Genre
Young Adult / Science Fiction
Setting and Context
Set in 2009 outside Chicago but the protagonist jumps back in time to 2007 and 2004.
Narrator and Point of View
It is narrated in first person from the perspective of Jackson Meyer.
Tone and Mood
Exciting, Intriguing, Mournful
Protagonist and Antagonist
Protagonist: Jackson Meyer; Antagonist: Enemies of Time
Major Conflict
After his girlfriend is fatally shot in 2009, Jackson jumps back in time to save her life. However, in the process, he gets stuck in 2007 with no way of going back to his own timeline. Furthermore, he learns about a group of evil tempests who either want to recruit or kill him.
Climax
The climax occurs when Jackson’s father informs him of the Enemies of Time and the power struggle with them.
Foreshadowing
“Jumping to the future has yet to work, but I’m not going to stop trying.”
This foreshadows learning about the ability to travel into the future
Understatement
N/A
Allusions
“You know, the movie where Bill Murray keeps repeating the same day over and over. He tries to kill himself by dropping a toaster in the bathtub, then wakes up on the same day again.”
It alludes to the film Groundhog Day which explains Jackson’s situation stuck in the past.
Imagery
“My eyes were still closed when I inhaled the aroma of cherrywood and lemon-scented furniture polish. No rain. No sound of people. Or trucks ready to crush my legs. Finally, I looked around and immediately recognized the location. My dad’s office. Through the clear glass windows surrounding the large corner office, I could see the traffic on Fifth Avenue. It was either morning or evening. And a weekday, most likely. Adam had always warned me about my lack of direction during a time jump.”
Paradox
“Today, Jackson and Holly are in love. Tomorrow, she will lie dying in his arms. Yesterday, he must undo it all....”
Parallelism
“My girlfriend, who should be alive, was dead (or dying) in 2009, and my sister, whom I’d already lost once, was sitting in the grass here in 2004, sunbathing and catching up on the latest Harry Potter book.”
Metonymy and Synecdoche
“Hollywood gets everything wrong when it comes to time travel.”
Personification
“My stomach twisted in knots again.”
