Seven Stories Up by Laurel Snyder

Annie's Grandmother is getting close to death, so her mother packs them both up and goes to visit and stay until the end.  Annie's not excited.  She doesn't know her grandmother at all.  When she meets her, she's a crabby old woman who yells at her.  Now she's even less impressed...

Random House Books for Young Readers sent me a copy of this book for review (thank you).  It has been published, so check with your local bookstore for a copy.

Her grandmother lives at the top of an old hotel.  It must have been beautiful in its heyday but everything is run down now.  Annie is given her grandmother's bedroom from her youth.  It's old-fashioned and there's nothing to do there.  Annie decides to go to bed early.  She picks up a black eye mask and puts on to help her sleep.  When she wakes up, she's back in 1930!

This is a different time travel story.  Annie meets Molly, her grandmother, in her youth.  She's an invalid that lives on the top floor of the hotel and is very lonely because she's confined.  Annie changes that.  As they play and have fun together, Molly changes, too.  When Annie tries to use the black eye mask to go back home, it doesn't work.  Will she ever get back home?  What if she's permanently caught in this time?  What will her mother think?

It's poignant story that lingers in your mind after you've set the book down.  It's written for ages 8-12.  It's a good book to read and talk about how life was different when their grandparents were growing up.  Or just about time travel.  It makes you think.

Happy reading.