What is Lily Tripp: Diary of an Accidental Time Traveller about?
A 13 yr old girl has a strange ability to go back in time on New Year’s Eve. Most of it is not planned, accidental and completely surprising.
Lily must navigate each time until she can return to her own, whilst not giving away she is from the future.
Plot summary of Lily Tripp: Diary of an Accidental Time Traveller (No Spoilers)
Lily Tripp lived a normal life until the age of 9, when suddenly she is thrown back in time. The 1st time she does this she finds herself in 1842. Then the time of the Romans in the year 122, and forward again again she finally wakes up in her own time at the age of 12.
No one has noticed her absence, and when back in time, her family members and friends are also there, but completely unaware of anything strange. Lily is pleased that her secret crush pops up in each time, but so does her long-time nemesis from school.
Lily grows up whilst time-jumping, realising who is friend, who is foe, and also a lot about herself.
My thoughts
I love anything with time-travel, and this middle-grade novel has a fresh twist on it. Lily Tripp is funny, loyal and a perfectly normal girl besides her accidental time travel.
She is dealing with all the normal things in life at age 13. Her secret crush, best friend, peer friendships and a school bully-nemesis are parts of many young teen lives, and the fact that these challenges travel with her back and forth through time, make this novel even more engaging.
This is a fun novel, styled as a diary as Lily copes with the peculiar life she is living. Her many lists on what she wants to achieve or has learnt along the way are funny, poignant and also help readers get to know her even better.
Readers learn about the different times as Lily experiences them, and at the back of the book there is more information about the strange quirks and behaviours of these times in real life.
Loved the end!
Main Characters
Lily Tripp – Carries a diary everywhere, including back in time where it changes to suit the times. She is loyal, funny, keen on a boy (since forever) and is constantly working on plans to tell him how she feels. All this while navigating time jumps of hundreds of years.
Poppy – Lily’s best friend, with a determination to be herself, no matter what others think. This changes during the novel, bringing tension and misunderstandings between the friends.
Georgia – Lily’s nemesis who is free with her opinions which are usually negative – particularly with Lily. She is the mean-girl in every time jump.
Ollie – Lily’s crush who is oblivious to it.
Writing Style
Diary format with dates and times with each entry, letting readers know where and when Lily is. These are clear for the reader. Lily is talking directly to the reader with all her thoughts, feelings, both happy and sad, as she becomes a young teen.
FAQs
What age is it for?
For readers 10+
Where & When is it set?
UK 2025 / 1621 / 1976 / ?
What is the Point of View / Tense of the novel?
1st person / Present tense / Told direct to the reader
Is there Violence?
No
What genre is Lily Tripp: Diary of an Accidental Time Traveller?
Middle-grade Humour
Themes
Time Travel / First Love / Historical / Growing Up / Friendship
Is it part of a series?
No
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Author
Amelia Tait
Publisher
Hachette / Hodder Children’s Books
(2026, Hachette UK, Time Travel, School, Bully, Nemesis, Crush, 1621, 1976, 2025, Diary Format, Growing Up, Family, Friendship, Historical)