The Rhythm of Time

From Grammy and Academy Award winner Questlove and bestselling author S. A. Cosby comes a high-energy, middle-grade time-travel adventure. Seventh grader Rahim Reynolds finds himself in 1997 Philadelphia after his tech-savvy friend Kasia builds him a unique cell phone with a secret government-linked battery. As Rahim tries to get back to the present, he and Kasia must work together, facing bullies in the past and suspicious government agents in the present. This series starter is perfect for readers aged 10-14 who enjoy fast-paced plots, strong friendships, and a blend of science fiction with historical elements, offering a fun exploration of the 90s.

An Instant New York Times Bestseller From the Academy Award–winning, Grammy-winning, and New York Times bestselling author Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and the New York Times bestselling author S. A. Cosby comes this thrill-a-minute novel—the first in a rollicking time-travel adventure series that’s perfect for fans of Amari and the Night Brothers and Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky. Seventh grader Rahim Reynolds loves testing out the gadgets invented by his brilliant friend Kasia Collins. First there were the X-ray glasses and all the trouble they caused. Now there’s the new cell phone she built for his birthday, even though his parents won’t let him have one. But Rahim is excited to use the phone to search for videos of his favorite old-school rap group. What he doesn’t know is the phone has a special battery that interfaces with a secret government satellite, which spells trouble when the phone transports him back to 1997. Almost immediately, he learns what every time traveler before him has: Actions in the past jeopardize the future. With Kasia as his only lifeline to the present, Rahim works with her to get home unscathed, all the while dodging bullies (on his end) and suspicious government agents (on hers). Philadelphia in the late nineties is a new world for Rahim and Kasia, but it is a familiar place for Questlove, who, alongside S. A. Cosby, delivers a high-velocity tale where two best friends discover that sometimes the best beat is the one that brings you back home.