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London Calling
London Calling
Author: Edward Bloor
Martin Conway comes from a family filled with heroes and disgraces. His grandfather was a statesman who worked at the US Embassy in London during WWII. His father is an alcoholic who left his family. His sister is an overachieving Ivy League graduate. And Martin? Martin is stuck in between--floundering. — But during the summer after 7th grade, M...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780375836350
ISBN-10: 0375836357
Publication Date: 9/26/2006
Pages: 304
Reading Level: Young Adult
Rating:
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 4

4 stars, based on 4 ratings
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback, Audio CD
Members Wishing: 0
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GeniusJen avatar reviewed London Calling on + 5322 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Reviewed by Jennifer Rummel for TeensReadToo.com

LONDON CALLING opens with a fight at school between the rich boys and the scholarship boys. A stone hits one of the statues in the new walkway causing damage. The commotion from the fight catches the attention of the headmaster who decides that he will determine the punishment at the end of the summer vacation. Martin dreads going back for this meeting. He hates the school so much that he requests to have independent studies for the entire new school year.

His grandmother dies, leaving him this old radio from the 1940's. One night, Martin falls asleep listening to the sounds on the radio and is transported back to the 1940's in London during World War II. There he meets Jimmy, a young boy, who asks for his help.

England during the wartime scares Martin and he can't tell if he's dreaming or if he's really traveled through time. He begins writing down names of people he meets and events that he hears mentioned to research later. Digging deeper into the past, he begins to unravel historical differences between today's understanding of history and the actual events. Martin realizes how history changes--with the victor's side writing the accounts of the events. The deeper he digs, the more truths he uncovers, and the more the radio calls him to help Jimmy.

This fascinating book takes a look at how historical moments and figures are shaped by the outcome of an event. While this books starts off slowly, it quickly picks up, drawing the reader deeper into Martin's time-travel adventures. LONDON CALLING will be a thought-provoking book for classroom discussions.
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thameslink avatar reviewed London Calling on + 723 more book reviews
I found this to be an intriguing read -- loved the character of Martin and the concept of time traveling triggered by an old radio that had survived the London Blitz in 1940. Ultimately it is a book about accountability, redemption and forgiveness.


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