fetched that they entertain us without engaging the reader to examine where in our own lives we experience things that are outside rationality. I loved seeing Martin's family and their various levels of faith - from budding to crumbling to a bit out there. The depictions of their faith lives challenged me to ponder how I deal with things in my own life that are not readily explained. Do I ignore them or go with it?

If you're in the mood for a quick read that isn't a brain drain, London Calling is a great choice. If you're looking for a book you can share with your pre-teen, this would be a good one (although you might want to read it first for one little scene that may raise questions). If you're just looking for a good book, look no further.

[Hope · Rating 3 out of 5]

Um, so this book is just a jumble.

I thought this book was about time travel and Big Band music and the Blitz, but it turned out to be a father/son relationship story with some time travel thrown in. And this story of this depressed 7-20 year old (I literally could not tell how old this child was) who lived in the basement and became fascinated with old radios. And the story of how sometimes the heroes we look up to turn out to be really messed up people. *shrugs* So a LOT more than I thought it would be.

But let's bring up Martin's age cause I was conFUSED the ENTIRE time. Sometimes he acted like a 20 year old which I guess makes sense cause this book was written sort of like a memoir. But sometimes he talked like a 7 year old. Especially when he was in London.

Jimmy: Oi, govnah, don't you know them Germans are bombin' us?? (I swear this child had a Cockney accent.)
Martin (aka Johnny): Germans?? Who are they?? World War II?? What's that?

Okay, maybe I'm laying it on a little thick, but really. Have you not seen The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe?? I mean, I guess not everyone is this huge history geek who knows all these random facts about the Blitz cause she was obsessed with WWII Britain in 10th grade but still. This child's school talks about WWII literally all the time. Why doesn't he know more about it???

Anyway, maybe I'm being too harsh.

This book was really a heartfelt father/son story with some dope time travel thrown in. It was really sweet.

Also, I really liked how this book showed the grittier side of WWII that we don't get in a lot of fiction. Like I felt that I was really there, walking the streets of London. The descriptions of bombed out London, with the balloons and miserable looking people with only a glimmer of hope, kinda broke my heart. And this book showed the grief and hardships of the time. Like how they had to do it all ALONE cause Europe had pretty much been taken over by the Nazis and the US was nowhere in sight. It made me mad how we joined two years later and were like "We're here! The party don't start till we walk in!" But anyway *shrugs*

All in all, this book did have a few sexual references, cuss words, and violence (mainly wreckage of London descriptions), but it was pretty good. There were a few weird rabbit holes but they tied up nicely in the end (kinda). Totes recommend if you want a father/son story with some time travel.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main message in London Calling, by Edward Bloor, is that one does not have powerful to help others or their community. London Calling begins in 2002 in Bethel New Jersey, about 20 miles north of Princeton. All Souls Preparatory School, a large campus with many buildings, is located in Bethel. This novel is told in first person through Martin Conway, a seventh grade student at All Souls Preparatory School. Martin despises going to school at All Souls, and he feels like an outcast. He is glad when the school years ends and he can spend his summer in the bedroom in his house's basement. During the summer, Martin gets many phone calls from his grandmother, Nana, and starts to really get to know her. Sadly, Nana dies during the summer, so Martin and his family trek out to go to her funeral. In Nana's will, she left Martin an old radio called the Philco 20 Deluxe, and at the time he does not think anything of it. One night, when Martin has the radio plugged in, he has this "dream" of being in London in the 1940s with a boy named Jimmy, a small thin, English boy. Jimmy shows Martin like life was like in the 1940s during the Nazi bomb raids on London, and Martin gets to see for himself the terror and suffering these people had to go through. However, when something disastrous happens in London, Martin must go fix it back in his real life, where he is just an average teenager. Through Jimmy, Martin learns one of the questions that should be able to be answered in a life time, what did you do to help? In London Calling, Martin takes a journey to answer this question and discover who he really is.
London Calling was a very great novel. One thing that I really liked about this book was Martin's personality. He is not afraid to make his own decisions about what he wants to do in his life, and where he wants to go. He doesn't want to follow his family's tradition of being into politics, or go to All Souls even though his mother really wants him too. I think that this is a hard quality to obtain, because you have to speak up and be strong, which can be hard to do. In addition, I really enjoyed the prologue to this book, because it shares messages on life that the reader sees present in the characters. Bloor writes," Each life, in human history, begins when a person starts to walk down the path. At first it is the path that our parents tell us to walk down. Then we come to certain crossroads where we have two choices--remain on the path or step up onto another. Sometimes our paths cross the paths of others at crucial points. This is where things can get uncontrollable, weird, unexplainable"(1). I really liked this passage because in a way, it foreshadows Martin's personality and his life, which I think was a smart idea. Personality wise, I can connect this book to Divergent because both of these characters pick different paths than their parents in life and learn much from it. This novel has a great message for teens, for it tells that everyone is capable of making a difference somewhere in the world, even if it is just a food drive or a community project. Bloor lets teens know that you don't have to be anyone special to help others, you just have to care. I have no negative comments about this book other than at certain points in the book, I was not always clear on what was happening. I highly would recommend this book to anyone who likes a great plot, unique characters, historical fiction, and an exciting adventure.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 because the plot is complicated and the reader needs to know a little history and be somewhat acquainted with life.

If you are at all interested in WWII and the London Blitz, your interest will be piqued after this novel. Bloor has researched, understood and brought to life an amazing time in history. I'd put this on the homeshool list for WWII historical fiction in the faction category. A good book to generate conversation and discussion.

The protagonist and his family are Catholic and I am particularly impressed with the author's understanding of the Catholic world view and his consistency in applying it to the story in an honest way. In fact, I'd say, honesty is the centerpiece of the novel.

If you read it, let me know if you agree!

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book London calling by Edward Bloor is about a boy which hates his conservative school. In there he only gets bad grades and is always compared to his straight A's sister. Many people don't understand that the main reason why he gets bad grades is because his life at home is pretty hard. He has an alcoholic father, is always compared to his perfect sister, and his mom is constantly working. In school he also has a hard time making friends because he is an outcast. Then one day his grandmother, which was the only person that he liked and really cared about him dies. He inherits and old radio from her which his grandfather had used during World War II. This radio wasn't a normal radio. He used it to time travel and help his friend, both of them would have great adventures. Overall I think that the book was okay. I personally think I may have not liked it because of its genre. It also wasn't really a book that made me want to read more or interested me much. I would recommend it though if you like history books and adventure books because this book is a mix of both.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The heroes, clearly, were the people of London, who took a beating and yet wouldn't surrender."

London Calling was one of those books that I wasn't sure would be good or not. Time travel is something that can be tricky. But Bloor did an amazing job. The switch back and forth between present day and the past were seamless and I loved each of them.

"Sometimes our paths cross the paths of others at crucial points. This is where thins can get uncontrollable, weird, and unexplainable."

Martin is in middle school and isn't really loving it, and in fact, is trying to find a way to switch back to his old school. But instead, his mother insists on sending him to this Catholic school that seems a little shady at times with how it handles a situation that John and his friends get into when three bullies decide to pick on them.

"I'm just saying that... Life is complicated. You don't only have two simple choices: drunk or teetotaler; saint or sinner. It's more complicated than that."

While away from school Martin moves to the basement and basically sleeps all the time, and IM's his friends occasionally. He also starts getting strange calls from his grandma asking him questions and wanting him to help someone. When Martin inherits an old radio that his grandma loved strange things start happening and he travels through time and meets someone named Jimmy who his grandma had told him about. Add in the strangeness of him somehow needing to help Jimmy even though he's in the past, and learning some things about his grandfather, that no one had known about. Martin learns a lot in a very short amount of time.

"That's war. It's a bloody, horrible, endless thing. And the poor people of the world fight it, make no mistake about that. The rich people come on the radio and make the speeches."

Overall I really enjoyed this book. Not only did I like Martin's character, but I adored his sister and how she was willing to help him and actually cared for him. She also didn't make him explain things to her about what was going on, and instead just rolled with it and used her job to help him get the info she needed. The family dynamic that Martin has was interesting as well, with his dad being an alcoholic and having been kicked out. Mom was still present and hadn't checked out and instead tried to encourage her children, and brought their father around for big things, and didn't seem to hate him or bad mouth him either. (yes she had a problem with his drinking, but they all did, and they realized it was just apart of him sadly.) I loved Jimmy's character and how the 1940's were described and we got to see the everyday child and his father, instead of just the officials or the rich. One other important thing that was mentioned in this book, is how it talked about the winners getting to choose how history is remembered. I highly recommend this book if you love time travel and the 1940's London.

"The question is What did you do to help? And he didn't do anything to help. He had to answer for all he had done to hurt people. If there's a hell he's in it."

[Cindy Dyson Eitelman · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I start to read a book, I usually weigh the volume in my hands, look at the back cover blurb, and flip through pages to the beginning. I'm reading them yet, just assessing the font size and word count. It kind of gives me a clue about what to expect.

With an audiobook, I do none of that.  I just copy it to the Ipod, navigate to Chapter 1 and press Start.

And thus began London Calling, by Edward Bloor...

and I still don't know how I could have been forewarned.   It was so unexpected and so unexpectedly good, I'm having trouble deciding between a 4-star rating and a 5.  But my mouse pointer is hovering over the 5.

A lot of times a book with an obvious religious message is just plain propaganda, but I can't say it of this one.  There's no more propaganda here than in the TV series Supernatural.  It's as if the author "what if'ed"  angels and spirituality and life beyond death, and came up with something beautiful.  I have no doubt the author is a strong Catholic, but that didn't keep me from loving this book.

Bear in mind, it's a teen book.  Minor details such as the inevitable arrest and subsequent prosecution when the bad guy gets his due aren't included.  I didn't care--I just cheer for it and went on to the good stuff--the unsolved murder; the unanswered question...I can't tell more.  Sorry.

[Blakleayahoo.com · Rating 2 out of 5]

"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 family behind Johnny hops on a plane in the present day with his alcoholic father to deliver a message to the 21st century person James Hawker. The message is deliverd and then Hawker conveniently dies within a short timeframe. Johnny bonds with his Dad (sure it is so easy to bond with an alcoholic father) and Johnny's old man defends his son with a quick punch to a villan. How about exploring assault Bloor? Bloor delivers more messages as he pontificates towards the ending of this book on who are heroes,spiritual beliefs according to the Catholic religion and other tedious thoughts. Mature language is scattered in here with a couple being British in nature. Skip reading this book, but let me know if your students will like this one. There is a better way to write a mystery/historical fiction book.

[A · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book has such a wonderful title, an odd cover, and discusses a historical topic that is of particular interest to me - the London Blitz, or the Battle of Britain.

Unfortunately, this book was a complete disappointment. Mostly because it is so overtly religious and preachy, all the way through to the grand finale. As a non-Christian, I find this very hard to stomach. I didn't pick up this book to be converted to Catholicism.

There are other problems, too. The plot is somewhat fragmented, and the first part of the book doesn't seem to relate much to everything that happens later.

The book gets points for describing the atmosphere in London during the Blitz, even if the characters' actions did not feel 100% authentic.

One final issue: I think it is ridiculous to claim that it is possible, within 2 hours (!), to run from Grosvenor Square to St. Paul's Cathedral, sit in the Pews for 15 minutes, climb to the Golden Gallery (which is 528, not 530 steps), have a good look around, come down, attend a Holy Communion Ceremony, and run back to Grosvenor Square. I say this because I walked this distance once, completely underestimating the length of the walk. It took hours and hours of walking up and down hilly streets, and crossing traffic, and I know consider this a ridiculous event (the folly of a 19-year-old). This makes me wonder what else in the book is this incorrect.

[Wisterious Woman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book--nice piece of story telling. I liked Martin and wanted things to work out for him. The school situation sounded horrible. But the way the author wove historical facts into the story is one of the things that sets this book apart. I was truly drawn in by Martin's adventure into a past era where he connects with Jimmy.

I also liked the Catholic school setting and the fact that Martin's family is seriously into the religious experience. It is something I know so little about. I appreciated Martin's spiritual side and the way he is open to unusual possibilities.

There is a good lesson in this book:the question,'What did you do to help?'
I think YA books often leave out ethical discussion. We see that through action Martin is able to do something that will benefit other people. It has a satisfying conclusion.

I have to say that Martin doesn't seem to be an up-to-date protagonist even if he does use a computer. He just doesn't sound like a modern teen because he calls people 'sir' and 'ma'am' and is incredibly polite. Still, it was nice to imagine a kid with manners.The characters in the family could have been fleshed out a bit more. I wasn't fond of any of them and the parent situation wasn't totally clear.
Over all, it is a good mystery adventure for tween/teen reader.

[Alex M · Rating 5 out of 5]

London Calling

For my September core book I read the book London Calling by Edward Bloor. I think the message that the book was trying to say that you need to be nice to others and help people in need. This book is about a protagonist named John Martin Conway who goes to All Souls Preparatory School. Martin sits in his basement and speaks to his Nana all summer long. He keeps telling his mom he won't go back to All Souls. His Nana dies and gives him a very old radio that's is special to Martin. One day he hears through the radio that there is a boy named Jimmy who needs help. This boy Jimmy is from the London Blitz. Martin learns a lot about him and his and his families past and about the blitz.


I liked this book. Edward Bloor kept it interesting through the whole book. It was one of those books you just couldn't put down. I also liked how Martin stayed dynamic through the whole book. I gave this book a five because it was so interesting and I think many people should read this. This book reminds me of The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin because it always has action through the whole book. I hope that you pick this book of a shelf and read it.

[Molly Leverenz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reader Response: I really did love this book. I can easily recommend this book to anyone and I think they will enjoy it. Most books I am a one time reader, but I would reread this book. It might have a bit of a sad ending but it is for the good of the book I think. I didn't expect this book to have a bit of a mystery part but it did. Martin has to find out what is real and not real and helps James and Martin's dad through tough times. Great Book.

Teacher Response: This book I think would be easy to comprehend for a 6th to 7th grade reading classroom. The book is pretty straight forward so you really don't need a whole lot of background content to help your student better understand the book. However, it might be a good idea to give some background content as the students are in the process of reading the book. I would focus on teaching setting and relationships with this book. You can teach this book as an introduction to WWII and the Blitz.

[Cassi Haggard · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a book that had time-travel and London during the Blitz it was pretty meh. Not only that, but the narration was uninspired especially when the actor did female voices. Though I wouldn't attribute the meh-experience to narration, more the experience was not improved upon by it. I do like the history and time travel, but overall this book just felt middle of the road. I'd say if you're stuck for a library audiobook this will do but if you have better options, take them.

For this review and more check out my blog Galavanting Girl Books

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an incredibly touching book of a boy who time travels to London during the Blitz, and in so doing changes his life and that of his father. I loved the writing, the characters, and the history.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchased this book from my friend at our yard sale. It's a compelling book of historical fiction, written in the voice of a 12-year-old with a very old soul. This is a particularly good book if you enjoy World War II history and time travel.

[Saleh MoonWalker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Onvan : London Calling - Nevisande : Edward Bloor - ISBN : 375836357 - ISBN13 : 9780375836350 - Dar 304 Safhe - Saal e Chap : 2006

[Gael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the book “London Calling.” It was written by Edward Bloor and published on February 12, 2008. The main character is Martin, but some other characters would be Pinak, Manetti,(male friends of Martin) and Jimmy. This book starts off with a little introduction by Martin stating how his 7th grade year wasn’t so great. Martin talks about how he was depressed and overwhelmed with the pressure of his family. The book was gloomy and took place in a little town. I chose this book because it talked about war and different types of courage. It talked about how courage, respect, and gratitude is within us and all times. This book also revolves around some type of social status. It also seemed interesting when I was reading the brief summary. It was an intriguing book nonetheless.

This book has two different settings throughout it. The settings would be in a small town in New Jersey named Betel and The city of London. The main character Martin faced diversity such as social status in school and depression. Martin is at the verge of giving up when he gets visited by a young boy by the name of Jimmy. Jimmy visits Martin in his dream or that’s what Martin thinks. Martin doesn’t know if Jimmy is real or just a dream. Jimmy asks Martin to help him to rewrite history in the way it should have been. Martin doesn’t really have a lot of conflict throughout the book. But one conflict Martin has is when he’s trying to bring back honor to his family’s name. Other minor conflicts would be the situation of his family and his alcoholic father. Martin faces different situations that help him gain confidence and bravery in himself. Martin learns that he’s actually traveling back in time instead of dreaming. Martin meets different people that help him along his journey such as Margret Conway, General Martin Mehan, Pinak, and Jimmy Harken.

Throughout the book I enjoyed reading different pages more than others. One of my favorite moments was when Jimmy Harken first visited Martin. This was because Martin was both excited and confused when he woke up. Martin felt this kind of excitement that he hadn’t felt in a while. Martin was saved by Jimmy in a way that he couldn’t explain. Throughout the book I also enjoyed reading different quotes. One of my favorite quotes was “ Remember that, lad if you never remember anything else. We all touch each other’s lives, for better or for worse. So say the things you have to say to people while you still have the chance.” One of my other favorite quotes was “ Life is complicated. You don’t only have two simple choices: drunk or teetotaler; saint or sinner. It’s more complicated than that.” The book had a lot of pros but a couple of cons would be the lack of conflicts and the act of rushing through the book. The book only had a couple of conflicts that only lasted for a short period of time. The lack of conflicts made the climax a little boring. But overall the book was great and encouraging. The book shows how confidence and happiness isn’t always gained by yourself. The book showed how sometimes you need a little push that isn’t planned.

Overall, I enjoyed this book as a whole. The book was able to show how different situations can be overcome. It was also able to captivate the ways courage and bravery are important in someone’s life. I would give this book a 4 out of 5 stars. I gave this book this rating because it was greatly written and it was also encouraging and motivating at times. It would recommend this book to readers that like inspiring or encouraging books. Also I would recommend this book to readers that like war scenarios and social status books. This book is similar to “Wonder” in a way that both characters fight diversity throughout their lives. This book also has all types of different scenarios and situations that every reader would enjoy reading.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is this book about? It's about so many things. It's about bullies at school, false narrative for ancestors, time travel, families, alcoholics, salvation, rewriting history. Let me start over. Martin is going to a private prep school because his divorced mother works there and gets a reduced tuition for him. His older sister has already graduated and is working for an encylopedia company. Matin hates going to school there. He sleeps in the basement, in a room that was his Uncle Bob's when he was going through his depression, then his father's when he was drunk before his parents got divorces. He can't get himself interested in anything. The bully, Hank Lowery, who's grandfather, Gen. Lowery, was a WWII war hero, worked with Ambassador Joseph Kennedy and Martin's grandfather in London during the WWII. He picks a fight with Martin. The marble statue of Gen. Lowery at school is damaged by another boy during this fight. Martin is allowed to do some independent study at home. This is all pretty bland stuff. However, he gets a phone call from his Nana, asking if Jimmy had gotten in touch with him. Martin tells her he doesn't know anyone named Jimmy. Nana passes away later in her sleep. After her funeral, Martin is in his deceased grandfather's study, his "shrine" as it's reffered to, when he notices this very large, wooden radio. His aunt tells him that it's his, if he wants it, because Nana wanted him to have it. Martin takes the radio home and falls asleep, listening to the static. Later that night, he was awakened by a voice, then a smell, then seeing someone in his room. Jimmy introduces himself. From there, it's visits back to 1940 London, seeing what's going on through bombings, mistakes, relationships, death, intrigue, spying, etc. This is very well written. The layers are there for you to peel back to get to the heart of the story. The deception, the lies, the hidden stories that come to life because of Martin actually witnessing what was going on back in London all those years ago. After the radio is introduced into the story, I couldn't stop reading it. This was a book that I thought I would donate to the library to cull the volumns that I have on bookshelves at home, but I think I'll keep it. I just might want to read it again and again. Hope you like it as well.

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite books in my early teens, and I ended up purchasing it from a booksale at my library. I believe I had a copy prior, but lost in in a housefire.

Keeping mind of nostalgia bias, I still think this book aged well. My only complaint was the scene where the father of one of Martin's friends destroyed the statue of the Heroes Walk. It felt strange how whatever happened to the father after this event was never addressed. I thought that Margaret's statement to the other family's attorney seemed like enough.

I really appreciate how it, for the most-part, didn't underestimate the emotional maturity of young readers when it came to dealing with difficult or painful subject matter.

Additionally, as an americoirish-catholic, I appreciated the discussion of spirituality, and the complex relationship that Martin has with his faith. He doesn't see the catholic institution as entirely good or bad, but rather points out the aspects of it which he was critical of, and those which were beneficial to him and his family. Reading this again as an adult, I now recognize many of the issues the catholic institution has, in addition to the benefits this faith has had to me, and therefore appreciate the story element more.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book years ago because it popped up in my research on Catholic characters in YA fiction. My biggest takeaway is that I wish I knew WHO this book is for. It was intriguing, with brutally honest depictions of broken relationships and alcoholism, as well as interesting questions about legacy and history. The writing, especially the dialogue, was pointed and real, walking the line between idealized and messy. But the mood of the first half was so downtrodden that I have a hard time imagining a teenager liking it.

On the Catholic side of things, although I like an honest portrayal that doesn’t sugarcoat faith, there are some minor details that keep me from rubber-stamping the book. Faith and God certainly pervade the story, even if the Church isn’t portrayed in the best light.

I can see recommending this to a teenage boy interested in history. I just wish the story coalesced better, rather than splitting into 2 divergent paths, both of which had to be resolved. It felt messy in the end. And yet, there’s a quality to this story that I can’t put my finger on, but which was quite exhilarating.

[Josiah · Rating 3 out of 5]

"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 Calling, P. 1

I have now read each of Edward Bloor's first four novels, and he has easily become one of my favorite authors. Beyond just marvelous, intelligent characters, fascinating descriptive style and deep, fully fleshed-out stories, what captivates me about Edward Bloor's writing is the way he has of making every little thing in the narrative feel as if it could be a deceptive agent of harm utilized by a dark force bent on the destruction of the innocent, that an ostensibly innocuous bit of descriptive detail could change the entire complexion of the novel, if it were to be unleashed. It's the perfect atmosphere for the telling of a mystery embedded deep in the layers of time, a mystery of such rich historical importance that multiple lids are just waiting to be blown sky-high by one willing to turn up the heat. It feels as if every small thing could be a menacing part of the broader scheme: an elevator button that sticks a little bit when pressed, the furniture in the rooms of the primary characters and how it is arranged, the titles of classic books that line the shelves of a deceased relative...Edward Bloor has a unique way of making every last word he writes feel as if it has some ominous element attached to it, which explains why I always end up racing through his novels at a fevered, frenetic pace.

London Calling begins as what appears to be a regular school drama, if somewhat ratcheted up in its intensity. A nasty skirmish right at the story's onset between seventh grade student Martin Conway and a couple of his friends, and classmate Hank Lowery and a couple of his bully pals, turns into something more serious when a large chunk of marble ends up getting thrown, injuring no one. Martin's friend who threw the heavy material is the one upon whom most of the blame for the confrontation is foisted, though Hank Lowery certainly had been the real instigator of the trouble. This incident acts as the impetus for one of the main story threads of London Calling, Martin's desire to see to it that the illustrious Lowery family—held in reverence by most for supposed wartime deeds of courage performed by the general, "Hollerin' Hank"—is seen for the fraud that he and his sister know the Lowery family to be.

Martin's story takes an uneasy turn for the supernatural, though, after the death of his grandmother, whom he called "Nana". Martin had long felt a strange connection to Nana despite the geographic distance separating them, and in recent days she had made phone calls to Martin several times in a scatterbrained state, talking about a lost boy whom Martin needed to help. Martin brings home the old-fashioned radio that Nana had urgently bequeathed to him, and all seems ready to revert back to normal...until the vivid dreams begin, dreams too vivid to be dismissed as just illusions of the sleeping mind.

Martin is transported to the grim scenes of London, England during the 1940 German Blitzkrieg. His guide up and down the war torn streets is a boy named Jimmy, who seems to know that Martin is the only person who can somehow help him. Devastating destruction sweeps the byways and avenues of the panicked city, yet Martin returns on a few occasions to this place and time sixty years ago to be led around by the boy, Jimmy, knowing that somehow this is what Nana was talking about when she had called, asking him to help the lost boy. Martin knows that the catalyst for these dreams is the old-fashioned radio that had belonged to Nana, but what is Martin really expected to be able to do to help under these circumstances?

In his waking hours back in his own time, Martin's determined computer research begins to show that the minute details he remembers from his dreams with Jimmy during the Blitzkrieg are all true, and that there's no way he could know these things unless he really had, somehow, traveled into the past. Now, as the walls close in on Martin and the time approaches in which he must be willing to step up and do his part right now, the courage of an entire city forty years ago faced with the horror of bombing onslaughts every single day is the buoy by which Martin must keep his head above the fear that threatens to drown him. Above all, Martin has to be willing to accept the mission that has been given to him and act to do what he must, or the lives that he has been called upon to heal will have no one to provide that healing.

Though fictionalized in many aspects, London Calling is a real, heartfelt look at the endlessly complex maze of intersections through which every one of us inadvertently affects the lives of others, even those we might think we could never truly impact. It's all right there in the choices we make every day, and even in the things we choose not to do. Just by being alive, we all have plugged into a vibrant network that reaches to all corners of the globe, promising the possibility of joy and of pain beyond one's most outlandish fantasies. But we have to be willing to step up and act when our moment comes, or who will take the exact part carved out in time for us?

Edward Bloor has once again created a novel of depth and diligence, an impactful tribute to the power of human reasoning that will profoundly touch the mind of any thoughtful reader. I might give three and a half stars to London Calling.

[Dan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this based on a recommendation from the time travel group, but I cannot give it a very strong review.
Pro: The events in the past take place during the London blitz. I find this time period fascinating; however, if you do not share this opinion, skip this book.
Con: There is a fair bit of religion/religious overtones in the book. Perhaps for that reason, there is essentially no explanation whatsoever for how the time travel occurs. Along these lines how does Jimmy know that he is going to be killed by a bomb landing on a particular air raid shelter? That is critical, because it forms the entire basis for his needing to appear in the future to request help from Martin. I also found the mystery with regard to Hollerin' Hank quite a letdown.
Overall, the book did not hold my attention.

[Translator Monkey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hadn't set out to read yet another (fourth in a row) Young Adult book, but when I read the synopsis to 'London Calling,' I was intrigued. It's a bit heavy-handed, the author certainly tries, but among the life lessons we are taught (along with the 13 year old boy) is that yes, violence does solve things, and rumor and innuendo hold more sway over someone's accomplishments than the actual accomplishments themselves. It's an interesting read, lots of interesting little subplots, but they seem to be cast aside for the main plot of trying to find out why the spirit of an 8 year old boy from 1940 London is talking to the narrator of the story. 2.5 stars out of 5, and begrudgingly at that.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I had it to do over again, I would have read a physical copy of this book instead of listening to the audiobook. I loved the story, but the narrator sounded like a robot imitating an old man and early on, it nearly caused me to give up on it. Thankfully I was able to get past it and just focus on the story, because it had so much to offer. I love historical fiction, and this one has a time travel twist that was fascinating. The ending was very moving as well and I'll be thinking about this one for a long time to come.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not sure what genre to describe this work as: young adult for the charters, fantasy, war story for the 1940 London bombing part, dysfunctional family, science fiction for the time travel, religious for that part of the discussion, a tear jerker, etc. …
What sucks you into this book is following the main character as he tries to figure out what is a weird dream and what is reality … and where the line is between the two … if there is one.
This is a fun read.

[Lovemystarbucks · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars
My daughter read this in 7th grade English. I believe the class was divided between this book and The old classic, The Time Machine.
Five years later I picked it up and gave it a try. Yes, it has time travel as a feature, but it seems to primarily be about relationships in families.
I thought it was excellently written and enjoyed the new knowledge I have about WW2.

[Logan Yohe · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book is pretty good and can have some boring parts though. it is about a 7th grader named martin who has a radio next to his bed and it takes him to a different time and it is very scary for hinm. overall a pretty solid book

[The Reading Writing Puppet · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I was expecting. It’s a ghost story, sort of but it’s also about the relationships between fathers and sons, world war 2, and time travel? It was a bit preachy on the religious side also. It was okay, but not a story I would re-read.

[Tara Cignarella]

DNF- I read this after my son came to me for help and I could not continue reading it. I was confused and bored at times. Luckily school was ending when they started it and he plugged through it without me.