Ratings

Content Ratings based on a 0-5 scale where
0 = no objectionable content and
5 = an excessive or disturbing level of content

Guide to Rating System

LANGUAGE

VIOLENCE

SEXUAL CONTENT

ADULT THEMES

Ratings Explanation

Language:  Someone is called a “white whore”.

Violence:  There is some fighting and hitting.  Someone hits Samuel and tries to abduct him.  Someone is physically rough with Casey.  Casey falls on a shovel and cuts herself.

Sexual Content:  Casey says she has poached egg sized breasts.  She later talks about them growing because her dress doesn’t fit.  Nate and Casey pretend to be brother and sister and have to share a room.  Nate can see Casey’s silhouette behind the sheet as she undresses.  There are some kisses.  A lady is pregnant and unmarried because of racial differences.

Adult Themes:  Tim smokes and he is underage.  He is caught stealing cigarettes and is escorted home by the police.  He lies to his parents and Casey covers for him.  A girl says that their dads go out for beers together.  The issues of slavery, women’s rights, racial discrimination, unwed mothers, divorce, and interracial relationships are all part of this book.

Synopsis

Fifteen-year-old Casey Donavan has a huge problem.  She has just accidentally taken her secret crush back through time to 1860.  It’s hard enough to survive on her own during these time traveling escapades, but now that the cutest, most popular guy at school is staring at her like she’s crazy, Casey wonders how she will keep them both alive.  Casey decides to tell everyone that she and Nate are brother and sister so they can stay together.  But, an unwanted suitor takes an interest in Casey and Nate isn’t happy.  Casey has hopes that Nate cares for her, but when they return to their own time, Casey is back to being on the bottom of the social ladder while Nate pretends she doesn’t exist.

The time travel element in this book took me to places that were interesting and gave me a sort of mini history lesson. I could imagine and even feel some of the tensions of those eras. Elle does a great job of making a scene come alive. The main character, Casey, was likable and so easy to relate to. Her young ideas of love and boys really took me back to the time I was that age. Watching those swoon worthy boys from a distance and dreaming…. desires to fit in and be accepted….

The characters found in all the places in time deal with real-life issues. Life is a struggle and it always has been. The very real issues of slavery, women’s rights, racial segregation, unwed mothers, split families, and underage smoking and drug use are all part of this book‘. The issues are dealt with in a respectful and tasteful way.   This book is labeled as YA but really had more of a middle grade feel to it.  I really enjoyed reading it.