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Counter Clockwise
What if your mother were hit by a bus? And what if your father disappeared one day through a hole in the bathroom wall? Is there a way to change the course of your life's history? What if time moved In this dazzling debut novel, Jason Cockcroft has crafted a mind-bending adventure with a startlingly original narrative structure.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published January 23, 2009
11 people are currently reading
370 people want to read
About the author
Jason Cockcroft
56?books12?followersJason Cockcroft is the illustrator of many acclaimed picture books, including Room for a Little One: A Christmas Tale by Martin Waddell, Billywise by Judith Nicholls, and Jason and the Golden Fleece by James Riordan. He lives in Whitby, England, with his wife, Lisa, and their two cats. COUNTER CLOCKWISE is his first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
December 21, 2018
I can't believe when I finally found Counter Clockwise on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, barely anyone has read it. I can't begin to describe how sad I am starting to feel. This was my favorite book back in grade 6 and this book was so amazing that I was looking for the next book to come out but it never did!
I was so in love with this book at that time and now I am going to reread it just to remind myself why I loved this book. Like seriously, I loved how it described how when you tried to runaway from someone in the dream but somehow you can never outrun them. Though, maybe I will dislike this book after I reread it again. I mean, it has been 5 years since I last saw/read the book.
I was so in love with this book at that time and now I am going to reread it just to remind myself why I loved this book. Like seriously, I loved how it described how when you tried to runaway from someone in the dream but somehow you can never outrun them. Though, maybe I will dislike this book after I reread it again. I mean, it has been 5 years since I last saw/read the book.
August 5, 2018
(3.5 stars) Nathan lives with his father, Henry, in a complex soon to be scheduled for demolition. His father has never recovered from his mother¡¯s accidental death after being hit by a bus in London. While taking a class at the local college to help him with his upcoming exams, he meets Bartelby, a beefeater who tells him he can change time. Things begin to get stranger from that point forward, and Nathan goes through a series of alternative histories as he begins to figure out what is going on, and what his father is attempting to do and how he might make things different. This was a very clever story, dealing with family, grief, and time.
August 18, 2017
This is a great middle grade book. I'd recommend it to kids in this age group.
April 18, 2020
an ending I did not expect and characters I could love. The story was compelling for having such a young protagonist and I found myself connecting with them.
December 12, 2019
This is my favorite book of all time. I've asked many friends to read it for how good it is and how they should own it. it has a amazing story line with awesome imagry
October 3, 2011
Originally posted on my blog: ! Check it out for more reviews!
Nathan Cobbe's life changed forever the day his mother was tragically killed in a bus accident. Now he lives with his father, Henry, in a dingy apartment in a run-down project slated to be demolished at anytime. Nathan's life is humdrum: he attends school but doesn't really pay attention, his father is making him take physics review at a local community college to prepare for exams, and his only friend, Moll, can't seem to get through to him. One night, however, during his physics review, Nathan meets someone that takes him on a strange adventure through time: an enormous Beefeater named Bartleby who seems to know quite a bit about Nathan's life. It seems that Henry is inadvertently travelling through time, trying to stop Nathan's mother from getting hit by the bus that ended her life. What Nathan learns, however, is that some things in life, and time, are meant to happen, and that changing them can alter the world in unimaginable ways. With Bartleby's help, Nathan must stop his father from setting time spinning by changing the past, before it's too late.
This unique story is British author Jason Cockcroft's first novel, and provides an interesting and cerebral read for tweens that will get them thinking about topics they might not be familiar with. American readers will likely have to familiarize themselves with certain important terms Cockcroft uses to advance the plot, like Beefeater, another name for the Yeomen Warders who guard the tower of London, and Routemasters, or red double-decker buses. Once the British vocabulary is understood, the story is very gripping. Nathan's adventures through time are not as exciting or magical as other literary time-travellers. His father is trying, inadvertently, to stop the tragic events that cause the death of Nathan's mother. Nathan is torn between his desire to set time on the right course and his own grief at the loss of his mother. The relationship between Nathan and his father Henry extends far below the surface interactions that are common in other novels for tweens, giving young readers a chance to truly think about how father and son might bond after the loss of a mother and wife. The character of Bartleby the Beefeater is akin to a large, eccentric and mischievous Fairy Godmother. At first, the reader isn't sure what to make of him, but as the story progresses, he becomes quite likable. Overall, Counter Clockwise is an unusual story that will appeal to tweens of both genders and of varying degrees of interest in the science fiction genre.
This was a very interesting read, and I was surprised by the depth of the emotions evoked from the story. I learned some new tidbits about British culture and enjoyed Cockcroft's writing style. I look forward to more works from this new author.
Nathan Cobbe's life changed forever the day his mother was tragically killed in a bus accident. Now he lives with his father, Henry, in a dingy apartment in a run-down project slated to be demolished at anytime. Nathan's life is humdrum: he attends school but doesn't really pay attention, his father is making him take physics review at a local community college to prepare for exams, and his only friend, Moll, can't seem to get through to him. One night, however, during his physics review, Nathan meets someone that takes him on a strange adventure through time: an enormous Beefeater named Bartleby who seems to know quite a bit about Nathan's life. It seems that Henry is inadvertently travelling through time, trying to stop Nathan's mother from getting hit by the bus that ended her life. What Nathan learns, however, is that some things in life, and time, are meant to happen, and that changing them can alter the world in unimaginable ways. With Bartleby's help, Nathan must stop his father from setting time spinning by changing the past, before it's too late.
This unique story is British author Jason Cockcroft's first novel, and provides an interesting and cerebral read for tweens that will get them thinking about topics they might not be familiar with. American readers will likely have to familiarize themselves with certain important terms Cockcroft uses to advance the plot, like Beefeater, another name for the Yeomen Warders who guard the tower of London, and Routemasters, or red double-decker buses. Once the British vocabulary is understood, the story is very gripping. Nathan's adventures through time are not as exciting or magical as other literary time-travellers. His father is trying, inadvertently, to stop the tragic events that cause the death of Nathan's mother. Nathan is torn between his desire to set time on the right course and his own grief at the loss of his mother. The relationship between Nathan and his father Henry extends far below the surface interactions that are common in other novels for tweens, giving young readers a chance to truly think about how father and son might bond after the loss of a mother and wife. The character of Bartleby the Beefeater is akin to a large, eccentric and mischievous Fairy Godmother. At first, the reader isn't sure what to make of him, but as the story progresses, he becomes quite likable. Overall, Counter Clockwise is an unusual story that will appeal to tweens of both genders and of varying degrees of interest in the science fiction genre.
This was a very interesting read, and I was surprised by the depth of the emotions evoked from the story. I learned some new tidbits about British culture and enjoyed Cockcroft's writing style. I look forward to more works from this new author.
March 2, 2009
Nathan has to go and live with Henry, his dad. Henry is the negative, cautious sort. They live in a rundown apartment in a condemned building. Nathan takes an extra class at the local community college so that he can pass his upcoming exams, but he and Henry both feel the class is a waste of time. Ever since the accident, Nathan's world has been out of sorts and out of color.
At the college, Nathan meets Bartleby, the Beefeater, and he's told that he could be the one that brings the color back to his and Henry's life. He would just have to understand how time works, go back to the right time, on the right timeline, and stop Henry.
Nathan gets caught in this Groundhog Day sort of world where the day keeps repeating itself. And like Bill Murray, he keeps learning and growing. But when it comes time to bust out of the cycle, Nathan is not sure he wants to do that or if he wants to keep living this new life, where's he's happy.
This book was a fast read. I loved how Cockcroft kept going back through Nathan's life with each time jump. You'd notice little things were different each time. My only questions were: Did Nathan end up with Moll Eckles (molecules, get it!?!) as his girlfriend? If he changes the time stream, do they find out about Molly's dad? I'll have to ask Mr. Cockcroft. Please let him know I'm looking for him!
At the college, Nathan meets Bartleby, the Beefeater, and he's told that he could be the one that brings the color back to his and Henry's life. He would just have to understand how time works, go back to the right time, on the right timeline, and stop Henry.
Nathan gets caught in this Groundhog Day sort of world where the day keeps repeating itself. And like Bill Murray, he keeps learning and growing. But when it comes time to bust out of the cycle, Nathan is not sure he wants to do that or if he wants to keep living this new life, where's he's happy.
This book was a fast read. I loved how Cockcroft kept going back through Nathan's life with each time jump. You'd notice little things were different each time. My only questions were: Did Nathan end up with Moll Eckles (molecules, get it!?!) as his girlfriend? If he changes the time stream, do they find out about Molly's dad? I'll have to ask Mr. Cockcroft. Please let him know I'm looking for him!
February 6, 2010
This book was slightly disapointing to me. This type of book would normally take me around two days to finish, but I dragged it out a week because I found myself not interested in it at all.
After Nathan's mother is hit by a double-decker bus in London, his father becomes so depressed that he goes back in time to try to change the past. What follows this story is a slightly confusing setting, boring disscussions of time, and the absence of a well-developed protagonist. If I read the sentence "and nothing for the longest time" again, I was going to scream. Some parts I was totally bewildered by, such as the trashing of the secretary's office and a dog liking to blow bubbles from chewing gum.
However, this book was not a complete failure. I did like the Beefeater Bartleby, though the exact job description of a Beefeater was lacking. Not everyone who will read this book lives in London, you know. The ending was sweet and wrapped up the story nicely.
Take your chances with this book. I'm not recomending it to anyone, but if you do decide to read "Counter Clockwise", be prepared for droning chapters and quick turns in the story.
After Nathan's mother is hit by a double-decker bus in London, his father becomes so depressed that he goes back in time to try to change the past. What follows this story is a slightly confusing setting, boring disscussions of time, and the absence of a well-developed protagonist. If I read the sentence "and nothing for the longest time" again, I was going to scream. Some parts I was totally bewildered by, such as the trashing of the secretary's office and a dog liking to blow bubbles from chewing gum.
However, this book was not a complete failure. I did like the Beefeater Bartleby, though the exact job description of a Beefeater was lacking. Not everyone who will read this book lives in London, you know. The ending was sweet and wrapped up the story nicely.
Take your chances with this book. I'm not recomending it to anyone, but if you do decide to read "Counter Clockwise", be prepared for droning chapters and quick turns in the story.
February 21, 2012
This story is about a kid named Nathan. One day he goes to school and Nathan was called down to the office. There he was told that his mother has gotten hit by a big red bus. But wait later on in the story, hid dad Henry, fell through a black hole while Nathan was taking a long nap. Nathan met a beef eater and so they become friends. They were talking and the beef eater told Nathan basically everything. He told Nathan that he was looking for a little boy that was an orphan. The beef eater asked him if that was him. It couldn't be because his dad was still alive at that time. Then later on in the book when Henry is done taking his shower, like I said earlier he had fallen down a black hole. I don't want to ruin anything else!!!
What I thought of the book
I like the book but I personally wouldn't read it again. I think that it wouldn't be easy for a 4th or 5th grader to know everything that was going on because I had sort of a hard time to know what was actually happening, and the vocabulary was very strong, a lot of the words I had to look up in the dictionary!
What I thought of the book
I like the book but I personally wouldn't read it again. I think that it wouldn't be easy for a 4th or 5th grader to know everything that was going on because I had sort of a hard time to know what was actually happening, and the vocabulary was very strong, a lot of the words I had to look up in the dictionary!
August 19, 2014
When I began reading this book, I had no clue what was going on. But the author's writing style was riveting and pulled me in. It made me want to keep reading to find out what was going on. It took some time to understand the story, but it didn't matter because I was enjoying the writing in itself.
This story is on the theme of time and what would happen if someone went back in time to change a horrible event. And ultimately how that change would not be worth it as everything else would change as a result.
I found this to be a fast read although there is a lot of intelligent thought and many big words throughout. I always find stories about time fascinating. This book deals quite a bit with the loss of a parent which could be an emotional topic, but there was a lot of humor as well.
Many parts of this book reminded me of Roald Dahl in their wackiness. But to me they made the story more interesting.
Would I recommend this book? YES. For grades 4 and up. I think middle school students would enjoy this as well.
This story is on the theme of time and what would happen if someone went back in time to change a horrible event. And ultimately how that change would not be worth it as everything else would change as a result.
I found this to be a fast read although there is a lot of intelligent thought and many big words throughout. I always find stories about time fascinating. This book deals quite a bit with the loss of a parent which could be an emotional topic, but there was a lot of humor as well.
Many parts of this book reminded me of Roald Dahl in their wackiness. But to me they made the story more interesting.
Would I recommend this book? YES. For grades 4 and up. I think middle school students would enjoy this as well.
November 8, 2012
Reviewed by Joan Stradling for TeensReadToo.com
After Nathan's mother is hit by a bus, his life changes dramatically.
As he struggles to come to terms with her loss and learns to live with his father, his life takes a sudden turn . . . one he never thought possible.
His father mysteriously vanishes through a hole in the bathroom wall.
Trying desperately to keep his life from falling apart, Nathan tries to find his father but bizarre things continue to happen. He ends up in the past, trying to keep his father from ruining their only chance at happiness.
COUNTER CLOCKWISE is a fun, quickly paced novel in which the main character grows as he discovers how the past, present, and future are linked.
Cockcroft creates a relatable character in Nathan, and I enjoyed going COUNTER CLOCKWISE.
After Nathan's mother is hit by a bus, his life changes dramatically.
As he struggles to come to terms with her loss and learns to live with his father, his life takes a sudden turn . . . one he never thought possible.
His father mysteriously vanishes through a hole in the bathroom wall.
Trying desperately to keep his life from falling apart, Nathan tries to find his father but bizarre things continue to happen. He ends up in the past, trying to keep his father from ruining their only chance at happiness.
COUNTER CLOCKWISE is a fun, quickly paced novel in which the main character grows as he discovers how the past, present, and future are linked.
Cockcroft creates a relatable character in Nathan, and I enjoyed going COUNTER CLOCKWISE.
January 16, 2013
This book was very fast-paced, and I couldn't put it down for a second! The main character, Nathan Cobbe, seems like an average British boy, but a year after his mother was hit by a car, he finds himself in a bit of a dilemma. One night, after a strange encounter with a beefeater (guard at the Tower of London), Nathan finds that his father has gone missing. The beefeater had foretold of this happening, so Nathan sets off to find him once again and ask what happened to his father. Nathan finds the beefeater who soon reveals to him that the world is a much more complex place then he may have thought it to be. I really loved this book because it's got time travel, British culture, and a story that jumps around a lot and keeps you entertained. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who has an interest in science fiction.
January 19, 2012
I was well on my way to really liking this book. I love the time traveling premise and the repurcussions of changing our past to alter our future, but I felt this story didn't take it far enough. A heartbroken father, unknowingly traveling back in time to prevent his wife from dying, is causing havoc with the current timeline and his son is the only one who can stop him from messing up time. Again, love the storyline. However, I felt the author didn't take the story to its proper ending. The ending felt more like an ending to a short story...just BAM! It was sudden and jarring and wrapped up the story in very quick, concise brushstrokes which I felt didn't fit in with the tempo of the rest of the book.
November 10, 2013
I really enjoyed reading this book. It has all the elements of a good story - time travel, adventure, self-discovery, family struggle, friendship, love and hope. This story demands an emotional response from the reader.
Although time travel has been a common plot device in fiction since the 19th century, it never fails to be fascinating. I really liked the author's orange peel analogy.
It was really exciting that the author combined the sub-genres of alternate history with a quest leading to a moral dilemma for the hero, Nathan. In the end, Nathan's bravery and intelligence win out and he succeeds in making his world a happier place for himself and his father, with the added bonus of a "happy ending" for his friend Moll.
Although time travel has been a common plot device in fiction since the 19th century, it never fails to be fascinating. I really liked the author's orange peel analogy.
It was really exciting that the author combined the sub-genres of alternate history with a quest leading to a moral dilemma for the hero, Nathan. In the end, Nathan's bravery and intelligence win out and he succeeds in making his world a happier place for himself and his father, with the added bonus of a "happy ending" for his friend Moll.
July 14, 2010
Nathan Cobbe¡¯s life took a turn for the worse one normal afternoon when he was called out of class early to be told his mother had been in an accident ¡ª the kind you don¡¯t come back from. He knew at that moment that nothing would be the same again; he didn¡¯t know just how un-same it would be. Life with his dad, Henry, is less than optimal. Neither of the two have gotten over the loss of Nathan¡¯s mother, and both are wandering largely aimlessly through time. Only, as a serious of confusing events shows Nathan, Henry is so distraught he¡¯s actually going back in time, trying to right the wrongs. Unfortunately, some wrongs are not meant to be undone. It falls to Nathan to stop Henry ¨C if he can
November 7, 2021
My 10-year-old and I loved this book! Counter Clockwise is a book about the complexities of time and the acceptance of events that are, in essence, beyond our control. Repeating elements of Nathan's day reminded me of movies like Groundhog Day and Frequency. These repetitions made us aware of how much we miss in our everyday lives, little things that we often ignore but that can have a profound effect on our lives. All of this was presented in an easy-to-read and engaging style that kept both my son and I interested until the end of the book.
November 28, 2009
A fairly well done look at time through the eyes of two children who have lost parents tragically - the idea that there are alternatives to this timeline and that the smallest changes could alter the future. I am wary of books where loss is addressed by magic that changes the outcome, but this was not one of those. One possibility explored was a world where both parents were gone - and the young man realized that while it wasn't the one he belonged in, it wasn't horrible. Loss was still part of the future, no matter which one he ended up in.
July 27, 2011
This story was a lot of fun, and very touching at times. But it had the tendency to be a little confusing too since it dealt with traveling through time, going back and forth. At first I thought the Beefeater character was strange, but then it made more sense as it went along, and was another nice twist to the story. The end brought a tear to my eye, which was completely unexpected. It was a sweet ending, but a little sad. The whole moral of the book is a good lesson and one that was timely for me.
February 26, 2010
An interesting twist on time travel when Jason's grandfather returns from the dead to help Nathan save his father from ruining time. At times (an enigmatic word in this book) I would have given this two stars for repetitiveness and complexity -- that's what happens when Nathan tries repeatedly to save his father and keeps returning to that point in time. Otherwise four stars, so the compromise is set at 3 for this debut youth novel.
October 13, 2011
A confusing, cryptic story about a boy and his father who are trying to deal with the death of their mother/wife. Except that the boy can travel in time ... because we all can if we really want to. What?! The ending was good, and I liked the author's theme, but poorly done. Glad it was only about 150 pages or so. I don't think I could've taken much more.
September 22, 2014
I really liked the message of this book: The past cannot be changed, and it dictates our future. Everything happens for a reason, whether the event is good or bad. You could change something bad and just make it worse. Live life fully, even when horrible things are thrown at you. They happen because of fate.
The story was a little hard to follow at times, but overall it was good.
The story was a little hard to follow at times, but overall it was good.
October 22, 2014
I did not get wrapped up in this one. I could follow it okay but I had trouble really visualizing it. There are parts that don't make sense. It has a good lesson in it but that is about the only good thing. The story jumps too much. I might read something else by this author because I did like the idea of the story. Not sure I would recommend this book.
August 10, 2016
Strange tale. what would you do if you could change events? Would it be a good idea to do so. Book is listed as Young adult, but I would hazard a guess that they wouldn't read it unless they were younger than 13. I had a difficult time getting into the story. I ended up speed reading to get the gist of the story. Was a good concept, I just wanted the fast mode read! Sorry
July 27, 2009
An okay book, but due to the time-traveling theme, they were always going back to the same spot in time and it got pretty boring and predictable. It was confusing, and I just leafed through the last pages. Not a must read.
June 23, 2009
This was a quick read - a time travel fantasy about a boy and his father struggling to cope with the mother's untimely death. The plot quick paced and poses the question of what might happen if a person could go back in time and alter events
August 12, 2009
I didn't dislike it, but I didn't finish it. I was 40 pgs in and was plodding through and it occurred to me that this is (one of) my genre(s), so if I don't like it yet, maybe I shouldn't bother. Eh cover, and the text didn't suck me in at all. There are WAY better sci-fi titles out there.
November 25, 2009
Interesting "time travel" like story about a boy who's mother has passed away and his struggle to bring his father back from his grief. Fantasy elements made the story more interesting. Liked that the grandfather was the one helping him along the whole time.
November 29, 2009
I randomly picked this book off the shelves at the library, and I am so glad I did. It was a fantastic book that really makes you step back and appreciate what you have. I thought the writing really made the whole time travel more visual for me!
October 18, 2010
A furtive and self-conscious magical realism informs this novel about grief and time travel. Emotionally numb, the novel hardly evokes the reader's sympathy for the characters, which leaves us with only a confusing plot and an unfamiliar world.
December 13, 2011
This was fine. I guess it wasn't great, because I finished it 3 days ago, and I have almost no memory of what I felt about it. Probably see if Jaden wants it, and if not, take it to McKays and trade it in for store credit.
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