- Illustrated Chapter Books
- Ages 10–13
- Science Fiction
Lily Tripp: Diary of an Accidental Time Traveller
Book 1 in Lily TrippView the full series
Lottie Brooks meets Back to the Future: every New Year's Day, almost-thirteen Lily wakes up in a different century, dragging her family, best friend and secret crush through history in this funny, diary-style time-slip debut.
- Best for10–13
- FormatIllustrated
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The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Comedic
- Conversational
- Epistolary
Tone
- Funny
- Warm
- Adventurous
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Lily Tripp is like most almost-thirteen-year-olds, except that every New Year's Day since she turned eight, the stroke of midnight sends her tumbling into a new old year. She's servant-girled her way through Victorian times, Roman Britain and the roaring 1920s, always with the same people around her, and always the only one who has any idea what's going on. This year, as she turns thirteen, she lands in 1621, waiting hand and foot on the dreaded Georgia, while her crush Ollie remains completely oblivious to how she feels. Told through punchy, laugh-out-loud diary entries, Amelia Tait's debut mixes brilliantly observed contemporary friendship worries, family life and a quiet crush with a fresh new historical setting on every jump. Warm, funny and full of heart, it launches a spectacular time-slip series for readers of ten and up who love Lottie Brooks with a splash of time travel.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
A 10-13 independent read in a fast, funny diary format, with enough historical texture and emotional nuance to reward older tweens. Confident younger readers manage the humour easily; it shares well from about 9.
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- Best fit · 10–13
- Read aloud · 9–12
- Independent · 10–13
Prose load
Moderate
Visual support
Low
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Workable
Works well for
- Reading together
- Reluctant readers
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
2 / 5 · Better outside bedtime
Sensitive-child
4 / 5 · Good fit
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Funny diary
- Time travel
- History lovers
- Reluctant readers
Avoid if
- Wants gentle bedtime
Particularly good for children who are…
- Making friends
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
Waking up in Roman Britain or 1621 with your family, best friend and crush in tow is an irresistible hook, and Lily's diary voice makes the history laugh-out-loud funny. Kids love that she's the only one who knows what's happening.
- Time travel
- Adventure and freedom
- Being understood finally
Why parents love it
A clever, funny debut that slips genuine history into a fast diary format tweens race through. The time-slip premise sparks curiosity about the past while the friendship and first-crush threads keep it grounded and warm.
- Shared humour
- Quick to read
About the author
Amelia Tait.
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