Timefire by Nean McKenzie

Timefire is a complex and fascinating story skillfully interwoven around a number of major bushfires in Victoria’s past. Set in 2033, young teen Gilbert Black has been accused of lighting fires in his local area. His missing mother was accused 13 years before of lighting the 2020 fire in Mallacoota and someone is out to frame Gil for the latest fires in the area. Gil loves history and has a fascination with fires. After he presented a school assignment on the fires of Black Thursday (1851), Black Saturday (2009), Black Friday (1939) and Ash Wednesday (1983), suspicions began surfacing about him.

Early in the story, lonely Gil meets Vargo, a time travelling fire seeker, who convinces Gil that he is part of a family legacy of fire travel. He encourages him to travel through a tunnel of fire holding on to the burn mark on the back of his left shoulder. When he is through the tunnel he finds himself in the past where he meets family members who are also fire seekers. Gil is confused as to why he is back in the times of major fires, tries to help where he can, but is determined to find out more about his missing mother and the legacy he is fulfilling.

Timefire is a wonderful read where past meets present, and history is shared in an engaging and exciting way. The action is fast-paced, the strong characters are cleverly connected and the enthralling complicated ending has a surprising twist.

Themes: Future, Climate Change, Bushfires, History, Family, Arson, Rumours, Time Travel, Small Communities.

Kathryn Beilby