When 13-year-old Corey Fletcher first finds himself transported back in time, he doesn’t
realize how it happened or that he is one of the rare travelers who can actually change the
timeline, rescue his Papou, and maybe even save his grandma from 9/11.
— Michael Main
So. . . some people inherit diabetess, some
inherit curly hair, and I inherited time travel?
DEBUT
Throwback (HarperCollins, October 2019) [print · e-book].
VARIANTS
Debut. Throwback (HarperCollins, October 2019) [print · e-book].
Remembering Different Timelines: Leila remembers the photo before Corey was in it. Corey himself remembers the timeline where Ruggles did not have an impact.
Resilient Timeline: Time seems to resist changes made by most travelers, except for the so-called throwbacks.
Butterfly Effect: “A Sound of Thunder” is briefly discussed, and the Butterfly Effect is perhaps incorrectly referenced in regard to Corey saving Frederick Ruggles.
Save Your Ancestor!: Papou, Corey, and Leila each try to save Corey’s grandma, who was killed at 9/11, although they don’t directly try to stop the terrorists.
Stuck in Time: Papou is stuck in 1892, and Corey is stuck in 1917.
From West 95th Street, New York City, Halloween morning, 2018 or later ⋙ to same street, an unspecified past year with horse-drawn carriages. Round trip. Note: Chapter 3. Corey’s first short trip. But he was surprised by a flash of darkness all around him—a silent, momentary blackness. Like a sudden eclipse, or a spell of blindness as if something had hit him in the head.
From Leila’s apartment, West 95th Street, New York City, the same Halloween, early afternoon, 2018 or later ⋙ to an earlier building in the same location, 31 October 1862. Round trip. Note: Chapter 4. Corey’s second trip, where he saves Frederick Ruggles and retrieves Papou. Across the street, the particles of fog seemed to swirl. They thickened and gathered on a howling wind. In the distance Corey heard thunder again.
From near the National September 11 Memorial and Museum, New York City, the day after that same Halloween, early morning, 2018 or later ⋙ to near the World Trade Center, New York City, the morning of 11 September 2001. Note: Chapter 12. Corey’s first attempt to save his grandma. Papou also made this trip several times before the start of Corey’s travels, but we haven’t indexed those trips. He scrambled for the curb and felt the pressure of bristles on his back. Pulling him down, taking him to the street. Behind him someone shrieked.
From an unknown time ⋙ to the West Village, New York City, 9 June 1917. Note: Chapter 17. An unexpected trip for Corey, caused by holding his great-great-grandfather’s passport. He spat out dust. His arm ached, his pants were ripped, and a rat was bibbling on his shoelace.
From an unknown time ⋙ to Highline Park, New York City, an unspecified time after his departure for 9/11.. Note: Chapter 36. Corey returns. Corey’s head was resting on a railroad tie. He sat bolt upright in a bed of gravel between tracks, surrounded by dried weeds and grasses. Quinn and Oscar were gone, but he heard a gasp behind him.
From Leila’s apartment, West 95th Street, New York City, sometime after Corey left for 9/11 ⋙ to the same building, circa 9pm, 10 September 2001. Round trip. Note: Chapter 29. Leila’s attempt to save find Corey in the past and possibly save his grandma. She departs after Corey left for 2001 and before he returned from 1917.
So . . . some people inherit diabetess, some
inherit curly hair, and I inherited time travel?
2 English variants