By Weldon Owen Philip Steele
Jumping through time isn’t just science fiction; for two Viking children armed with magical runes, it is the only way to witness the unfolding story of the world.
In The 100 Year Time Travelers, veteran nonfiction author Philip Steele collaborates with the team at Weldon Owen to present a unique historical journey for middle-grade readers. The premise is simple yet engaging: starting with Viking protagonists, the narrative leaps forward in strict 100-year increments. This structure allows readers to visit key moments in global history, ranging from ancient civilizations and the Roman Empire to speculative visions of life in the year 2100. Rather than a dry recitation of dates, the book uses the time-traveling duo to anchor the reader, offering a consistent perspective as empires rise, technologies evolve, and civilizations transform across the centuries.
This title is a strong candidate for classroom libraries supporting students who find dense historical texts intimidating. The format acts as a bridge, pairing mature topics—such as the complexities of war, navigation, and climate change—with a presentation style designed for accessibility. Visually, the book is rich with detailed illustrations, maps, and depictions of artifacts on every spread. For an English language learner, these images provide essential scaffolding to decode the text. If a student stumbles on a term like “empire” or “innovation,” the accompanying artwork offers immediate context clues that aid comprehensions and retention. The sentence structure tends to be direct and factual, favoring clarity over flowery language. This straightforward approach allows reluctant readers to engage with sophisticated concepts without getting bogged down in complex syntax. By breaking history into bite-sized, century-long chunks, the book makes the vast scope of human progress exciting while feeling manageable and distinct, perfect for students ready to move beyond simple narratives but not yet ready for heavy academic texts.
