23. The Time Travelers by Linda Archer

I bought this book and Gideon the Cutpurse at the same time, not realizing they are the same book.  What's up with that?  Apparently the author decided to rename it as well as the second book in the series, The Tar Man or The Time Thief.  I like the original titles the best because there are an awful lot of time travel books out there and, frankly, I find Gideon the Cutpurse and The Tar Man a bit more interesting.  Minor beefs, I know, and I read the pictured version simply because it is a paperback and I prefer that.  And it is a nice cover, isn't it? 

From the back of the book:
"1763 -- Gideon Seymour, thief and gentleman, hides from the villainous Tar Man.  Suddenly the sky peels away like fabric and from the gaping hole fall two curious-looking children.  Peter Schock and Kate Dyer have fallen straight from the twenty-first century, thanks to an experiment with an antigravity machine.  Before Gideon and the children have a chance to gather their wits, the Tar Man takes off with the machine -- and Peter and Kate's only chance of getting home.  Soon Gideon, Peter, and Kate are swept into a journey through eightenth-century London and form a bond that, they hope, will stand strong in the face of unfathomable treachery."

This really is a charming book that I think most kids would truly enjoy, most adults as well.  Even though there are a number of time travel stories out there, and I've only read a few; I do recommend this one:  it's clean; the history is well-researched and an integral part of the story; the characters are three-dimensional and interesting; and there is plenty of humor and intrigue. 

Rating:  4.5

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