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The Missing #3
Sabotaged
"What if we didn't even end up in the right place and time?" Andrea asked. She waved her hands like someone about to explode into hysterics. "We could be anywhere!"
After helping Chip and Alex survive fifteenth-century London with no preparation at all, Jonah and Katherine think that their next job will be a snap. Their mission: to help return Andrea - who is really Virginia Dare - back to the lost colony of Roanoke in the sixteenth century. They'll help her restore the balance of history, and then they can all go home. Sounds simple, easy, and safe.
But right away things start to go wrong. They lose the Elucidator and aren't sure where in time they've landed. As Jonah, Katherine, and Andrea struggle to survive without food, water, supplies, or a way to contact anyone for rescue, they try to piece together the mysterious history of Roanoke. What happened to the missing colonists? Does it have anything to do with their current predicament? And how can they help Andrea restore history if they don't even know what century they're in? The more Jonah and Katherine look for answers, the more questions they have.
Master storyteller Margaret Peterson Haddix returns to the series that School Library Journal said would "leave readers on the edge of their seats and begging for more" with an adventure that pulls readers headfirst into one of history's most compelling mysteries.
After helping Chip and Alex survive fifteenth-century London with no preparation at all, Jonah and Katherine think that their next job will be a snap. Their mission: to help return Andrea - who is really Virginia Dare - back to the lost colony of Roanoke in the sixteenth century. They'll help her restore the balance of history, and then they can all go home. Sounds simple, easy, and safe.
But right away things start to go wrong. They lose the Elucidator and aren't sure where in time they've landed. As Jonah, Katherine, and Andrea struggle to survive without food, water, supplies, or a way to contact anyone for rescue, they try to piece together the mysterious history of Roanoke. What happened to the missing colonists? Does it have anything to do with their current predicament? And how can they help Andrea restore history if they don't even know what century they're in? The more Jonah and Katherine look for answers, the more questions they have.
Master storyteller Margaret Peterson Haddix returns to the series that School Library Journal said would "leave readers on the edge of their seats and begging for more" with an adventure that pulls readers headfirst into one of history's most compelling mysteries.
377 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
461 people are currently reading
5517 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Peterson Haddix
133 books6,358 followersMargaret Peterson Haddix grew up on a farm near Washington Court House, Ohio. She graduated from Miami University (of Ohio) with degrees in English/journalism, English/creative writing and history. Before her first book was published, she worked as a newspaper copy editor in Fort Wayne, Indiana; a newspaper reporter in Indianapolis; and a community college instructor and freelance writer in Danville, Illinois.
She has since written more than 25 books for kids and teens, including Running Out of Time; Don’t You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey; Leaving Fishers; Just Ella; Turnabout; Takeoffs and Landings; The Girl with 500 Middle Names; Because of Anya; Escape from Memory; Say What?; The House on the Gulf; Double Identity; Dexter the Tough; Uprising; Palace of Mirrors; Claim to Fame; the Shadow Children series; and the Missing series. She also wrote Into the Gauntlet, the tenth book in the 39 Clues series. Her books have been honored with New York Times bestseller status, the International Reading Association’s Children’s Book Award; American Library Association Best Book and Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers notations; and more than a dozen state reader’s choice awards.
Haddix and her husband, Doug, now live in Columbus, Ohio, with their two children.
She has since written more than 25 books for kids and teens, including Running Out of Time; Don’t You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey; Leaving Fishers; Just Ella; Turnabout; Takeoffs and Landings; The Girl with 500 Middle Names; Because of Anya; Escape from Memory; Say What?; The House on the Gulf; Double Identity; Dexter the Tough; Uprising; Palace of Mirrors; Claim to Fame; the Shadow Children series; and the Missing series. She also wrote Into the Gauntlet, the tenth book in the 39 Clues series. Her books have been honored with New York Times bestseller status, the International Reading Association’s Children’s Book Award; American Library Association Best Book and Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers notations; and more than a dozen state reader’s choice awards.
Haddix and her husband, Doug, now live in Columbus, Ohio, with their two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 878 reviews
January 4, 2024
So far my least favorite of the series. I'd really love to hear what a Native American has to say about this because there are some points in the plot where I just had to go, "....is this insensitive?" Hard to say sometimes.
Also, a bit boring lol. I'm sure I'm in the minority when I'd rather have more history than time travel. But Jonah really is a bit dense.
Also, a bit boring lol. I'm sure I'm in the minority when I'd rather have more history than time travel. But Jonah really is a bit dense.
February 12, 2019
Excuse Me???? What was that??
Margaret Peterson Haddix, you are a master..........
..................... at plot twists.
*scowls*
Margaret Peterson Haddix, you are a master..........
..................... at plot twists.
*scowls*
August 12, 2015
I really liked Margaret Peterson Haddix writing since I read the conclusion to the The 39 Clues Series One: The Clue Hunt Book Ten: Into the Gauntlet and her Shadow Children series. I've read the first two book a year ago, and I somehow forgot the concepts of the time travel of the series, but somehow this book made me remember it.
As for the story itself, I didn't know the missing child's identity, Virginia Dare, So I didn't enjoy the story that much. But the weird things happening with the tracers and time itself is really interesting. And I love the ending on how it will be connected-connected to the next book, meaning CLIFFHANGERS!!!
October 13, 2011
I finished reading this book:( In this book Jonah, Kathrine and Andrea go into the 1600s to fix that time period because Andrea is really Virgina Dare. When travling through time, they lose the elucidator. They soon also realise that they are being sabotaged a person that goes by the name " Second " Will they get back to the 21st century alive? Read this book and the rest of the series to find out!
July 13, 2011
What the heck!!! This comes out the same day as MOCKINGJAY??? Not fair!
See comments for review.
See comments for review.
August 1, 2021
3.5 stars
I'm not sure if it's because it's been too long since I've read the first two books or if it was something else, but it took me a little while to get back into this story. It was still interesting, but it wasn't compelling the way the first two books were for me. That said, at about the 2/3rds point, it really picked up and by the time I got to the end, I felt more invested in the story and I will continue with the next ones sooner rather than later. I really liked the reimagining that the author used to explain what may have happened to the lost colony of Roanoke. There were some surprises at the end, and this book's ending leads directly into the next book. Although each adventure in itself may be self-contained, the overall arc of the story is such that you should not read these books out of order. I'm now looking forward to the next book!
I'm not sure if it's because it's been too long since I've read the first two books or if it was something else, but it took me a little while to get back into this story. It was still interesting, but it wasn't compelling the way the first two books were for me. That said, at about the 2/3rds point, it really picked up and by the time I got to the end, I felt more invested in the story and I will continue with the next ones sooner rather than later. I really liked the reimagining that the author used to explain what may have happened to the lost colony of Roanoke. There were some surprises at the end, and this book's ending leads directly into the next book. Although each adventure in itself may be self-contained, the overall arc of the story is such that you should not read these books out of order. I'm now looking forward to the next book!
January 10, 2023
I was devastated to find out this not a trilogy but rather has eight book. EIGHT?! I don't know if I can persevere. Luckily they are written for stupid, peasant children and I my IQ at least 220.
September 6, 2022
These continue to be like potato chips -- unsubtle but very more-ish. I sometimes get a bit confused by some of the time travel and historical details, but rather than sweating the details I just roll with it. If you like these books you will like this book.
July 31, 2024
Yum yum yum doggo + time travel betrayal 😋
July 7, 2022
The problem I have with Haddix so far is that the plot unravels so slowly for, like, 75% of the book and then everything at the end happens so fast. I’ll keep reading because I’m fascinated by the concept and I don’t mind the way Haddix is handling time-travel, but her writing is not my cup of tea. Nor could I manage to care in the slightest about the characters, each one of them is annoying. Unbearable, even. It makes sense to have 13-years-olds as main characters since the main target is middle graders, but still.
October 12, 2014
Not really sure if I liked this book. Can you like a book if you don't like many of the characters? I found the Andrea character almost unbearable and didn't really understand Jonah's sudden interest in her. I liked the Virginia Dare story but kept getting thrown out of it by my dislike of her character. She just wasn't very likable and I don't really think she was meant to be written that way (some characters aren't meant to be likable and that is fine, but as a main character I think we were supposed to be more sympathetic towards her and I really wasn't.). I'll have to see how the rest of the series goes before I make a final judgment.
November 29, 2023
It takes a lot to make me hate a 13 year old orphan in a terrifying situation, but this book really does its best.
December 2, 2019
Compared to the first 2 books in this series this book is terriable. I think they should have done Jonah's story and return him back to his time period. It didn't make sence for them to have Jonah help someone else with out finding out about his past. Also why would they make Kartherian go with Jonah and Andrea. I thought the history of Andrea was very intresting cause I liked that part it was very intresting. I like the history part of books in general to. I don't want to finish the rest of the books cause of this one. I wonder what it woudl be like to live all the way back when America was first being colonized. Life would be, so hard without the things we have in modern times. I do like the fact that Jonah is, so brave. I am deffinitly not brave enought to go back in time at the drop of a hat like that. I wonder if when they go back in time do they come back and the same amount of time passed?
April 25, 2018
I really loved this book it's full of cliffhangers in each chapter and it provides a strong story line. I'm interested in reading the whole series because it really grabs my focus and I'm interested in books about time travel. This book consists of three main characters Jonah (a 13 yr old), Katherine( his 12 year old sister), and Andrea a time traveler hoping to save her father. Jonah and Katherine must go back to the 1600's and find a man named John White who's Andrea's father. You have to read the book to find out whether they were successful or not,but once Andrea, Jonah and Katherine get to the 1600's they are met by a man named Second who promises to help Andrea go back before her grandfather had died and Second plans to trap JB,Andrea,Jonah,and Katherine in the 1600's.
This book is a fantastic book and I just couldn't put it down! If you like cliffhangers and a bit of suspense you'll like this book because I really enjoyed reading it. My favorite part in this book would probably be when Second comes into the story. It really mixes things up in the book. When Second came into the story at first I couldn't tell if he was a good guy or a bad guy so that really left me wondering.
This book is a fantastic book and I just couldn't put it down! If you like cliffhangers and a bit of suspense you'll like this book because I really enjoyed reading it. My favorite part in this book would probably be when Second comes into the story. It really mixes things up in the book. When Second came into the story at first I couldn't tell if he was a good guy or a bad guy so that really left me wondering.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2018
2.5 stars
The main characters head back in time to Roanoke Colony (or so they think) in this third installment. This has definitely been my least favorite so far, as nothing really happens.
Because so little is known about what actually happened to the colonists of Roanoke Island, this book didn't include as much real history as the last one (which is what I really liked about that book!).
I also felt that Jonah's memory was a bit too thorough for someone his age. His Boy Scout leaders, teachers, parents, etc. just happened to have told him everything he needed to know by this point in life, and he just so happened to remember all of it? Way too convenient. I wish Haddix had put more effort into weaving the educational stuff into the story in a more believable, natural fashion.
It did have a somewhat interesting segue into the next book, however, so I'll likely keep reading.
The main characters head back in time to Roanoke Colony (or so they think) in this third installment. This has definitely been my least favorite so far, as nothing really happens.
Because so little is known about what actually happened to the colonists of Roanoke Island, this book didn't include as much real history as the last one (which is what I really liked about that book!).
I also felt that Jonah's memory was a bit too thorough for someone his age. His Boy Scout leaders, teachers, parents, etc. just happened to have told him everything he needed to know by this point in life, and he just so happened to remember all of it? Way too convenient. I wish Haddix had put more effort into weaving the educational stuff into the story in a more believable, natural fashion.
It did have a somewhat interesting segue into the next book, however, so I'll likely keep reading.
October 11, 2017
I really enjoyed reading this book; although, not as much as the first two. There was a little too much teenage drama in this one for me to give it five stars. That said I still really enjoyed this book and will continue the series. I think the story line is pretty original and I really enjoy reading about history in the guise of fiction. I always have and this series does it pretty well.
August 5, 2022
I was quite disappointed with this third sequel. I felt it moved too slowly and the story got bogged down. When the denouement finally happened, it was underwhelming and a bit confusing and unfortunately, carried out to the next book to hopefully resolve it? But I'm not sure I want to invest more time, which is too bad because this series started off on a bang.
October 14, 2019
This book was all about John White and traveling back in time with Indians. It was a good book but after the middle of the book it gets a little bit slow
Read
February 3, 2021I think it was really good but in my opinion the first book in the series is the best but i havent read the rest of the series.
July 14, 2024
Awesome book the main character is Jonah :) and he likes a girl who likes him, JONAHZ GYAT RIZZZZ
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2018
Overall, it was a well written book. As the characters go back in time, the reader can understand clearly what is going on and the details are very close to what actually happened.
August 9, 2019
Oh my gosh, the new antagonist is amazing! He is so well put together and manipulative! I love him! Can’t wait to read the next one, as always! It will always end on a cliffhanger though!!! 🥺
October 23, 2017
After succeeding in saving chip and Alex from the past they must make Andreas tracer/ real self fix herself and her story in the past. They go through heartache and much more and is an amazing book. I highly recommend it.
February 4, 2019
Sabotaged (The Missing,#3) by Margaret Peterson Haddix is a good book. It's about 2 siblings who go in time to fix problems. In this book they're helping a girl fix her problems in the past. They find shocking information. If you like to read it and find out more you could.
December 8, 2015
Personal Response
Sabotaged by Margaret Peterson Haddix is maybe one of the most confusing books I have ever read. The characters are thrown at you in unexpected ways and the concept of time travel is very confusing.
Continuing on their quest through time, Jonah and Katherine must now save a new girl, Andrea. Originally Virginia Dare, the first child born in the New World, Andrea is stolen from time and brought to the 21st century. In order to stop a time ripple that would change history, they must repair her time period.
Plot
Jonah, Katherine, and Andrea are sent back to 1600, the year Andrea was taken out of time. When the group regains their senses, they go exploring in the woods and find apparitions of two boys who aren’t really there. They follow them even though they don’t know where they are being led to and they find a man drowning on a ocean beach. Jonah and Andrea jump in to go save him while Katherine stays on the beach and it turns out to be John White, Virginia’s grandfather. Although he is unconscious they decide to carry him back into the woods, and they end up finding the deserted Roanoke colony and the word “Croatoan” carved into a tree. Since they don’t know what exactly happened in history, Jonah, Katherine, and Andrea want to see what is on Croatoan Island. With John White still knocked out, they need to find a way to transport him to an island across water and they find a canoe. On their way there, the two boys who weren’t actually boys pulled up in another canoe and they were real. They explained that they came from the 21st century too, and nobody knew what was going on.
They reach Croatoan and find everything is dead. Nobody wants to travel far into the island because of animal skeletons littered across the beach, but Jonah and Andrea decide to because they want to know what happened. When they reach the village circle, another man appears and explains that what the group has done has actually changed history more than not going back, and that it fell right into his plan. Then another guy appears and attempts to fix what has been messed up and sends the kids back to the future where they belong. The book ends on a cliffhanger into the next book, Torn.
Characterization
Jonah is still the main character in the book, but now he is starting to fall in love with Andrea. Jonah grows up in this book because he is the person everyone looks up to in order to complete their mission. Even though he doesn’t always know what to do, he still ends up correcting what he had to.
Andrea is a new character in this book. She has brown hair and gray eyes, and Jonah falls in love with her. She is thirteen years old. Andrea agreed to go back in time in order to find her parents, but they couldn’t be found no matter what. She has a kind heart and is willing to do what she can to help Jonah and Katherine.
Katherine is Jonah’s little sister. She has accompanied Jonah on both missions into the past and has helped tremendously in both. She has more knowledge about history than Jonah so she is a vital part of the group.
Setting
“Sabotaged” is set in 1600 near the Roanoke and Croatoan Islands. This is important because they don’t have any technology or easy access to food, which makes everything more difficult.
Theme
The theme of this book is to be careful who you trust because Andrea believed that she could find her parents and was lied to.
Age
The age group for this book is a high school boy or girl because the way the author talks about time travel is pretty confusing.
Sabotaged by Margaret Peterson Haddix is maybe one of the most confusing books I have ever read. The characters are thrown at you in unexpected ways and the concept of time travel is very confusing.
Continuing on their quest through time, Jonah and Katherine must now save a new girl, Andrea. Originally Virginia Dare, the first child born in the New World, Andrea is stolen from time and brought to the 21st century. In order to stop a time ripple that would change history, they must repair her time period.
Plot
Jonah, Katherine, and Andrea are sent back to 1600, the year Andrea was taken out of time. When the group regains their senses, they go exploring in the woods and find apparitions of two boys who aren’t really there. They follow them even though they don’t know where they are being led to and they find a man drowning on a ocean beach. Jonah and Andrea jump in to go save him while Katherine stays on the beach and it turns out to be John White, Virginia’s grandfather. Although he is unconscious they decide to carry him back into the woods, and they end up finding the deserted Roanoke colony and the word “Croatoan” carved into a tree. Since they don’t know what exactly happened in history, Jonah, Katherine, and Andrea want to see what is on Croatoan Island. With John White still knocked out, they need to find a way to transport him to an island across water and they find a canoe. On their way there, the two boys who weren’t actually boys pulled up in another canoe and they were real. They explained that they came from the 21st century too, and nobody knew what was going on.
They reach Croatoan and find everything is dead. Nobody wants to travel far into the island because of animal skeletons littered across the beach, but Jonah and Andrea decide to because they want to know what happened. When they reach the village circle, another man appears and explains that what the group has done has actually changed history more than not going back, and that it fell right into his plan. Then another guy appears and attempts to fix what has been messed up and sends the kids back to the future where they belong. The book ends on a cliffhanger into the next book, Torn.
Characterization
Jonah is still the main character in the book, but now he is starting to fall in love with Andrea. Jonah grows up in this book because he is the person everyone looks up to in order to complete their mission. Even though he doesn’t always know what to do, he still ends up correcting what he had to.
Andrea is a new character in this book. She has brown hair and gray eyes, and Jonah falls in love with her. She is thirteen years old. Andrea agreed to go back in time in order to find her parents, but they couldn’t be found no matter what. She has a kind heart and is willing to do what she can to help Jonah and Katherine.
Katherine is Jonah’s little sister. She has accompanied Jonah on both missions into the past and has helped tremendously in both. She has more knowledge about history than Jonah so she is a vital part of the group.
Setting
“Sabotaged” is set in 1600 near the Roanoke and Croatoan Islands. This is important because they don’t have any technology or easy access to food, which makes everything more difficult.
Theme
The theme of this book is to be careful who you trust because Andrea believed that she could find her parents and was lied to.
Age
The age group for this book is a high school boy or girl because the way the author talks about time travel is pretty confusing.
May 27, 2016
Personal response
Sabotage is book number three in the Missing series by Margaret Peterson Haddix. This book had a great and well detailed story line. This book was about the Pre-Colonial Americas. In my opinion, this book is a very good addition to the series. I was confused by all the flashbacks and changes in time; it was hard to follow when this happened.
Plot
This story takes place after Jonah and Katherine return Chip and Alex to their original time. As the two heros return to the time cave, they are immediately flashed to the past again, but with Adrianna. They are not being sent to 11th century England, but to late 16th century to the long lost Roanoke Colony. This was the very first township in the newly discovered land. Upon arrival, they find that the townspeople vanished without a trace. Later in the story they find out that Jonah, Katherine and Adrianna’s trip to the past was rigged. It was meant to trap them in the past by a futuristic supermineded projectionist named Second Chance. He calculates what nearly infinite outcomes of history at once! His motive is to break the fabric of time and recreate his image.
Characterization
The major character in this book is 13 year old Jonah Skidmore. Jonah has always been a little selfish and close minded. He always wants everything to be on track and manageable in his life.This all got turned upside down when he is forced to make a decision that can change the course of history itself. In the end, he learns that every choice that he makes can hurt others or help the world.
Impacts of settings
This book takes place in the Pre-Colonial Americas in the late 16th century. The year is roughly around 1650-1675. The main place would be the old ruins of the Roanoke Colony. The purpose of being there is to return Andrea, who is Virginia Dare the first born child to the new world.They are also to reunite her with her grandfather John White which is the creator of Roanoke colony.
Thematic connection
The theme that I think fits this book is the theme of choices and possibilities. I say this because Jonah is making choices and weighing out the possibility to where he belongs. Jonah had to make the right choice at the right time (choices and possibilities). Some of these are choosing to trust the trapped native/modern american boys. Also the possibility of rescuing JB, Andrea, and the two native americans from a collapsing timeline.
Recommend
I would recommend this book to boys around middle school to high school ages. Boys tend to like science fiction more so than girls and it is so detailed that people can get easily lost in the plot. The time travel and science fiction that is going on can confuse someone at times, which makes it a good book for middle and high school ages.
Rating
I rate this book 5 stars because it is a great book, even though it can get a little confusing because with all the time travel and complicated plot going on. Inexperienced readers may find this book more difficult than the others.
Sabotage is book number three in the Missing series by Margaret Peterson Haddix. This book had a great and well detailed story line. This book was about the Pre-Colonial Americas. In my opinion, this book is a very good addition to the series. I was confused by all the flashbacks and changes in time; it was hard to follow when this happened.
Plot
This story takes place after Jonah and Katherine return Chip and Alex to their original time. As the two heros return to the time cave, they are immediately flashed to the past again, but with Adrianna. They are not being sent to 11th century England, but to late 16th century to the long lost Roanoke Colony. This was the very first township in the newly discovered land. Upon arrival, they find that the townspeople vanished without a trace. Later in the story they find out that Jonah, Katherine and Adrianna’s trip to the past was rigged. It was meant to trap them in the past by a futuristic supermineded projectionist named Second Chance. He calculates what nearly infinite outcomes of history at once! His motive is to break the fabric of time and recreate his image.
Characterization
The major character in this book is 13 year old Jonah Skidmore. Jonah has always been a little selfish and close minded. He always wants everything to be on track and manageable in his life.This all got turned upside down when he is forced to make a decision that can change the course of history itself. In the end, he learns that every choice that he makes can hurt others or help the world.
Impacts of settings
This book takes place in the Pre-Colonial Americas in the late 16th century. The year is roughly around 1650-1675. The main place would be the old ruins of the Roanoke Colony. The purpose of being there is to return Andrea, who is Virginia Dare the first born child to the new world.They are also to reunite her with her grandfather John White which is the creator of Roanoke colony.
Thematic connection
The theme that I think fits this book is the theme of choices and possibilities. I say this because Jonah is making choices and weighing out the possibility to where he belongs. Jonah had to make the right choice at the right time (choices and possibilities). Some of these are choosing to trust the trapped native/modern american boys. Also the possibility of rescuing JB, Andrea, and the two native americans from a collapsing timeline.
Recommend
I would recommend this book to boys around middle school to high school ages. Boys tend to like science fiction more so than girls and it is so detailed that people can get easily lost in the plot. The time travel and science fiction that is going on can confuse someone at times, which makes it a good book for middle and high school ages.
Rating
I rate this book 5 stars because it is a great book, even though it can get a little confusing because with all the time travel and complicated plot going on. Inexperienced readers may find this book more difficult than the others.
July 17, 2012
Another Dare-ing adventure through time with JB, Katherine, and Jonah. Our time traveling trio will try to solve the history mystery of the Roanoke Colony.
Haddix has found a way to mix science fiction and social studies education together in a neat package with “The Missing” series. Many kids aren’t that interested in history itself, but what happens if you time travel and get dropped into the middle of history? Now that is interesting! I commend Haddix because she researches her history well and feeds the story pertinent information about it as needed to move story along. Nowhere does she add a history lesson for the sake of a history lesson. Kids would sniff this out in a heartbeat. Social Studies education is sorely lacking in American primary education today, and I applaud anyone who can include it in the creation of entertainment.
From a pure enjoyment stand point, children 8 years old and up will enjoy this series. They will love the time travel plot where it takes a couple of kids to save time. They will also enjoy its main characters. Haddix does a good job of writing the sibling interaction between Jonah and Katherine so children with brothers or sisters will really feel it. The author also helps the tone of her plot by not making the book too humorous. Part of the fun of time travel sci-fi is the childlike belief that it is just within reach of the realm of possibility, even though we know it isn’t. Too many laughs would probably keep pushing the story out of that realm.
For me personally, I loved the first book but I couldn’t latch on to the second and third wholeheartedly. This third book at 360 pages just moves too slowly for me with all the questions of what the characters should and shouldn’t do and explanations of time and tracer movement. What keeps me going in this series is the history. I was interested in knowing how the author explained the Roanoke Colony’s disappearance, and I was quite pleased with that. I understand, however, how all the explanations help young readers to wrap their mind around the story and take it seriously. I would definitely recommend using this book in conjunction with language arts to bring more attention to history in our classrooms. Stories like this just might grab a child’s attention and make them want to learn on their own.
Haddix has found a way to mix science fiction and social studies education together in a neat package with “The Missing” series. Many kids aren’t that interested in history itself, but what happens if you time travel and get dropped into the middle of history? Now that is interesting! I commend Haddix because she researches her history well and feeds the story pertinent information about it as needed to move story along. Nowhere does she add a history lesson for the sake of a history lesson. Kids would sniff this out in a heartbeat. Social Studies education is sorely lacking in American primary education today, and I applaud anyone who can include it in the creation of entertainment.
From a pure enjoyment stand point, children 8 years old and up will enjoy this series. They will love the time travel plot where it takes a couple of kids to save time. They will also enjoy its main characters. Haddix does a good job of writing the sibling interaction between Jonah and Katherine so children with brothers or sisters will really feel it. The author also helps the tone of her plot by not making the book too humorous. Part of the fun of time travel sci-fi is the childlike belief that it is just within reach of the realm of possibility, even though we know it isn’t. Too many laughs would probably keep pushing the story out of that realm.
For me personally, I loved the first book but I couldn’t latch on to the second and third wholeheartedly. This third book at 360 pages just moves too slowly for me with all the questions of what the characters should and shouldn’t do and explanations of time and tracer movement. What keeps me going in this series is the history. I was interested in knowing how the author explained the Roanoke Colony’s disappearance, and I was quite pleased with that. I understand, however, how all the explanations help young readers to wrap their mind around the story and take it seriously. I would definitely recommend using this book in conjunction with language arts to bring more attention to history in our classrooms. Stories like this just might grab a child’s attention and make them want to learn on their own.
November 22, 2024
Is it interesting? Yes.
I’ll be honest, the beginning was a bit boring, and annoying. The constant arguing, and Jonah trying to protect Andrea was just so... immature and tiresome to read. But then, after the backstab and unexpected twist, the story started to get interesting.
Jonah and Katherine were, once again, left to save the day. This time going back to the time of Virginia Dare (who also happened to be a girl from their time that Jonah found pretty). Only, naturally everything goes wrong. Time starts to actually change itself, and things are going from bad to worse until... (well, until they get even worse, and they realize nothing is as it should be, and then it's really up to them to change the day because no one else can).
Series? Yes.
You’ll want to read it only after reading the previous books in the series, starting from Found
Cliffhanger? Serious cliffhanger. You’ll want to have Torn nearby to read next.
Content:
Slaughtering animals and eating raw. Attacked by pirates. Skulls spread on an island. Dead people, probably from a plague. Slavery.
Jonah notices Andrea’s pretty throughout the book, and wants to protect her. Jonah wishes she would kiss him. Scantily clad Indians, with tattoos.
Indian boys speak about spirits. Andrea’s excited about her 13th birthday, asked if she’s Jewish and this is a big year because of the bar/bat mitzvah thing.
Magic. Time travel. Time is said to fix itself, there are magical tracers showing how time should’ve been.
I’ll be honest, the beginning was a bit boring, and annoying. The constant arguing, and Jonah trying to protect Andrea was just so... immature and tiresome to read. But then, after the backstab and unexpected twist, the story started to get interesting.
Jonah and Katherine were, once again, left to save the day. This time going back to the time of Virginia Dare (who also happened to be a girl from their time that Jonah found pretty). Only, naturally everything goes wrong. Time starts to actually change itself, and things are going from bad to worse until... (well, until they get even worse, and they realize nothing is as it should be, and then it's really up to them to change the day because no one else can).
Series? Yes.
You’ll want to read it only after reading the previous books in the series, starting from Found
Cliffhanger? Serious cliffhanger. You’ll want to have Torn nearby to read next.
Content:
Slaughtering animals and eating raw. Attacked by pirates. Skulls spread on an island. Dead people, probably from a plague. Slavery.
Jonah notices Andrea’s pretty throughout the book, and wants to protect her. Jonah wishes she would kiss him. Scantily clad Indians, with tattoos.
Indian boys speak about spirits. Andrea’s excited about her 13th birthday, asked if she’s Jewish and this is a big year because of the bar/bat mitzvah thing.
Magic. Time travel. Time is said to fix itself, there are magical tracers showing how time should’ve been.
July 20, 2011
I would actually give this a 2 1/2 stars, but rounded down because it took me so long to finish it--not really pointing to a great book.
Jonah and his sister Katherine must do it again. They must go back in time and save another lost child from history. After saving Chip and Alex from the 15th century, they are now asked to take Andrea, who just so happens to be Virginia Dare-first English child born in America, back to the 1600s. However, even though last time was hard, this time around everything seems to be going wrong. Andrea seems happy to be back in the time where the lost colony of Roanoke disappeared, the elucidator (the only way to contact present time) is lost, and they don't seem to have landed in the right spot in time. As the three kids start to unravel the mysteries of Roanoke, they just gain more questions as to how this entire time travel thing works.
Okay so the first book in the series seemed a bit slow but the premise was great. The second book was slower and it was hard to really get into. This book was just too slow for my taste. I am convinced that it is almost too much of a task to take on to write a time travel book and keep your audience with you. The whole idea of "tracers" was really hard to grasp at times. I love Haddix's premise of the lost children throughout history--I find that fascinating. However her execution is a bit lacking and I don't feel the reader is completely hooked from beginning to end.
Jonah and his sister Katherine must do it again. They must go back in time and save another lost child from history. After saving Chip and Alex from the 15th century, they are now asked to take Andrea, who just so happens to be Virginia Dare-first English child born in America, back to the 1600s. However, even though last time was hard, this time around everything seems to be going wrong. Andrea seems happy to be back in the time where the lost colony of Roanoke disappeared, the elucidator (the only way to contact present time) is lost, and they don't seem to have landed in the right spot in time. As the three kids start to unravel the mysteries of Roanoke, they just gain more questions as to how this entire time travel thing works.
Okay so the first book in the series seemed a bit slow but the premise was great. The second book was slower and it was hard to really get into. This book was just too slow for my taste. I am convinced that it is almost too much of a task to take on to write a time travel book and keep your audience with you. The whole idea of "tracers" was really hard to grasp at times. I love Haddix's premise of the lost children throughout history--I find that fascinating. However her execution is a bit lacking and I don't feel the reader is completely hooked from beginning to end.
April 7, 2011
Don't ask me why I read this book. I didn't really like "Sent." I liked this one more than #2, but that's really no excuse as to why I picked it up in the first place. I didn't like "Sent" because the science fiction seemed all off and it suddenly went historical fiction (though kudos for tricking all those kids into reading about history), and that's still true in "Sabotaged." What's also true in this one, only seemed even worse, is that the kids take forever to figure things out. I know they're kids, but COME ON. "I knew there was something I was missing, but I just couldn't figure out what it was" is a recurring sentiment for all of the characters, even the adults. It's very frustrating. I just want to know what's going on, I want someone, a narrator, a smart character, SOMEONE, to tell me what is going on. I'm not talking about spoiling the plot, or giving away the ending, or not having any suspense. But the suspense here feels contrived rather than genuine. The author creates it by withholding information with the lame excuse that the character doesn't remember or understand something that he clearly should remember and understand. "Didn't JB say something about this? I just don't remember." I hope the next one is good, because obviously I'm hooked on this series despite finding it flawed. And it even made me pick up a non-fiction book on Virginia Dare...
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