Middle grade science fiction that focuses on friendship and discovery
Publication date: 28 March 2025
A forest of rusting giants.
A girl who trades time itself.
A discovery that changes everything.
The space elevator was meant to be humanity’s salvation, but now it stands abandoned, surrounded by a forest that is mutating into something deadly.
Trading the mysterious time marbles to survive, Violet and her robotic companion, Jackdaw, seek to find a cure to their dying home.
When she discovers a marble that can freeze time for an entire year, Violet embarks on a journey to unlock its secrets and save the forest. But some truths are buried for a reason – and Violet is about to find out why…
The Girl Who Sold Time is a middle grade science fiction novel about discovery, friendship and adventure. Perfect for fans of Philip Reeve and Christopher Edge.
Advanced praise
“Middle-grade readers who love thought-provoking SF will find this page-turner of a novel all but unputdownable. […] An obvious selling point here is the courageous and relatable main character, who is dealing with issues that will undoubtedly resonate with the target audience, such as the meaning of family, the power of friendship, and finding one’s place—or purpose—in the world. But Nelson’s impressively deep worldbuilding and backstory, which give the narrative an undeniable timeliness and thematic gravity, is arguably even more of a hook. The author also excels at exploring complex scientific theories and making them palatable for young readers.” Kirkus Reviews
“An exciting sci-fi adventure for young readers featuring space, robots and gadgets and time-pausing marbles. […] V S Nelson has created a great fictional role model of a girl interested in STEM subjects.” LoveReading
“A top notch, sci-fi mystery filled with twists, turns, suspense and a cast of memorable characters. Fab for middle graders!” The Wishing Shelf
Pre-order
The Girl Who Sold Time is now available for pre-order.