The dream/vision sequences

[Amenrodion]

I feel that the earlier time events are ancestral memories because of how real they were and how they allowed her to be immersed in the culture quickly

[ericaball]

Are the "earlier time" accounts visions, dreams, ancestral memories, or time travel?

It might be interesting to note that for many peoples around the world the connection to one's ancestors is very deep and spiritual. Many believe that the spirit is not limited to time or place, which is a little different then these options

[Rita Nuncia]

I will go with ancestral memories because she could communicate with the ancestors and also easily blend in with the locals. Moreover, time travel, dreams and visions doesn't give such instant understanding and confidence in what needs to be done as she gets them.

[viczboy16]

As others have suggested, Sarah's experiences are most likely ancestral memories. It's a little complicated because she appears to be able to change the outcome of previous occurrences. The fact that sarah’s wound got healed when she met her friends also serves to support time travel.

[pudding047]

I think the whole point of the "earlier time" was to have an open interpretation, as many people might believe in time travel but not in visions and so. Personally, I thought it was mix of vision and ancestral memory.

[Lisa A Rayburn]

I think she's having a blending of memories from her past selves with ancestral memories. I don't really count memories of past selves (which Sarah appears to be having) as 'ancestral' memories, so (to me) it's two different things happening together. It does make a certain sort of sense that her past selves could interact with her ancestors because they are also in her past.

[SamanthaGarcia]

I haven't finished the book but I have read many of the scenes. To answer the question, I feel it is explained by time travel. It would explain where they went when they disappeared and reappeared. This older life is too specific to be seen as only a memory. I feel they physically went there and once returned, had living scars and proof of having lived a different life.

[Jasy95]

Probably what Sarah experiences are ancestral memories, as others are saying. It's a bit tricky, though, because she seems able to influence the course of past events; so the question is: is Sarah just remembering her past-self decisions or is she actually making them? At the same time, in the first book, Sarah loses half of her finger. When Tom, Myra, and William found her, the cut is almost healed, and I don't think it would be possible in eight days: this would push in the direction of the time travel theory.

This is a really good point about the cut on her finger. I think that definitely makes the time travel theory seem most likely.

[Alexander C Schmoock]

I will describe the 'early times' account as ancestral memories because, judging from the whole idea of the book, it's the most reasonable inference to make.

[Nicole Alfarone]

I loved this book it really hit a place in my heart! It can be a little confusing i guess you can say because sarah seems to be able to influence people of the past especially in regards to her ansetors and past events. Its all explained through time travel which is so cool!!you just have to read this book yourself to really understand,its great!!!

[Reading_Jack]

I would say that it was both ancestral memories and time travel. This is because she was in the past and was still able to communicate with her past relatives.

[dcruzsammy]

I think ancestral memories make more sense. She's using the memory of her past self to blend in with the locals.

[jeanmtdb]

I would say the dream sequences or time travels are ancestral memories that travel through tribal DNA. Sarah, Laurie, and others who traveled back into the memories learned the history and language and became a person who lived then. I thought they were well-written and woven into the present-day events seamlessly.

[Charlie Sheldon]

I would say the dream sequences or time travels are ancestral memories that travel through tribal DNA. Sarah, Laurie, and others who traveled back into the memories learned the history and language and became a person who lived then. I thought they were well-written and woven into the present-day events seamlessly.

Except.....Henry David Olsen was not descended from the Sol Duc tribe, and neither was Laurie, yet they had similar experiences....

[Muna Chizzy]

I think it's both, saying is just ancestral memory will not fit the equation because how do we explain Sarah's communication with the ancestors? So I think is both ancestral memory and time travel.