THE TRAVELERS, by Greg Howard, Nancy Paulsen Books, Aug. 25, 2026, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 10 and up)
A grieving boy finds himself in a race against time to save his family in The Travelers, an upper middle-grade novel by Greg Howard.
When twelve-year-old Ben Turner’s mom unexpectedly passes away, he’s forced into the care of the only living relative he has left—a grandmother he’s never met who lives in a place he’s never been. Rutledge, South Carolina is worlds from bustling Nashville.
Upon arriving at his grandmother’s house, Ben is dumbfounded by the large, stone and brick building that greets him. Clifton House appears far more haunted mansion than house and Ben can’t get over the fact that this is where his mom grew up. Inside, Ben is surprised to see clocks—clocks of all shapes and sizes on the walls, mantels and tables. What’s even more surprising, is that none of the clocks tell the correct time and some even seem to be moving backwards.
Before Ben can ask too many questions, his stern grandmother tells him there are two rules that must be followed at Clifton House: never touch the clocks and never go up to the third floor. But on his very first night, Ben hears footsteps and hushed whispers—all seeming to come from the third floor.
Soon Ben begins to suspect there’s something more to Clifton House than broken clocks and dusty old furniture. Is it poltergeists? Hidden passageways? Or something to do with the very fabric of time itself? With the help of two new friends, Ollie and Ash, Ben embarks on a quest to solve the mystery of Clifton House and quickly finds himself in a race against time to save his family and possibly even himself. —Synopsis provided by Nancy Paulsen Books
The Travelers is a novel that explores grief and healing against the backdrop of time travel.
The story revolves around Ben, a kid whose life has been turned upside down. Ben is a curious kid who knows himself. Ben is gay but that’s just part of who he is without it becoming the focus. Strong supporting characters come in the form Ollie, Ash and a library director.
The Travelers works because of its unpredictability, particularly the offering of alternate endings. But time travel is the big draw here. It’s what takes the book from one that focuses on grief to one that could appeal to a larger audience. Author Greg Howard takes that a step forward taking Ben back to his own family’s past, with Ben even meeting his own parents.
The Travelers is a thoughtful novel about connections and their impacts. It’s a solid middle-grade mystery.
Copyright © 2026 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.
