Wordy, self-consciously clever, but beautiful and touching in parts. Gorgeous drawings!

A Storm Without Rain

A Storm Without Rain by Jan Adkins is a fictional novel about a young man named Jack Carter, and the unexpected journey he takes to find himself through his family’s past. Jack, the protagonist, lives in Marion, Massachusetts in the 1980’s. Surrounding his home is Buzzard’s Bay, a body of water that is highly influential in his lifestyle. His family has run the Carter Yard for generations of boat building. The Bay is the center of young Jack’s life. However, he fails to recognize that there is a detailed story in his family’s past; he only views life in the present. This concept of time— past, present, and future— takes him on a journey that will change his life.

Jack believes that John Swain Carter, his grandfather, is just a leftover from the past. His grandfather is not as much a part of his life as the Bay is, so when Jack is asked to speak at his 94th birthday, he scrambles for a way to get out of it. Resting on an island in his Bay, Jack escapes the birthday. But when he doses off in the soft comfort of the grass on Penikese Island, a former leper colony, he is attacked by both soothing and frightening thoughts, half sleep, and a storm. However, this is not a real storm; it is a storm of time, a storm without rain. Jack is transported back into 1904, where he befriends a fifteen-year-old boy like himself named John Swain Carter.

A Storm Without Rain is a truly engrossing book that provides insight on the life on the Bay. I particularly enjoyed this book, for I could relate it to my own life on the Chesapeake Bay. Also, this novel supplies the reader with a glimpse of the lifestyle of the early 1900’s, discussing the evolution of horse-drawn transportation to automobiles. Throughout the book the concept of the passage of time is a major theme, making this book an interesting read for all ages. This concept provokes the reader to ask, “Is time as definite as we think?” The book’s only downfall is that the climactic moment— when Jack is transported back to 1904— is somewhat rushed and there is not enough buildup for it. However, the excellent character development and intriguing themes more than make up for this flaw.

Time travel story. Setting - Cape Cod 1904.
Jack Stone stumbles into a time warp and finds himself becoming fast friends with his grandfather as a young man. A bit slow at first but once the reader gets into it, it is an engrossing story.

Book #49 of the EBN Challenge at my Library.
Challenge Topic: A book with a weather element in the title.

"Jack Stone" as he calls himself take a trip back in time to his hometown of Marion. He meets and spends time with his ancestos. He becomes best friends with his Grandpa, who is his age at this time. He learns about work, love, family, and the importance of it all.

This book was great. I loved the way she used real people to flesh out her story. I would recommend it if you are looking for something light and endearing.

This book is about a young boy namned Jack who ran away from home. He ran away so he wouldn’t have to give a speech at his grandfather's funeral. He falls asleep on a beach and wakes up in the past, the time his grandfather was his age. He learns about his grandfather and after a long experience living in his time Jack goes back to his own time knowing more about life back in the time of his grandfather.

The main charecters are young boys, around age 13, who help their captain build ships. When Jack goes back in time he becomes good friends with his grandpa and they work together.

tThe setting is very important in this book. Jack lives in Marion, Massachusetts during present time. He is then transported through time to the 1800’s when his grandfather was his age. The time is important because Jack is not used to living this new way.

tThis book is mainly for young adults male or female. I would recommend it because it has a great story and it teaches about how making one mistake could change everything.

I would give this book a 4 our of 5 rating.

Fun trip back in time sailing around Cape Cod

A thoughtful book about a 15-year old,typical self-centered boy, who, after sailing to an island to avoid his grandfather's birthday, finds himself back in 1904, fifty years in the past. Jack meets his ancestors and learns about a different way of life. Seeing the bay during that time, teaming with fish and birds, makes it even clearer how much wildlife has been decimated in the last century. The changes between our time and the early 1900s is never more apparent and devastating. Jack's growth from a slightly obnoxious teen to one who learns to appreciate family and another way of life is part of the pleasure in this book. The people he meets (Mark Twain!) and his conjectures on the nature of time add to the interest.

Lots of details of boat-making and sailing back in the early 1900's. I usually love time travel stories, this was pretty much a mild "like; not in the love range. Nice descriptions of life in a New England coastal town though, and occasional appearances by historical figures.

A time storm takes John Swain (Jack Stone) into the past.

BTSYA / Teen Reader: This book is a real gem and should be considered a minor classic. It is impressive that the story uses the science fiction convention of time travel not as an end in itself, but to explore the deeper and more fulfilling themes of family and friendship.

A nice, simple time travel novel. Straightforward, easy reading. Not too deep, but I enjoyed it quite a bit.