(Image from Barnes & Noble)
George and Gracie know that their family's Stockton Museum of Just About Everything in American History holds some amazing artifacts. What they don't realize, until one fateful night, is that one of those objects is actually a time machine. The exact same contraption their parents used to get themselves stuck somewhere in history. Now, it's up to George and Gracie to figure out when their folks are and how to unstick them so they can finally come home.
The kids have a solid plan to find their parents in history, but that scheme goes horribly awry when they find themselves in the middle of the Revolutionary War. Even worse, Gracie has turned into a horse! Things can't possibly get worse ... until they do. Suddenly, the twins are smack-dab in the middle of a wild race to save not just their own skin and that of their parents, but also the fate of the entire country. Will they be successful? Or will history—and their family—be changed forever?
Are you the parent of a rabid Magic Treehouse fan? Then, you should probably give the Just in Time series by Cheri Pray Earl and Carol Lynch Williams a go. I'm not sure how many books of a projected 25 (one for each state) have already been penned, but I do know the series starts with The Rescue Begins in Delaware. Like the Magic Treehouse books, this one involves a set of siblings, a time machine, and a host of based-on-a-true-story historical adventures. The Rescue Begins in Delaware tells a fast, fun tale that gives young readers a little glimpse of history that is educational enough to teach them something but not so much that they will be bored with the lesson. This installment starts with a bang and doesn't let up, which is good except that I felt like I was missing some background information that would have helped later events make more sense. Based on the series opener, I would say the Just in Time series isn't quite up to Magic Treehouse snuff. It should, however, give fans of the latter something entertaining and new to devour.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of the Magic Treehouse series by Mary Pope Osbourne)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-copy of The Rescue Begins in Delaware in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
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Oh, I recognize Carol Lynch Williams's name! I read and enjoyed The Chosen One years ago. My daughter is still a little young for this series, but it's something I'll keep in mind for when she's older. My son was a huge Magic Treehouse fan (we actually got to meet Mary Pope Osborne at a book signing when he was 7 or 8) and would've eaten this series up, since he also loved history. (The Time Warp Trio was another big favorite of his along these lines.)
ReplyDeleteCarol Lynch Williams has written a number of books, mostly contemporary YA and MG. She's a talented writer, although I didn't enjoy this particular book nearly as much as I have her others.
DeleteGracie turned into a horse? That's hilarious. :)
ReplyDeleteYes. Apparently, in each of the installments one of the kids turns into an animal :)
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