A Handful of Time

Pearson, K. (1988). A handful of time. Markham, ON: Viking Kestrel.

Author:
Kit Pearson

Summary:
Patricia has been left with her aunt and uncle, who she has never met, for the summer. With a cousin who does nothing but torment her, Patricia knows the summer will be miserable. When she finds a pocket watch that transporters her back in time to when her mother was her age, Patricia learns a lot about why her mom is the way she is. With this information she can hopefully improve their damaged relationship.

Response and Reaction:
This is a moving story about the relationship between mothers and daughters. Patricia learns that a lot of who adults are came from when they were her age. It is difficult to get a grasp on the time of this book (both in the present and the past). The stigma surrounding Patricia’s parent’s divorce makes it feel older than 1988.

Format:
Juvenile Novel

Age Range:
10-14 years old

Themes:
Mothers and daughters, family, divorce, time travel

Awards:
CLA Book of the Year for Children Award (WON) 1988
Sheila A. Egoff Children's Prize (NOMINATED) 1988