Author - Michael Lawrence
ISBN - 0060724811
Publication Date - 2005
Plot - Small Eternities is the sequel to a Crack in the Line, the previous story by Michael Lawrence. It begins where the last story left off, with Alaric and Naia sitting in the worlds to which they do not belong. What they begin to discover is that they are accepted in these new worlds without question, as if they had always belonged to them. Alaric is happy that in this eternity his mother lives. Naia is despondent that in this eternity her mother is no longer.
To further complicate matters for the pair. the people around them are not always they same as they were in their own reality, and they have different memories than the ones that they were familiar with in their own world. Then Lawrence adds a third complicating element to the plot. Naia and Alaric are thrust into another world, to which they are related, but in a different time period. In it, Alaric accidentally kills his grandfather. Time begins to fracture; and they wonder if they are going to be able to piece it all back together again. What they are left with are these "Small Eternities" where things could have been a certain way, but they are not.
It would seem that Alaric and Naia are breaking apart the fabric of time through their own existence and the complications that they create in the other worlds. Eventually to save Aldous life Alaric risks his own and dies, being thrust into another eternity. And yet the eternity he had left to save Aldous has a shocking conclusion, a conclusion in which Alaric has gone away and died. Somehow, Alaric experiences this grief in another reality and he swears to himself that he is going to find a way back there.
To further complicate matters for the pair. the people around them are not always they same as they were in their own reality, and they have different memories than the ones that they were familiar with in their own world. Then Lawrence adds a third complicating element to the plot. Naia and Alaric are thrust into another world, to which they are related, but in a different time period. In it, Alaric accidentally kills his grandfather. Time begins to fracture; and they wonder if they are going to be able to piece it all back together again. What they are left with are these "Small Eternities" where things could have been a certain way, but they are not.
It would seem that Alaric and Naia are breaking apart the fabric of time through their own existence and the complications that they create in the other worlds. Eventually to save Aldous life Alaric risks his own and dies, being thrust into another eternity. And yet the eternity he had left to save Aldous has a shocking conclusion, a conclusion in which Alaric has gone away and died. Somehow, Alaric experiences this grief in another reality and he swears to himself that he is going to find a way back there.
Critical Review- Any time story or dimension story always has to deal with its own plot inconsistencies and issues throughout the piece. This story is no different. Lawrence spends his time trying to resolve things back and forth between the two realities, all the while preparing them for a third one, and even more, for the pair to be thrust into. As opposed to the first story, the complexities of this novel seems to tear the fabric of reality apart at its seems. So the story becomes hard to follow.
However, as this is the middle book of a trilogy, it is hard to criticize this fact. As so often is the case with trilogies, the middle book has so much stuff going on in it that you cannot understand. And yet, you hope, that the author has a way to tie all of the loose endings, even if not perfectly satisfactory. My one major critique of this novel is that it seems like any given moment you barely have time to set yourself in one place, when you are violently thrust into the next. So much jumping around from Alaric, to Naia to Aldous occurs that there is no way for the reader to be completely balanced. Maybe, this was Lawrence point. When thrust between realities, there is no longer any anchor to which your life is tied. You are forever a drift.
However, as this is the middle book of a trilogy, it is hard to criticize this fact. As so often is the case with trilogies, the middle book has so much stuff going on in it that you cannot understand. And yet, you hope, that the author has a way to tie all of the loose endings, even if not perfectly satisfactory. My one major critique of this novel is that it seems like any given moment you barely have time to set yourself in one place, when you are violently thrust into the next. So much jumping around from Alaric, to Naia to Aldous occurs that there is no way for the reader to be completely balanced. Maybe, this was Lawrence point. When thrust between realities, there is no longer any anchor to which your life is tied. You are forever a drift.
Reader's Annotation- Thrust into a new reality seems to be an everyday occurrence for Alaric and Naia. But how many different realities will they have to cross until they find the one they call home.
About the Author- Michael Lawrence is an English writer, born and raised in different sections of the country. He eventually would go to school for art and graphic design. Despite this he had a love for writing and wanted to be a writer since he was a teenager. The difficulty he found was in trying to make money in doing it. As a result, he has had his hand in many different artistic endeavors that include photography, painting and sculpting. It took him about 40 years, according to Lawrence himself, to finally be able to earn a living doing the one thing that he does enjoy, writing.
Genre- Science fiction / Fantasy
Curriculum Ties - Compare what life was like back in the 1940's versus today. - History
Booktalking Ideas - Have the kids draw up their own family trees. Ask them questions about what life would have been like if one major thing in it had been different.
Reading Level/Interest Age - Grade 9+
Challenge Issues - None
Why Included - After reading A Crack in the Line, I was fascinated by the story and wanted to continue on with it.
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