High Concept
When the timeline is sabotaged and the Codex begins to forget, a team of gifted students and unlikely rebels must travel into living memory itself to stop the erasure of history. Led by the enigmatic Ladybird Jenkins, they’ll uncover ancient truths, outwit the Time Thieves, and redefine what it means to protect the past.
Genre
Middle Grade Adventure / Sci-Fantasy / Educational Quest
About the Book
Ladybird Jenkins and the Time Thieves is a visually rich, inclusive middle-grade chapter book that blends adventure, mindfulness, and digital-age wisdom. Set in the high-tech floating city of Indovia, the story follows a neurodiverse team of young guardians-in-training as they race to restore the timeline and defend the sacred Codex. Infused with humor, emotional intelligence, and hacker magic, it’s a story for curious minds and brave hearts.
Excerpt
Chapter One: The Unseen Threat
Saffron sat still as stone in the Academy’s garden, surrounded by obsidian lilies and glitching fireflies. Meditation came easily to her—calm was her superpower. Until Ben crashed through the hedges clutching a blinking tablet.
“Someone’s jamming the network,” he said, panting. “Vault-breach-level bad.”
By the time she stood, the stillness was already behind her. “Let’s go,” Saffron said. “We have a timeline to protect.”
Story Timeline
Whispers in the Code · Vault Fractures · Time Begins to Slip
Sentient Truth · Guardian Trials · Shadow Syndicate Revealed
Memory Portals · Echo Fights · Living Histories
Perception Wars · Prismfire · The Rise of the Next Guardian
Reader Resonance
For fans of Amari and the Night Brothers, The Giver, Keeper of the Lost Cities, and A Wrinkle in Time. Perfect for:
- Young readers who love puzzles, portals, and tech-magic hybrids
- Neurodivergent kids seeking themselves in heroes
- Teachers and librarians looking for books that blend emotion, ethics, and imagination
- Families and educators passionate about digital literacy and emotional intelligence
About the Author
April Martin is a multidisciplinary artist, veteran, and storyteller whose work spans mythology, psychology, and narrative world-building. Her Purple Inkwell Studios universe blends adventure with introspection, guiding young readers into layered, inclusive worlds where emotional wisdom is just as powerful as invention.