SOLVED. YA Fantasy/ Time travel/ portals. Playing cards on the front cover, main character named Sophie. [s]

[.T.]

I read this when I was in primary school, so it would have been Young Adult roughly between 1998 and 2000 in circulation in Australia, but cannot recall if the author was Australian or any specfic nods to being set there.

The details I can recall about the plot are unfortunately vague. I can picture some of the front cover which had playing cards/a deck of cards on it and either a fob watch or compas. The main character was named Sophie. The book had some sort of time travel or portal in it where she would corresponde with another world. The word Atlas is also stuck with the memory of this.

I have google searched to death and found nothing that fits what I read.

Any help is greatly appreciated!!

[Capn]

Maybe it is listed here? Playing Cards on the Cover: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...

Here's a list for Time Travel fiction for kids in the 90s: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...

Sophie's World was pretty popular around that time. Loads of editions. The same author also wrote The Solitaire Mystery (playing cards feature). Both are heavy on philosophy. I'm not sure of the magical components of either, though.

[.T.]

Thank you so much for your reply. I have checked both of those lists and unfortunately cannot see the book there.

I don’t believe it was Sophie's World, I don't recall any philosophy playing a part, but I'll check it out just in case, it's come up a lot when I have googled.

Trying to recall any more details about the book is like trying to hold onto smoke in my brain 🤣 I'll keep trying though!!

[Capn]

Hang in there, it can take awhile (especially on Friday nights!). :)

Sometimes wrong guesses can jog further memories. So here's some more high-risk guesses from me:

Helping Hercules
Time Traveller

[.T.]

Capn, I think you may have solved this one for me.

It was The Solitare Mystery!! I must have read Sophie's World right after and my memory combined the two!

I found the cover that I was thinking of and it all clicked!

This is the cover - https://shop.savethechildren.org.au/t...

[Capn]

Oh that's great to hear! :) I have updated the Playing Card Covers list to include that edition from Phoenix. The Solitaire Mystery happens to be on my to-read list anyway...

[.T.]

Both Sophie's World and The Solitare Mystery are on my 'to read' list again too!

Thank you for your help! ☺