Tunnel to Yesterday (An Avon Camelot Book)
Avon Camelot Book S. Series
What’s inside...
Amateur archaeologist Sam Churchill, hired by a Mayflower descendant to help clear her family name from an ancient blot, travels through a time tunnel to seventeenth-century Plymouth.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
9-12
Length
158 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think the characters felt when they traveled through the tunnel to yesterday?
What differences did you notice between their time and ours?
If you could visit any time period, where would you go and why?
What did the characters learn from their journey, and what did you learn from reading about it?
How would you have handled the challenges the characters faced?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to imagine themselves in the story, asking how they might react in similar situations.
Discuss the historical elements and facts presented in the book to pique interest in history and time periods.
Use the characters' emotions and decisions as a bridge to discuss personal values and choices.
Create a timeline together that includes events from the book and from actual history to better visualize the time travel.
Relate themes from the book to current events or situations to make the discussion relevant and engaging.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding and respecting differences
Explanation: In 'Tunnel to Yesterday', characters from different time periods interact, allowing children to see how people can be different yet valuable in their own way.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by embracing diversity among their peers and learning from others' unique perspectives and experiences.
Example Lesson: Courage in facing the unknown
Explanation: The protagonist's journey through the tunnel to a different era is filled with uncertainty, demonstrating the importance of bravery when facing new challenges.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to approach new situations, such as moving to a new school or trying a new activity, with bravery and openness.
Example Lesson: The value of curiosity and learning
Explanation: Throughout the book, characters show a keen interest in discovering the mysteries of the tunnel, highlighting the importance of curiosity as a driving force for knowledge acquisition.
Real-World Application: Children can be inspired to explore and ask questions about the world around them, fostering a lifelong love of learning.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving and teamwork
Explanation: Characters in the story often need to work together to solve problems and navigate through challenges, emphasizing cooperative skills and collective effort.
Real-World Application: This lesson can help children understand the importance of working collaboratively in group settings such as in school projects or team sports.