John Kitchen (Author)

New award-winning book out (April 2025)

Mine-Shift

Awarded 4th place in The Milan International Literary Awards 2025

Joel Penberthy, a fifteen year old apprentice, works in one of the mines. But Joel knows something disastrous is going to happen there, although nothing he can do will prevent it. However, this, like Jax' House is a time-slip novel, and getting lost in one of the shafts, Joel emerges into the twenty-first century. He is overwhelmed by the amazing things he finds there, but in his own time his father is seriously injured in the disaster. What Joel learns in his visits to our time, though, gives him the tools to make his father better. 

But this is, by no means, the end of Joel's story.  Prejudice at what he is doing puts his life in danger... and he knows there is danger, too, for his friends in the twenty-first century. 

In this gripping time travel novel set in the depths of the Cornish tin mines, Joel - a young miner from the 18th century - finds himself hurled into the bewildering present day, only to return and face accusations of sorcery. Rich in atmosphere and tension, the novel cleverly  blends historical drama with an impending modern-day accident, making Joel's journey both heart-pounding and unforgettable.

Stephanie Hale

Mine-Shift is an outstanding time-slip novel for young adults, vividly bringing to life a 18th-century Cornish mining village. The historical detail feels authentic and immersive, clearly the result of careful research, yet the story never gets bogged down by it. Instead, the author weaves a powerful coming-of-age tale that blends danger, friendship, and discovery across the centuries.
Joel must fight for survival in both his own time and the present day, using his hard-won knowledge of mining to avert a modern disaster. The characters are well drawn and leap off the page, while the tension remains taut throughout. Yet there’s room for humour too, especially as Joel grapples with the oddities of our world — from suncream to Burger King.
At its heart, this is a story about courage, connection, and choice. The bonds Joel forms with Cass and her friends make his final dilemma all the more poignant: should he return to the 18th century or stay in the twenty-first? That is, if he lives long enough to decide.

Angela Reid

This is a great story, and those who aren’t big fans of science fiction need not be put off as the time-travel element is mostly simply a clever device to weave together two intimately-connected narratives separated by several centuries. The eighteenth-century and present-day passages are deftly interwoven with sometimes comic and at other times highly suspenseful results. A keen understanding of human psychology and relationships is in abundant evidence. Overall this is a hugely enjoyable read and one which I can imagine being adapted into a gripping TV series. 

Daniel Drury

Once I’d started reading, I couldn’t put ‘Mine-Shift’ down – I really wanted to find out what would happen to Joel.. I remembered reading ‘The Naming of William Rutherford’ by Linda Kempton because modern medicine is taken back into the past in that book too – but ‘Mine-Shift’ takes this idea to another level!

Naomi Pitt-Francis

Gripping, moving and often very funny! A touching account of friendship and young love is woven into an exciting time-shift story
I particularly enjoyed the imaginative and comical descriptions of modern day objects seen through the eyes of an eighteenth century teenager.
An extra treat is the sprinkling of Cornish expressions and mining terms

Serpentine 

John Kitchen's latest novel is gripping from beginning to end. It has all the ingredients that in my view really good Young Adult fiction should have: a fast paced plot full of unexpected twists and turns, strong and believable characters, a powerful dollop of beautifully written time-slip, all bound together with a large pinch of ancient magic. The result is that Jax' House is a deeply satisfying read. I highly recommend this novel to readers of all ages. (Angela Reid)

What a terrific writer John Kitchen is. This is his third book touching the supernatural for young people and they just keep on getting better and better.... John Kitchen must surely be in the upper echelons of children's writers and I urge all young people to read Jax' House. (Lovejoy)

More reviews on the 'Press and reviews' page.

John's first book for Adults

Fragments of Springtime

An album of a boy's early years - a mosaic of stories, some funny, some harrowing, tracing the boy's journey from birth to the brink of manhood.

The last shot of World War II has been fired and a boy is born, destined for life in a beautiful fishing village in South West Cornwall. He is surrounded there by friends and a loving family, and his is a childhood that dreams are made of. But in this village they chain up the swings on Sundays, and as he grows, he finds that puberty and its consequences are hushed up and must not be spoken of.   

'This truly is a beautiful piece of writing.'  Linora Lawrence

Fragments of Springtime, is now on Audio, read by Martyn Swain. (A lyrical, and at times incandescent, prose which in itself is a pleasure to read... RMM). Download and let Martyn's voice intone the stories - small fragments, usually about twenty minutes long - ideal for relaxing with at the end of the day.

(A book for anyone who has ever been young, and remembers the joys and torments of growing up... breathtakingly lyrical passages. Margaret Pelling.