Jessie Mason is a child with a troubled history, the laughing stock at school who doesn’t find love at the children’s home. But she has a connection with her aunt that gives her a sense of home. Jessie is fascinated by history and spends a lot of time feeding her curiosity. When she accidentally discovers her mother’s Time Stone, it leads her on a terrifying path through history. She is suddenly thrust into the past, two-hundred-and-fifty years back, and into a world brimming with conflict and where she meets three quirky companions — Kes, Tip, and Abe. A shaman offers to help the kids master the power of their stones, but the discovery of the violence that Tip and Abe witnessed in their past because of the stones point to one certain fact — the stones they each carry are being hunted through history by ruthless and unforgiving enemies.  When surrounded by war and chaos, will they keep the bond of friendship and survive the ever-increasing odds?

Quillan Creek and the Little War by Ian Hunter is bold, imaginative, and irresistible. Ian Hunter creates characters that are vulnerable and that find themselves in merciless situations. The idea of Time Stones is brilliant and it becomes the factor that moves the plot in unexpected directions.  The prose is gorgeous and the dialogues are dazzling. The author packs so many surprises in this riveting tale that has a strong appeal to fans of historical fiction and time travel. The world-building is impeccable and the author ensures it is not profuse; he offers sufficient imagery to give readers a sense of place while writing focused scenes and exploring character depth. While this is an action-driven tale, it melds elements of fantasy, time travel, and mystery to create an appeal to a wider audience. Hunter’s remarkable ability to craft quirky moments and of putting young characters in terrifying situations while shining a light on their humanity stand out in this utterly original tale. It is a work of sheer delight.