One day the world around Owen shifts oddly: Time flows backwards, and the world and family he knew disappear. Time can only be set right when the Resisters vanquish their ancient enemies, the Harsh. Unless they are stopped, everything Owen knows will vanish as if it has never been....And Owen discovers he has a terrifying role to play in this battle: he is the Navigator.

"McNamee (Resurrection Man, for adults) makes his YA debut with an inventive time travel story. Owen lives in the shadow of a father who committed suicide, but readers barely get to meet the young hero before he encounters a tiny man who warns him, 'It has begun... it is to be you.' From there, Owen is whisked to the Workhouse, 'the center of the Resisters to the Harsh and the frost of eternal solitude that they wish to loose upon the earth.' He is taken in by these 'custodians of time,' who tell him about the Harsh-faceless creatures that 'long for emptiness, for cold nothingness.' To this end, the Harsh have begun the Puissance, which is causing time to run backwards. In order to defeat the Harsh, Owen and new friend Cati must find the Mortmain, a device of unknown shape and size that can destroy the Great Machine causing the Puissance. The Mortmain recalls Rowling's 'portkey' concept — a magical artifact, hiding in plain sight as an everyday object, which may feel a bit derivative to some readers. But the ultimate discovery of that object and its keeper ties the book's ending to its beginning in satisfying fashion. McNamee's setting is certainly unique, and readers who relish the brain-teasing nature of time-travel stories will also relish this book and its planned sequels. Ages 9-12." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

"In this wonderful story, McNamee brings his skill to writing for a younger audience in a novel that not only bends but alters and rearranges time. This is a story not to be missed by fans of Kate Thompson's The New Policeman or Madeline L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time." Children's Literature

"Excellent world-building, a thrilling and propulsive plot, internal consistency and a multitude of child heroes guarantee a following for this exciting fantasy." Kirkus Reviews

Eoin McNamee, the award-winning author of "Resurrection Man," makes his children's book debut with this clever novel about the battle between the Resisters and their ancient enemies, the Harsh, and a boy who discovers he has a terrifying role to play in this war.

Eoin McNamee is an award-winning author of novels for adults. His first novel, Resurrection Man, was made into the film. The author lives in County Sligo, Ireland.