SOLVED. Boy with the ability to interact with time goes on a journey with his friend. [s]

[John]

A boy is living in the woods with his father until he is forced to go on a journey with a friend. On this journey he discovers he has the ability to interact with objects from the past and steals a dagger while he is experimenting with his powers. Another clue is that the book focuses on the fact that the calendar is counting down. I can't remember much about the book that isn't spoilers so *SPOILERS AHEAD*. The reason the calendar is counting down is because humanity had sent two ships to the planet. One was simply flying there while the other was using a form of time travel in order to arrive and the countdown was to the year that the ships launched. The boy discovers he has a sister that is a part of the royal family who also has time powers and this is because they are the descendants of the captain of the ship that used the time travel method. The ending of the book has the boy, his sister, and his friend escaping from a group of people trying to kill them by going through a field that has caused everyone else who tried to go through is to go mad.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Did you read this in the 80s?

[John]

Lobstergirl wrote: "Did you read this in the 80s?"
No, I read this sometime in the early 2000's but I don't know when it was published.

[[deleted user]]

I think you are describing Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card. One of my favorite books of all times. I still haven't finished the trilogy because I loath to say goodbye them.

[Kris]

Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card - Andy's suggestion

[Kate]

I second Pathfinder as a very likely solution.

[John]

Thank you to all of you for helping me.