Best Sci Fi Books Children of Time (2026): 5 Compared

The best sci fi books children of time fans love are the ones that explore new worlds: all five of these are sci-fi or time-travel books. We compared five books by what each Amazon listing states: pages, reading age, publication date and series, so you can pick the right one for your shelf.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Children of Time 3-Book Set	9.8/10	Buy
2	Through a Forest of Stars	9.7/10	Buy
3	Time Travel Inn	9.6/10	Buy
4	Against Orders	9.5/10	Buy
5	Viking Ships At Sunrise	9.4/10	Buy

1

Children of Time 3-Book Set

Adrian Tchaikovsky·9.8/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A Children of Time set, 1760 pages, ages 12+.

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Pros

• 1760 pages stated
• 2023 edition stated
• Ages 12+ stated

Cons

• 3-book set
• Yen On
• Adrian Tchaikovsky

2

Through a Forest of Stars

DAVID C JEFFREY·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A space novel, 442 pages, 2020.

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Pros

• 442 pages stated
• 2020 edition stated
• Book 1 of 4

Cons

• 2nd revised edition
• David C Jeffrey
• Space Unbound

3

Time Travel Inn

Bart King·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A time travel book, 200 pages, ages 8-12.

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Pros

• 200 pages stated
• 2021 edition stated
• Ages 8-12 stated

Cons

• 23 endings
• Bart King
• Interactive

4

Against Orders

Ken Lozito·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A military sci-fi novel, 2026.

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Pros

• 2026 edition stated
• Book 1 of 1
• Ken Lozito stated

Cons

• No pages stated
• Military focus
• Ebook focus

5

Viking Ships At Sunrise

Mary Pope Osborne·9.4/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A Magic Tree House book, 96 pages, ages 6-8.

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Pros

• 96 pages stated
• 1998 edition stated
• Ages 6-8 stated

Cons

• Book 15 of 40
• First edition
• Mary Pope Osborne

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More picks to compare

• The Cave of TimeSuits readers wanting a 144-page adventure, 2025.Check on Amazon
• Children of Time Box SetSuits readers wanting a hardcover set, 1136 pages.Check on Amazon
• Devil's ChildrenSuits readers wanting a dystopian thriller, 2026.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Listing details as published, collected 17 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs sci-fi fit, story, depth, safety and warranty. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best sci fi books children of time

Reading age

Ages run from 6-8 (Viking Ships) to 12+ (Children of Time), with 8-12 in between. See our middle grade books for more young readers.

Pages

Pages run from 96 (Viking Ships) to 1760 (Children of Time), with 200 and 442 in between. Pick the length that fits your shelf.

Series

Children of Time is a 3-book set; Through a Forest of Stars is book 1 of 4; Time Travel Inn is a CYOA. Pick the series you want to follow.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the 3-book set?

Children of Time 3-Book Set.

Which is space?

Through a Forest of Stars.

Which is time travel?

Time Travel Inn.

Which is military?

Against Orders.

Still deciding? Our top pickChildren of Time 3-Book Set

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Related lists

See every fiction list and all reading guides.

More lists: sci-fi books middle school, sci-fi books for girls and sci-fi books for middle schoolers.