Tween travels through time in fun tale with lots of twists.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Products & Purchases
very little
Some funny satirical references to brands, e.g., "Click-Clack" for Tik-Tok. A few references to products are used to make the time travel realistic, such as classic Jordans.
Diverse Representations
a lot
The main characters are African American, including an unconventional family of homeschooling vegans. Both families are portrayed positively, with great communication between parents and kids. Rahim's best friend Kasia is a whiz at computer science, and an older Black woman was a groundbreaking government scientist. Co-authors Questlove and S.A. Cosby are African American.
Nourish your talents with hard work and perseverance. Be loyal to your friends. Understand the importance of making careful choices.
Positive Role Models
a lot
Notable characters include a tween girl with great talents in computer science and an older Black woman who broke ground in high-level government research. Open lines of communication characterize the relationships between parents and children in the two main characters' families.
Educational Value
some
Though it's not primarily educational, some aspects of history and social studies are mentioned. The Black woman who's a government scientist, for example, is a reference to the women whose stories were told in Hidden Figures.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that in The Rhythm of Time, by Questlove and S.A. Cosby, a 12-year-old boy, Rahim, accidentally travels through time using a cellphone engineered by his best friend, Kasia, a gifted girl with a talent for computers and invention. Kasia urges Rahim not to talk to anyone to avoid changing the course of history. Of course, Rahim can't resist. His curiosity gets the better of him, and the results are funny and thrilling. The story is suspenseful but not scary.
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What's the Story?
When THE RHYTHM OF TIME begins, 12-year-old Rahim, an African American boy living in Philadelphia, is chafing under his fathers' refusal to let him have a computer and mobile phone. His best friend, Kasia, a computer whiz, makes him a mobile phone that doesn't need a service carrier because it taps into government airwaves. He soon discovers the phone has very unusual features: transporting him not only through space but also through time.
Full of twists and humor, this thrilling time travel story is fast-paced, suspenseful, and sweet, and may attract even reluctant readers. The Rhythm of Time, by musician, producer, Academy Award-wining filmmaker, and bestselling author Questlove and S.A. Cosby, brings us a tight pair of friends and two sets of loving, out-of-the-ordinary parents who support their children's individuality. The ending hints that there will be a sequel.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the theme of how choices shape the future in The Rhythm of Time. What's an important choice you'll need to make this year? What can you do to make a good decision?
How is your family different from your friends' families?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Barbara Saunders
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
