The Avatar Battle

By Chad Morris

The adventure continues when Abby and Derick begin their second semester at Cragbridge Hall, the most prestigious secondary school in the world. But when Grandpa Cragbridge admits them to the Council of Keys—a secret group of people who have keys to travel back in time—strange things begin to happen. One by one, members are found unconscious and unable to wake, their keys stolen. Now Abby and Derick must scramble to figure out who is behind the attacks before they become the next victims, which would give their enemy the power to change the past forever.

A page-turning, time-travel adventure that teaches powerful lessons about choice and consequence, believing you can do hard things, and valuing history.

So here’s the second book in the Cragbridge Hall series, and as you can tell from the title, it focuses on the Avatars. Avatars are robots that mimic animals and allow their human hosts to experience what it is like to be a gorilla, a rhino, or a giraffe, to name a few. This story picks up where the last one left off, with the adults all safe and the kids are being introduced to a brand new world where time travel is possible and the past is being threatened by a terrible foe who thinks that history should be changed so no one has to ever lose again. Derick and Abby are just starting to realize the damage that can be done by this man, and the council of the keys (those who know about the time travel) are slowly being taken out. Abby and Derick are trying to find out how to help and expose whoever it is that has betrayed them. This is a fun addition to the series, it focuses a lot more on Derick than the first novel, so we get to know Abby’s twin better and see that he’s not as infallible as he was painted in the first book. Again, we get neat history lessons while reading and epic avatar battles by the end. Mystery abounds once more and we’re left wondering, who will save the day?

I give it a 3.25 out of 5- above average, if only just. 

Timbound

By Rysa Walker

When Kate Pierce-Keller’s grandmother gives her a strange blue medallion and speaks of time travel, sixteen-year-old Kate assumes the old woman is delusional. But it all becomes horrifyingly real when a murder in the past destroys the foundation of Kate’s present-day life. Suddenly, that medallion is the only thing protecting Kate from blinking out of existence.

Kate learns that the 1893 killing is part of something much more sinister, and her genetic ability to time travel makes Kate the only one who can fix the future. Risking everything, she travels back in time to the Chicago World’s fair to try to prevent the murder and the chain of events that follows.

Changing the timeline comes with a personal cost—if Kate succeeds, the boy she loves will have no memory of her existence. And regardless of her motives, does Kate have the right to manipulate the fate of the entire world?

Having just read Ruby Red, this book felt strangely familiar. Let me say, the two are quite different in execution and results, but both being about girls from modern days who time travel back to the Chicago World’s fair was a strange coincidence. Kate was your typical teenage girl, though she goes through quite the ordeal when she realizes that someone who can time travel has messed with her past and the only thing keeping her from blinking out of existence is her own medallion that allows her to travel in time as well. She has to figure out how to undo the damage while dealing with her newfound abilities and a new reality forming around her. Should she trust the boy on the train who looks at her with tenderness and love, or allow herself to fall for the boy who helps her deal with her new life, at the risk of losing him if she puts everything right? This is a great time-travel story, and handles the paradoxes without too much confusion. As long as you don’t overthink it, it works. This is a solid addition to the time-travel genre. My only beef is with the introduction of the ridiculously overdone love triangle.

I give it a 3.5 out of 5 

The Inventor's Secret

By Chad Morris

Imagine a school in the year 2074 where students don’t read history, but watch it happen around them; where running in gym class isn’t around a track, but up a virtual mountain; and where learning about animals means becoming one through an avatar. Wlecome to Cragbridge Hall, the most advanced and prestigious school in the world.

Twins Abby and Derick Cragbridge are excited as new students to use their famed grandfather’s inventions that make Cragbridge Hall so incredible. But when their grandfather and parents go missing, the twins must follow a mysterious trail of clues left by their grandfather. They must find out where their family is, learn who they can trust, and discover what secrets are hidden within Cragbridge Hall.

Abby and Derick soon realize they are caught in a race with a fierce adversary to discover their grandfather’s greatest secret—a dangerous discovery that could alter both history and reality.

The best part of these books is the sneaky way they get actual history lessons inside them as well as the lovely way that Chad is able to give his readers what I term “Jems”, or life lessons, in a generally unobtrusive way. Cragbridge Hall is a school I would’ve loved to go to as a kid. I basically just want the awesome chair that allows others to see what you see in your imagination as you read. That would be amazing. I really love how Chad gave us two heroes in the form of twins Abby and Derick, one of whom is average and had to have help to enter the prestigious school and the other who succeeds at everything and has the brains to back it up. You end up with two courageous kids who have the chance at exploring history through the Bridge, an invention of their grandfather’s that allows others to see history like watching a movie. Enter an insidious villain, a kidnapper, and a mystery, and you’ve got the plot for a fun adventure. I had the great fortune to meet Chad Morris at a book signing and he had me rolling with laughter. He was one of the most pleasant people I’ve ever met and it was his personality that made me want to read his books. They are great for middle readers and fun to read and discuss as families.

I give it a 3.5 out of 5 

Ruby Red

By Kerstin Gier

Gwyneth Shepherd’s sophisticated, beautiful cousin charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era! Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon—the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18^th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.

I’m always interested in time travel novels. I find them fascinating when they’re treated in a believable manner. This particular young adult novel about a girl who never expected to time travel but inexplicably does, is interesting. Gwyneth is not happy about the turn of events in her life, as she cannot control her ability. Her cousin Charlotte is even less happy because she was supposed to be the one destined to have the family time travel gene. Cue haughty and arrogant Gideon, the other time traveler from a different family, and you’ve got your love interest. Of course he’s gorgeous. Of course he hates Gwyneth in true Mr. Darcy-like fashion. And of course he starts to see Gwyneth’s courage and of course they are thrown into the middle of a mystery and possible conspiracy and have only each other to trust…or do they? Well, this story moved along at a good clip, had interesting characters, and of course lovely jaunts to the past. I liked it as I read, though I was a little miffed at the fact that the other time traveler was so pompous and obviously meant for our heroine. Another huge problem for me: the book freaking ends in the middle of a sentence. I’m not joking. It’s going along all fine and then just…nothing. That is not okay. That is just ugh. Otherwise this was a fun and entertaining read, and the first in a trilogy, and also a movie (in German). 

I give it a 3 out of 5 for being average. 

W.A.R.P The Reluctant Assassin

By Eoin Colfer

Riley, an orphan living in Victorian London, has had the misfortune of being apprenticed to Albert Garrick, a former illusionist turned murderer, who now uses his conjuring skills to gain access to his victims’ dwellings. On one such escapade, Garrick brings his reluctant assistant along and urges him to commit his first killing. Riley is saved from having to complete the grisly act when the intended prey turns out to be a scientist from the future, part of the FBI’s Witness Anonymous Relocation Program (WARP). Riley is unwittingly transported via wormhole to modern-day London—with Garrick close on his heels.

In modern London, Riley is aided by Chevron Savano, a seventeen-year-old FBI agent. Together, Riley and Chevie must evade Garrick, who has been fundamentally altered by his trip thought the wormhole. Garrick is now not only evil, but he also possesses all of the scientist’s knowledge. He is determined to track down Riley and use the Timekey in Chevie’s possession to literally change the world.

 

I was pretty excited when I found out Eoin Colfer was writing another series for young adults. I loved Artemis Fowl (with a little less enthusiasm for some of the later books) and had fun reading Half Moon Investigations, The Supernaturalist, Airman, and The Wish List. Eoin Colfer is a fun writer with twisting plots and charismatic characters. WARP was a fun creation with Time Travel at its center. I was wishing I knew a few more details about Victorian London so I’d know what Colfer invented and what was fact.  This book seemed to me to combine some of the historical vibe from Airman and the sci-fi of both Artemis Fowl and The Supernaturalist.  The two protagonists were interesting and fun. Riley is a 14-year-old kid who is just trying to survive to eat his next meal, while keeping his guardian from killing his assistant (him). He has many talents thanks to his master, who taught him skills in fighting, lock-picking, thieving, and illusions. On the other side of the century is Chevron Savano, also an orphan and California native with Native American roots and a full training skill set from Quantico. When these two meet, and Riley’s mentor kills Chevie’s, they find themselves allied out of need and on the run to prevent the devil incarnate from changing history for the worse. This was a solid adventure, with some grisly details of stabbings and murders. There was a little mention of Jack the Ripper and I found myself scrunching up my face in distaste at the horrible person that Garrick is. I have high hopes for the next books in the series.

 

This was a 3 out of 5- average, good, exciting, but not ‘spectacular’

When You Reach Me

By Rebecca Stead

By sixth grade, Miranda and her best friend, Sal, know how to navigate their New York City neighborhood. They know where it’s safe to go, like the local grocery store, and they know who to avoid. Like the crazy guy on the corner.

But things start to unravel. Sal gets punched by a kid on the street for seems like no reason, and he shuts Miranda out of his life. The apartment key that Miranda’s mom keeps hidden for emergencies is stolen. And then a mysterious note arrives, scrawled on a tiny slip of paper:

I am coming to save your friend’s life, and my own. I ask two favors. First, you must write me a letter.

The notes keep coming, and Miranda slowly realizes that whoever is leaving them knows things no one should know. Each message brings her closer to believing that only she can prevent a tragic death. Until the final note makes her think she’s too late.

 

This Newberry Medal winner is worth its weight in gold. I loved reading this book, reminding me a lot of Jerry Spinelli’s books, with a little science fiction twist to whet my imaginative needs. This book is fantastic and meticulously done, as is evidenced when you read the last pages and go “Oh! Holy cow.” I loved reading from Miranda’s perspective, living in this place where she can’t understand why her best friend stops talking to her and trying to find new friends in the meantime. It’s an amazing read about family, class distinctions, friendship, love, and courage. It’s a coming of age book that you won’t want to miss.  Well earned Newberry Medal winner.

I give it a 4 out of 5

The Forgotten Locket

By Lisa Mangum

When Abby stepped through the hourglass door, leaving her beloved Dante blind and bleeding on the other side, it was in full faith that she could find a way to repair the damage to the river of time and restore him- as well as her family. It was a desperate chance that seemed worth taking.
But Zo had other plans.
Now Abby is trapped in a full-fledged battle for her own mind and life and heart. Even worse, Zo’s evil intent reaches beyond simple revenge against her and Dante. The whole world is in danger of collapsing unless Abby can summon her courage and undertake a journey that will lead her beyond the origins of the hourglass door.

So here's the conclusion of The Hourglass Door series. This series kept me interested enough to finish, and I did end up liking this book more than I thought I would. It's not really down my lane though, as the book is mostly a love story. If you are looking for a romantic book that doesn't go into bedroom scenes, this is a great choice. As soon as I forcefully put the skeptical realist into the closet, and just let myself go with it, I decided the book was good. Abby and Dante are oh so in love 'forever and always' and have to face insurmountable odds to fix the time stream. There are lots of twists and we find out a few answers to questions left dangling in the first two books. The series is interesting and the time travel is pretty cool. I wish there would've been more Italian language and poetry actually show up instead of her just talking about it. I think if I had to rate the series I'd give it a 2.9 out of 5. (It's an almost 3).

The Golden Spiral (#2 in Hourglass Door series)

By Lisa Mangum

The hourglass door has closed behind Dante, sending him back in time to hunt down Zo, Tony, and V. Although giving him up was the hardest test she ever faced, Abby knows that Dante is the only one who can stop the others from destroying time itself. But almost immediately, things start to change, and Abby’s worst fears are realized when Zo begins targeting her past specifically. With each change that ripples into her present, Abby’s life continues to spiral out of control. Her relationships with Jason, Natalie, and ever her family are threatened to the breaking point. Zo’s power is greater than Abby ever imagined. Will her love for Dante be enough to turn the tide?


This book is a page turner. It’s fun to read, and the story is intriguing. Trying to wrap your head around the time stream is a little dizzying, but Mangum does a pretty good job in simplifying it for the average Joe. Dante seemed a little more human to me in this one. And, I don’t know if it’s just that I’m getting used to the love story or not, but I was able to handle the many little romantic scenes between Abby and Dante with a little less snide thoughts. A little. There are still some instances when Dante will say things like, “Abby! My Angel! You’re here!” and I can’t help but think of a soap opera. Really? I’ve yet to meet a real live man who talks like that, and if I ever do, I will eat my words and voice a profound apology to Lisa Mangum for my incredulity. Aside from all that thought, this was fun and I look forward to the conclusion next year in the final book- The Forgotten Locket.

The Hourglass Door

By Lisa Mangum

Abby's senior year of high school is textbook perfect: She has a handsome and attentive boyfriend, good friends, good grades, and plans to attend college next year. But when she meets Dante Alexander, a foreign-exchange student from Italy, her life suddenly takes a different turn. He's mysterious, and interesting, and unlike anyone she's ever met before. Abby can't deny the growing attraction she feels for him. Nor can she deny the unusual things that seem to happen when Dante is around. Time behaves differently when they are together - traveling too fast or too slow or sometimes seeming to stop altogether. As the mystery unfolds Abby discovers a dangerous secret about Dante and his companions from Italy, a secret that could unravel the very fabric of time. Abby must make a choice and more than one life is at stake and her choice could change everything. Her present. His Past. Can love bring them together in time?

This book is the first in a trilogy. Abby is the heroine of the story, with her love interest as all-too-perfect Italian time-traveler Dante di Alexandro Casella. The story is certainly captivating. Who doesn’t like a little bit of time travel to spice up their life? Throw a handsome Italian poet and lots of ladies are reveling in this series. I myself, like the true romantic skeptic, was amused at the drama of relationships in this book. Rolling my eyes seemed to become second nature while I read. I guess that’s the style now since Twilight made its way into the limelight. The story, however is more than just the love interest between Abby and Dante. It’s about an unconventional time machine made my da Vinci himself; made to throw the most despicable criminals into a prison they can’t escape and where they won’t have to worry about them: the future. Cool huh? For that reason, and that alone, I think this book is worth a peak. If you enjoy high school dating drama and the sudden across-the-room meeting of a handsome stranger, you’ll doubly like this book. And I’m not too petty to admit, there were a few things that left me smiling and tingly. A very few. :)