
The Sterkarm Handshake is a gripping young adult science fiction novel that blends time travel with historical fiction. It follows Andrea Mitchell, a 21st-century anthropologist, who lives among a 16th-century Scottish clan, the Sterkarms, after a corporation creates a 'Time Tube' to exploit the past. As the corporation's true intentions become clear and conflict erupts, Andrea's loyalties are tested, especially when she falls for a Sterkarm clansman. This book offers a complex exploration of cultural clash, corporate greed, and personal identity, making it suitable for mature middle-grade readers and young adults aged 10-14. Parents should be aware of themes of violence, exploitation, and moral ambiguity, which are handled with depth.
Having traveled to a sixteenth century border clan in England through a tunnel created by a twenty-first century company, Andrea must decide in which era she will live.