13 year old Tony Johnson and computer wizard, is of falsely accused of setting fire to his school. He is sent to stay with his grandparents over Christmas. Tony's grandfather invents things. He has designed a game called "The Time Game". Bored with being the only kid in the area and alone for many hours of the day, Tony takes to peeping into things not meant for him. In his grandfather's laboratory he finds the "Time Game", which can summon a Time Machine. He rationalizes that his grandfather's long disappearances is due to the machine and decides to follow in his tracks. During a series of adventures in the 1860's in the Australian outback and going right up to present day Tony meets a poor English girl, Emily, who joins him in his travels. He also gets to rescue his grandfather, restore Emily's wealth and clear his own name of the false accusation. On Christmas morning, when Tony's parents have joined the celebrations, we get the impression from the connection between Tony and his grandfather that the time travels may not be quite over and done with.