Reviews: (by author)

Vittachi, Nury. Twilight in the Land of Nowhen. Crows Nest, Australia, 2006. ISBN 1-74114-935-5. Paperback. Pp. 154.

Set in the future with a protagonist named Simon PooPoo (“PooPoo” means appetizer in Hawaiian, the protagonist hastens to explain) and his inexplicable trait of anticipating by three seconds whatever anyone says to him (making conversation rather difficult), this is a book you know will be entertaining. It is. Simon has even more problems as he’s moved from school to school by a father more concerned about pleasing his girlfriend than by helping his son adjust and perhaps make a friend or two. But—the three-seconds problem turn out to be not incurable; it’s a condition called “fourth dimensional synchronitis,” or Time sickness,” formerly known as “shyness.” Simon finds this out from Ms Blit, the current school’s custodian, who is actually a Stitcher, one of those few who maintain the Fabric of the Universe. As the plot moves swiftly along, it stitches together scientific principles (or possibilities), time travel, Albert Einstein, flying cars, and a hopeful ending.

Vittachi is a well-known writer living in Hong Kong, where the novel is located. His many books for children are all lively, very funny, and inventive. This swift read is a prime example of those characteristics.

A. Allison, June 2007

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