SOLVED. Children’s Fantasy. Parallel universe. Clock keeps the universe stable. Where lost keys and odd socks end up through a rip that connects the two worlds. Young boy main character. Read 2002-2004. [s]

[Kate]

I am trying to think of a children’s first chapter book first read back in 2002-2004.
The main character is a young boy who finds himself in a parallel universe. This parallel universe is where all the odd socks and lost keys seem to go from the boys home world. The plot of the book (not sure if series or just one book) is to help keep a clock (or watch) ticking while the villain does their best to stop the clock. This clock affects the stability of the parallel world and if it stops, I think the parallel world falls apart (not 100% on this detail). I remember there being a water fountain in the middle of the town that the boy walks into in the parallel universe. If anyone can help or add any other details to this book, I would be extremely grateful.
I feel it was published by scholastic as I do remember reading it for school as a part of our reading homework.

[Becca]

The Timekeeper by Emily Rodda, which is the sequel to Finders Keepers?

[Lisa]

Some of this sounds like Garth Nix's The Keys to the Kingdom series:
https://www.goodreads.com/series/4296...

[Claire]

It sounds a wee bit like your brain mashed together 100 Cupboards and The Magicians.

Both of those were written after those years though so, probably not?

[Kate]

Becca I think that’s the one Thank you so much!!

[Kate]

Becca wrote: "The Timekeeper by Emily Rodda, which is the sequel to Finders Keepers?"

Thank you for solving this!!