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friendlydisaster101's review
3.0
The concept is nice and there were some funny parts, but the writing was forking weird.
Also that ending.
So disappointed, since I don't want to read the rest of the series, or whatever.
Also that ending.
So disappointed, since I don't want to read the rest of the series, or whatever.
simsbrarian's review
1.0
The idea was silly but had fun potential: a trio of tweens left behind at Christmas by their overly busy parents end up traveling back in time to 1776 and see George Washington (yes, THAT, George Washington) dead in a barn. They quickly learn that their iPhones still work, and their teacher who was supervising their Christmas day outing, is still able to text them FROM THE FUTURE, and somehow there's a new app on their phones which allows time travel. But, Mel's phone only has 5% power left...
*Spoilers*
Wow this failed on pretty much every level. If you wanted a good delving into history, you're not going to get it aside from a few boring info-dumps. If you wanted good time-travel stories? Tough. You only get one time-hop after the first main "accidental" trip back to 1776. This MAY have worked as a short story to set up for a series on three kids traveling through time to stop some crazed inventor who is determined to mess up the past for fun but as a long novel it dragged (seriously, after the first time, the reader does NOT need to see the on-screen explanation of "what is this 'iphone' of which you speak'?" and yet we DO...over and over...). The improbability of tweens being listened to by the leading officer of the Continental Army and Benjamin Franklin (where else do you go to get your iPhone recharged in 1776, after all?) was something I was willing to just go along with but the characters are all so stilted, forced and boring that it was a painful experience to finish skimming the final 3rd of the book.
Not recommended for history lovers OR time travel readers. Skip this one!
FTC Disclosure: The Publisher provided me with a copy of this book to provide an honest review. No goody bags, sponsorship, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
*Spoilers*
Wow this failed on pretty much every level. If you wanted a good delving into history, you're not going to get it aside from a few boring info-dumps. If you wanted good time-travel stories? Tough. You only get one time-hop after the first main "accidental" trip back to 1776. This MAY have worked as a short story to set up for a series on three kids traveling through time to stop some crazed inventor who is determined to mess up the past for fun but as a long novel it dragged (seriously, after the first time, the reader does NOT need to see the on-screen explanation of "what is this 'iphone' of which you speak'?" and yet we DO...over and over...). The improbability of tweens being listened to by the leading officer of the Continental Army and Benjamin Franklin (where else do you go to get your iPhone recharged in 1776, after all?) was something I was willing to just go along with but the characters are all so stilted, forced and boring that it was a painful experience to finish skimming the final 3rd of the book.
Not recommended for history lovers OR time travel readers. Skip this one!
FTC Disclosure: The Publisher provided me with a copy of this book to provide an honest review. No goody bags, sponsorship, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
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