Edward OrmondroydReviews

I honestly do not know how this book came to be on my kindle. It is a mystery since I am the only person who ever adds books to it. I decided to read it despite not knowing how I came to possess it. It is a charming fantasy story of a boy and a phoenix. I enjoyed the stories very much, particularly the wry sense of humor displayed by the Phoenix, who seems to know everything and promises to give David an education - a promise that he keeps. David also helps to protect the Phoenix from the Scientist. Being a scientist myself, I felt bad about the negative connotations in this book but alas, it could not be helped. Unfortunately, my copy did not contain the images that were in the original book, which would have improved it, but I still enjoyed the story.½

Time at the Top by Edward Ormondroyd


One unremarkable afternoon in the month of March some time in the 1960s, a girl called Susan Shaw vanishes from the New York apartment building where she lives with her widowed father. After several days of frantic searching by the local residents and police, she suddenly reappears and relates a bizarre tale involving an eccentric old woman she met on the street, an elevator ride back in time to 1881, and an adventure with two children who are anxious to prevent their mother from making a terrible mistake.

Susan’s father and the eavesdropping cleaning lady naturally have trouble accepting her version of events. Susan has always seemed a very sensible girl, even if she does have a flair for dramatics and enjoys taking the lead in school plays.

Ormondroyd’s writing is light, quirky and humorous, and the pace of the story carries the reader along with enough tension to arouse curiosity about what is going to occur next and how the problems which arise are to be resolved.

Part of what makes the story successful is the fact that the author includes himself as one of the tenants living in the apartment building, makes wry comments about the various happenings, and relates an account of the adventure which he heard firsthand from Susan.

While this book does not have much depth to it, it is nevertheless intelligent and imaginative. The time-travel mechanism is original, and the conclusion is somewhat unexpected. In my opinion, it is definitely worth reading if you are interested in children’s timeslip literature. Although the plot is wrapped up in a satisfying way, there is a sequel, All in Good Time, which continues the tale.

Reading children's literature as an adult is a tricky venture, when the object is to perceive what makes it magical in the memory of fellow adults who read it as a child. This instance proved easier than most. It's been too long since I read Nesbit's phoenix story to recall it well, but other than this one's too abrupt ending I think this would bear up under a quality comparison.

David moves to a new home with his family, one that features a too-tempting mountain in its backyard. Near its summit he meet with the phoenix, and it's the phoenix's august personality that really makes this book shine. He's a proper English gentleman, but one that speaks to David on an equal level. Rather than ponderous adult wisdom he offers an education in the form of adventure, and they enjoy several together. The phoenix acquaints David with a great many other mythical beasties who turn out to be just as real, though not always a match for their myths. With the exception of an exploding cigar gag (who knew that would ever get old?) this novel has aged very well and I'd read it to any child today with expectation of success.

Still in a state of revolt regarding my library's decision to weed books like this, I borrowed my husband's academic ILL account and got this one.* I was a bit nervous. I loved it as a kid and what if my memories were wrong?

So I was so happy to find that my memories were largely correct.This is a lovely little historical novel, with a touch of fantasy that Ormondroyd introduces and sets up in a very creative way. Just letting the author describe the sights and sounds of the country is therapy when contrasted with the usual action packed into your newer novels for MG/YA. It would make a great TV/streaming movie. (Hint, hint)


*Husband, getting PhD. Has used ILL once.
Wife, not getting PhD. Has used ILL 10 times. And mostly for nostalgic purposes. Take that, Library system.

This was one of my favorite childhood reads, passed down from my older brothers. It remains a favorite and one I reread periodically. It is so much fun! David's Phoenix is delightful - a bit bristly and vain but a sweet friend once he is won over by David's interest and kindness. The Phoenix takes David on adventure after adventure, meeting all sorts of mythical creatures. I remember looking up (in an encyclopedia as we did in those long ago days) each creature and learning a bit more of the background of each. All in all, though, this is a story of great friendship.

Illustrated edition published 2002.Ex-lib. AADL

This is a really fun book. David has moved into a new house and is enthralled with the mountain in his backyard. Eager to climb it, he discovers this isn't any ordinary mountain. For living on one of its ledges hides a curious talking bird who calls himself Phoenix. The Phoenix is a delightful character who promises David all sorts of adventures: some good, some bad. Insert some other mythical creatures and an evil scientist hell bent on catching the Phoenix for the purpose of nasty experiments and David and the Phoenix is fantastic story for young and old. Word of advice, listen to this on audio!

Meh. I assumed it would be the sort of thing I'd really enjoy, partly because the cover art (I know, I know) appealed, I love New York and the sort of vaguely sophisticated children's books that are often set there, and I'm mad for good time travel books (To Say Nothing Of The Dog is one of my all time fave books ever) ... but the characters weren't particularly interesting, the time travel consisted of going back and forth but there wasn't the fun of how to treat paradoxes, etc., which is all part of my interest in time travel. The plot was inconsequential, and the sequel no better (but with worse illustrations ... I could do better myself, no question--really surprised to see such pedestrian "art" published).

(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).

The recent cover, the default one here on goodreads, is cooler. I probably would have loved the book even more if I'd been reading it under that cover and been so influenced. But even this lame art, of a scene that does not actually take place in the story, didn't spoil a warm, fun, and engaging read for me. I especially liked the two 'housekeepers' in the different eras - Maggie and Mrs. Clutchett could have been echoes of each other, but the author made them distinct types.

I'm glad I tracked down a copy of this online, and would now be glad to pass it on, gratis, to any US reader who asks for it.

nice. a good time travel story. Complete in itself, but better if read with its sequel All in Good Time.

Sequel to Time at the Top. Good to have a better ending to Time at the Top.

This is the only phoenix in children's literature that I know worthy to stand beside E. Nesbit's, and in some ays (a certain dignity and mild vanity) rather similar.

recommended for: girls 9 & up up up

I loved this book. It’s about an intelligent, imaginative, dramatic, kindhearted, and resourceful New York girl named Susan and her adventures “at the top” This takes place in New York in the early 1960s and goes back about 100 years. It’s an adventure tale for girls. Interesting that in the early 60s the author and Susan were talking about how the pace of life was too fast and there seemed to be longing to long ago more peaceful times. This is a fun read and I’ve read it many times. One of my favorite books from childhood and worth a reread at least once every decade.

Warm and fun, this tale of a time-traveling girl and the adventures she has in the past is set off brilliantly by the author's wry presence as a character. Delightful.

I read this as a child and, when I came across it again, had to pick it up. Like many childhood books it was only hazily remembered but there was a gorgeous sense of rediscovery as I got to know its delightful characters again, and then a real grief as the book ended. I found myself poking around on the internet in the hopes I'd somehow find a sequel or at least another similar book by the same author. But this was written in the days before half the "young adult" books came with a set of predetermined sequels. And, like all great books, it is really for any age. Mostly I'm just so grateful I got to know the haughty, kind Phoenix and the inquisitive, sweet David again.

When the three Waite children--Richard, Linda, and Dudley--arrive at the Vogel's farm for their summer vacation, they immediately want to visit the mysterious island in the lake. But it is off-limits since a tragedy occurred there years ago, the maze overgrown, the mansion decaying, and a surly caretaker the only living human inhabitant. But then who is the boy who leaves messages and clues for them, and tempts them to come to the forbidden island?
The hot, sweaty summer atmosphere is well conveyed, and the children's frustration and boredom, driving them to investigate a somewhat transparent mystery. I found the reveal flat, without the tension of Time at the Top or David and the Phoenix. The eeriness and sadness of the situation weren't really brought out, and the children, in the end, are rather commonplace and dull.

I got this book in fourth grade via the Weekly Reader book-buying plan. This is the book which woke a life-long love of fantasy in me.

The first fantasy book I ever read. It opened new worlds to my imagination.

The elevator in a girl's apartment takes her back in time, where she eventually chooses to live. I was disappointed. I loved Ormondroyd's "David and the Phoenix," but this was uninspired and escapist, romanticizing the past simply for being the past. Worst of all, the author is a narrator/character.½

and excellent and amusing read. A young boy meets the Phoenix on the mountain behind his house. The Phoenix takes him and andventures to meet various mythical beasts and manages to get him in to many scrapes.

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