Time Travelling with a Hamster by Ross Welford

Time Travelling with a Hamster by Ross Welford is a funny, clever, and heartwarming middle-grade adventure about family, grief, science, courage, and the unpredictable consequences of changing the past.

The story follows twelve-year-old Al Chaudhury.

On his birthday, Al receives a letter from his late father.

Inside is an extraordinary mission.

Al must travel back to 1984 and try to prevent the accident that eventually caused his father’s death.

There is only one problem.

Changing the past is much more complicated than it sounds.

About Time Travelling with a Hamster

Time Travelling with a Hamster combines science-fiction adventure with a deeply emotional family story.

Al misses his father.

When he learns that there may be a way to save him, the idea seems impossible to ignore.

A secret time machine gives Al the chance to travel decades into the past.

But every decision has consequences.

Al quickly discovers that saving one person may change much more than he expected.

Meet Al Chaudhury

Al is curious, determined, and not always prepared for the trouble he creates.

He is an ordinary boy placed in an extraordinary situation.

That makes him easy to relate to.

He is not travelling through time because he wants adventure.

He has a personal reason.

He wants his father back.

That emotional motivation gives the story much of its power.

The Mission to 1984

Al’s father leaves him instructions explaining what needs to happen.

The destination is 1984.

Al must find his father when he was still a child.

Then he must prevent an accident.

At first, the mission seems simple.

Travel back.

Change one event.

Return home.

But time travel rarely behaves that neatly.

Al has to deal with unexpected consequences, difficult decisions, and situations he never planned for.

7 Amazing Reasons to Read Time Travelling with a Hamster

1. A Clever Time-Travel Story

Time travel is the central idea in Time Travelling with a Hamster.

But the book does more than simply send a character into the past.

It explores what happens when someone changes history.

One small action can create a completely different future.

This gives the story suspense as well as humour.

2. A Strong Emotional Core

Underneath the adventure is a story about grief.

Al misses his father.

His desire to change history comes from love.

This makes the time-travel mission emotionally meaningful.

Readers are not simply wondering whether the machine works.

They are wondering whether Al can save someone he loves.

3. Plenty of Humour

The novel is emotional, but it is also funny.

Al’s plans do not always work smoothly.

He gets into increasingly ridiculous situations.

His family and surroundings also provide plenty of humour.

Ross Welford balances serious themes with comedy.

That makes the story accessible for younger readers.

4. Science and Imagination Work Together

Time Travelling with a Hamster introduces scientific ideas without becoming too technical.

The time machine creates questions about physics, cause and effect, and paradoxes.

But the story remains focused on adventure.

Readers can enjoy the science without needing specialist knowledge.

5. Family Relationships Matter

The novel is strongly connected to family.

Al’s relationship with his father motivates the story.

Grandpa Byron also plays an important role.

Different generations become connected through time.

This makes the book more than a science-fiction adventure.

It is also a story about memory and family bonds.

6. The 1980s Setting Adds Fun

Travelling back to 1984 means entering a world very different from Al’s present day.

Technology is different.

Communication is different.

Culture is different.

This creates funny and interesting situations.

Younger readers get to experience a version of everyday life before smartphones and modern digital technology.

7. The Story Keeps Moving

The book combines mystery, adventure, science fiction, family drama, and comedy.

Al is constantly dealing with new problems.

A plan that seems successful can create another problem.

This keeps the story moving quickly.

Readers who enjoy fast-paced adventures may find it difficult to put down.

Grandpa Byron

Grandpa Byron plays an important role in Al’s mission.

He gives Al the letter from his father.

That letter starts everything.

Grandpa also represents another generation of the family.

Through him, Al begins to understand more about his father’s childhood and the past.

The novel uses these relationships to connect different periods of time.

Alan Shearer the Hamster

And yes, there really is a hamster.

Al’s pet hamster is named Alan Shearer.

The animal adds humour and personality to the story.

Trying to manage a complicated time-travel mission is already difficult.

Doing it while also worrying about a hamster makes things even more unpredictable.

Ross Welford’s official site even describes the book as possibly the only time-travel story involving a small pet rodent.

Changing the Past

One of the biggest questions in Time Travelling with a Hamster is whether the past should be changed.

Saving someone sounds obviously good.

But what happens to everything else?

If one event changes, later events may change too.

People may meet differently.

Families may develop differently.

Entire lives may become unrecognizable.

This creates the classic time-travel problem of unintended consequences.

Grief and Acceptance

Although the book is written for younger readers, it deals thoughtfully with loss.

Al’s desire to save his father is understandable.

He wants to undo something painful.

But the story gradually explores whether every painful event can or should be erased.

That gives the adventure emotional depth.

Courage

Al has to make difficult choices.

He enters unfamiliar situations.

He lies.

He takes risks.

He also has to admit when his plans go wrong.

Courage in the novel is not only about doing something dangerous.

It is also about accepting responsibility.

Friendship and Loyalty

Al cannot solve everything alone.

Other people become important during his journey.

Trust and loyalty affect how the story develops.

These relationships help balance the science-fiction elements.

They remind readers that time travel is ultimately affecting real people and real relationships.

A Great Introduction to Science Fiction

Time Travelling with a Hamster can be a strong introduction to science fiction for younger readers.

The concept is imaginative.

But the characters remain relatable.

Readers do not need to understand complicated physics.

The book introduces the fun of time-travel paradoxes through a clear and entertaining story.

Who Should Read This Book?

Time Travelling with a Hamster is ideal for readers around age 9 and above.

It may especially appeal to children who enjoy adventure, science fiction, humour, family stories, and mysteries.

Readers interested in Back to the Future-style time travel may also enjoy the concept.

Adults who enjoy well-written children’s fiction may find the emotional story surprisingly moving.

Ross Welford himself describes the book as a middle-grade adventure blending humour, fantasy, family, and science-fiction ideas.

About Ross Welford

Ross Welford is a bestselling and award-winning children’s author known for imaginative stories combining humour, fantasy, science fiction, and emotional themes.

Time Travelling with a Hamster was his debut novel.

His official biography notes that the book was shortlisted for numerous major children’s book awards, including the Costa, Blue Peter, Branford Boase, and Waterstones prizes, and was longlisted for the Carnegie Medal.

His other books include What Not to Do If You Turn Invisible, The 1,000-Year-Old Boy, The Dog Who Saved the World, and Time Travelling with a Tortoise.

Readers can learn more on the official Ross Welford page for Time Travelling with a Hamster.

Product Details

Title: Time Travelling with a Hamster

Author: Ross Welford

Genre: Children’s Fiction / Middle Grade / Science Fiction / Adventure

Language: English

Original Publication: 2015–2016

Recommended Reading Age: Approximately 9+

Main Character: Al Chaudhury

Themes: Family, Time Travel, Grief, Courage, Science, Friendship, Responsibility

Different UK and international editions use different ISBNs, formats, dimensions, and page counts.

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Explore More Children’s Books

Time Travelling with a Hamster combines an exciting science-fiction idea with a surprisingly emotional story.

Al begins with one goal.

Save his father.

But travelling into the past forces him to understand that every life is connected to many others.

Changing one moment may change everything.

Readers interested in more imaginative adventures can explore Children & Young Adult Books at Bargain Books.

For young readers who enjoy time travel, humour, science, family stories, and fast-paced adventures, Time Travelling with a Hamster is a clever and memorable choice.