The Lens and the Looker

The Verona Trilogy #1

by Lory S. Kaufman

BOOK #1 of The Verona Trilogy: Young Adult, Post-Dystopian Fiction It's the 24th century and humans, with the help of artificial intelligences (A.I.s), have finally created the perfect post-dystopian society. To make equally perfect citizens for this world, the elders have created History Camps, full sized recreations of cities from Earth's distant pasts. Here teens live the way their ancestors did, doing the same dirty jobs and experiencing the same degradations. History Camps teach youths not to repeat the mistakes that almost caused the planet to die. But not everything goes to plan. In this first of a trilogy, we meet three spoiled teens in the year 2347. Hansum almost 17, is good looking and athletic. Shamira, 15, is sassy, independent and an artistic genius. Lincoln, 14, is the smart-aleck. But you don't have to scratch too far beneath the surface to find his insecurities. These three "hard cases" refuse the valuable lessons History Camps teach. But when they are kidnapped and taken back in time to 1347 Verona, Italy, they only have two choices; adapt to the harsh medieval ways or die. The dangers are many, their enemies are powerful, and safety is a long way away. It's hardly the ideal environment to fall in love - but that's exactly what happens. In an attempt to survive, the trio risks introducing technology from the future. It could save them - or it could change history. Series Overview: The Lens and the Looker is the first book of The Verona Trilogy. It's followed by The Bronze and the Brimstone and The Loved and the Lost. The series takes readers along on the life-changing journey of three 24th century teens. While the three protagonists appear quite immature in the first half of The Lens and the Looker, this is not a series aimed exclusively at young teens. Lory Kaufman says he writes for readers 13 to 113, (and precocious 12-year-olds) This is borne out by the fact that about half the readership of the series is adult. What many readers say they love about this series is its wonderful mix of science fiction (the future) and historical fiction (the past). While there's time travel, there are also sword fights, and while there are detailed descriptions of ancient technologies, the story also includes many colorful characters who just happen to be artificial intelligences. There's allusions to a Romeo and Juliet love story and also characters who have murderous intentions toward the lovers. And the setting? Many readers are praising the accurately described historical setting of 14th century Verona Italy, where much of the story takes place.

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Time Travel, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Ebooks

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 14, 2011

About the author

"I write Post-Dystopian fiction. After society’s collapse, which is imagined in so many great dystopian stories, humans will either fade into history, with the dinosaurs, or, if it learns the right lessons, society will go on to construct a civilization to last tens of thousands of years. History Camp stories are the exciting adventures of young people doing the latter." -Lory Kaufman

On the artistic side of my career, I've written, acted and directed children’s theatre and musical theatre. I enjoy art, especially sculpture. I love science fiction and historical fiction and have been deeply involved in the green movement all across North America. I think all these thing show through when you read my work. I have three grown children and work and live in Kingston, Canada.

Reviews

[T. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Copy obtained through the GoodReads First Reads program. Disclaimer: I'm an adult who still enjoys reading YA, so I know I'm not the target audience.

I think the intended age range would likely enjoy the book. The three main characters (Hansum, Shamira, and Lincoln) have enough of an edge that they're interesting, but they aren't "bad influences". The idea of the History Camp is a good one, and the lessons the kids learn are gradual, realistic ones. As an introduction to sci-fi, it's like easing in to the shallow end of the pool, and I don't mean that in a derogatory way; the story is solid, but easy to follow.

As an adult, though, I just wasn't gripped by the story, and I don't think that's a fault of YA, as I have read and enjoyed many YA novels. Hansum, Shamira, and Lincoln are called "hard cases", but they're all fairly normal teens. When you say "hard case teen" to me, I'm thinking a violent, belligerent kid who's stabbed someone or something. The descriptors don't help either. Anyone else tired of girls being described as "sassy" and "independent"? I am. (It's like calling a senior "spry". It's overdone.) The dialogue is quite simplistic, and some of the "work arounds" (the implant so they can speak the language of the times, etc.) are needed, but could have been done in a more interesting way. There are plenty of missed opportunities to discuss gender inequality, social strata, etc., but the supposedly "hard case" kids seem to fall into their societal roles with alarming ease. Many of the plot points (introducing future technology, falling in love with a local) are too predictable.

It's certainly not the worst book I've got through GoodReads, but it's not one I'd be in a hurry to recommend. If the story were tighter, I would have enjoyed it more, but it feels like it needed another round of editing.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author categorizes his books as “Post-Dystopian Fiction;” however, The Lens and the Looker encompasses several genres. While the main characters come from a Post-Dystopian society, the book only deals with that in the first 3 or so chapters. I think the best category for this book is Science Fiction. It covers time travel, historical fiction, fantasy, and AIs.

History camp is the 2347 version of juvenile detention and community service. Children who repeatedly refuse to follow rules, or apply themselves in school are sent here.

Three children are sent to a history camp is set up to mimic Verona, Italy in the year 1347. There are two boys, Lincoln and Hansun, and a girl, Shamira. The boys are apprenticed to a spectacle maker, and Shamira is a kitchen girl. The main character, Hansun, manages to smuggle a genie AI to the history camp. Genie AIs are made by “secretive and rebellious youths who still believed in raging against the machine.” They are basically universal encyclopedias with a mischievous bent. They help their owners play pranks, tell rude jokes, cheat on tests, generally encourage bad behavior.

Hansun knows a lot about how the history camps work, because his mother works at one. He tells the other 2 children at the history camp, Shamira and Lincoln, about his mother and the genie, convincing them to use the genie’s resources and help him wreak havoc on the camp. The first part of their plan is to simply play along and let the enactors at the history camp believe that the children are starting to reform.

Eventually they play a nasty prank on one of the enactors that goes too far, causing the enactors to realize that the children have a genie. They get sent to a nearby barn while the enactors discuss what to do about them. A time traveler suddenly appears, speaking in confusing rhymes, and invites them to go with him to the real 1347 Verona Italy. As the enactors return to confront the kids they decide to go with the time traveler, rather than face the consequences the enactors have planned for them. Can they survive for a month in the real Verona Italy?

My only complaint with this book is personal preference. If I had read he author’s bio, I probably wouldn’t have downloaded the book. Post-Dystopian fiction usually annoys me; in fact, I almost stopped reading when I realized the genre. Most of the post-dystopian stuff ends by chapter 5. After that I was completely drawn into the story. The science-y parts were realistic, the fiction was fantastic, and the romance bits weren’t overdone. I think the book is meant to be young adult fiction, but it seemed more suitable for an older teen - maybe 17 or 18 years and up. One final note, the book is part of a trilogy, and while the ending leaves plenty of room for the sequel, I’m happy with the ending and don’t have plans to read the rest of the trilogy.

[Sarah Gonzalez · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Lens and The Looker we have a combination of subplots going on that all weave together to form a remarkable story of love, friendship and responsibility. The book’s description states that there are three main characters; seventeen-year-old Hansum, who becomes Romero, fifteen-year-old Shamira (Carmella) and fourteen-year-old Lincoln (Maruccio). However, the storyline focuses more on Hansum than the others. You learn the most of him and he is the easiest to sympathize with. Plus he is the one with the love interest.

Now, before I get into too much detail about the plot, I want to forewarn you that this isn’t a book purely driven by romance. While there is a romance found within, it doesn’t take center stage. If you go into reading The Lens and The Looker hoping for an over the top, historical teen romance, you are going to be disappointed. Now, again, this wasn’t an issue for me, I truly enjoyed what the book had to offer. But if you are solely seeking a romance, keep looking.

The majority of the book takes place in 14th century Verona, not the 24th century. It’s a time travel book, but the characters do not hop back in front throughout history. It wasn’t an issue for me, I truly enjoyed reading about Verona. I have honestly never read a book about Italy during that time, or any other place really, well besides Romeo and Juliet. Although that doesn’t really count, it takes place nearly 200 years later.

The magic of this book lies with the wonderful, thoughtful take on 14th Century Verona, and the sort of coming-of-age story of the three teens from the future. Like I stated earlier, I cannot remember ever reading a book that tackled this particular time period before and Kaufman approaches it with such care and gusto. He paints a truly vivid picture of the setting and colorful characters that come with it – He made me want to meet the lens maker, his kooky wife and beautiful daughter. I want to walk the bustling market streets and see the stunning church interiors. However, I could stand without smelling the horse poop and watching the butcher make a living. I much prefer to see the final product all wrapped in plastic at the grocery store.

The reader is introduced to the time period and all of its quirks in a very unique and effective way. As the three teenagers are first coming to terms with their surroundings, so are the readers. They react in the same way that I would imagine we all would – which makes the experience and story really come to life.

I also found it immensely interesting to see how they struggle to fit into their new life and surroundings. It is exceeding difficult for them because they even have a different way of holding and presenting themselves - they act privileged for the time period. Those they meet certainly find them odd; not only do they speak their minds and boldly look you in the eye, they can read and write.

There isn’t a great deal of action within the book, the progression is much more character-oriented. While the plot moves at a steady pace, the characters, their feelings and interactions are primarily what keeps you turning the pages.

I only wish that we could have seen more of the story from Shamria's perspective. I thought she was one of the more interesting characters and unfortunately she sort of rides shotgun to the boys. I think her story would be incredibly interesting - a teenage girl going from the 24th century to the 14th. Think of all the status changes that would involve. You would go from being an independent, free-thinking equal to becoming nothing more than a pretty face who is to be seen and not heard. Although Sharmia isn't treated this way by the lens-maker and his family - I believe that was the general consensus at the time. Well, maybe not. I should really go do some research. But you get my point, I would have loved to see her story.


The Lens and The Looker is both captivating and intelligent. I was swept away with the story, especially with the idea of them rewriting history. I am incredibly eager to see what happens next!

[Logan · Rating 3 out of 5]

First impressions: The book starts in the 24th century, which is completely fascinating. I loved the descriptions of the A.I. teachers and nannies. The world was so interesting that I wish we'd spent a bit more time there.

Lasting impressions: The detailed lessons on lensmaking, though at times a little tedious, were mostly fun to read. Where else can I learn how glasses are made while reading a cool story? The mix of real history with the fictional story was enjoyable.

Conflicting impressions: I wasn't able to truly connect with any of the characters, so I wasn't fully invested in the outcome of the plot.

Overall impressions: After a couple of quick chapters in the future, we tumble back in time to 14th century Italy. Twice. The first time is to a controlled "history camp" where students in the future are sent to learn about Earth's past. This is such a cool concept and I really loved the set up. In order to learn about ourselves, we have to study where we came from, right?

Well, these kids aren't getting it. Hansum, Shamira and Lincoln, three teens stuck in camp together, smuggle in a genie who helps them cause all kinds of mischief. They really push the limits of the camp teachers/counselors (called enactors), and when they meet a strange man who wants to teach them real lessons, they wind up following him back through actual time to actual 14th century Italy.

Still with me? While in the past, the kids play with introducing technology before its time and struggle to discover themselves while apprenticing and housekeeping for a lensmaker. There are more than a few detailed descriptions of how lenses were made, which was boring at first, but eventually I came to enjoy. There are lot of opportunities here to learn some neat facts about this time period and how people lived. The setting seemed very real and well researched.

One thing I had a slight issue with was the names. The kids have names from both their time and in the past, and all six names are used regularly throughout the book. In dialogue while in Italy, they're called by their Italian names, but the narrative (told in third person) uses their "real" names. It can get confusing.

This book is a lot of fun and I think would be really appealing to a middle grade crowd. It has tons of historical information with just enough plot to keep things moving. Though I didn't fall in love with any of the characters, I wanted to find out what would happen to them, and my interest kept me reading. At times it seemed like a little magic was missing, and that there just wasn't that spark that normally gets me hooked in to the story. I would recommend this one to the younger set and to fans of history.

[Anne Patkau · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Lens and the Looker" (History Camp 1) by Lory Kaufman could be x-rated for chopped-off finger and sword-slain soldiers. I like the premise, rebellious adolescents find out how good present lives are compared to a dirty smelly dangerous past. But they never learn self-reliance, how to reason and decide individually, discover and act on strengths, find and bolster friend's frailties in teamwork, expose and exploit enemy weakness. They always follow rules and their AI tutor. Research details and awkward translations are mostly parroted from AI, better when incorporated seamlessly.
Excerpts from #2 are highlights, more intriguing than straight first chapter, but personally I almost identify more with the confused yearning ugly Ugi. I know their future is safe. Where's their badness? Perhaps if backstory shows that characteristics scamps may get in trouble for, say taking apart machinery, overhearing and copying secrets, or interpreting adult double-talk, lead to current triumphs?
(Rowling and Tolkein make me laugh and, too much, cry. Our fave heroes - Alice, Dorothy, Scheherezade, Gulliver, Sinbad, Odysseus - fall to the depths of Hell in danger of death, before rising, not to Heaven beyond our reach, just beside us, to Earth.)
Teen trio in 2437 are sentenced to reform at hard-time History camp as 1347 Verona orphan apprentices to a refugee lensmaker and family, but sneak in Pan, a genii, hologram AI created by hackers with propensity to provoke trouble, their deus ex machina. Hansum 17 exchanges long kisses with the daughter of the house and talks up technical plans drawn by portrait sketcher Shamira 15 who cooks and cleans superbly, while Lincoln 14 cleans and organizes the workroom, says more "zippy" than "Jesus/God", after clouts from their new Master. Their first stunt, laxative dose the noble, is not funny, if you've been around or performed stinky air cleanup from explosive bouts of the real thing: body, clothes, floor, walls, crevices, furniture. Their next feat risks their own existence and the fate of the world, inventing the telescope and weapons ahead of time. After initial mouthiness, they show no evidence of criminality, follow directions fully from their new AI and comply all-round. They are sappy naive from the start, on their own no match for opposing nasty murdering prince and conniving nobles. Chase and combat are lively, but feel more prerequisite than spontaneous.

(Spoiler:
When they are sure rescuers will not save them, from changing time, they continue inventing. Illogical.)

Trivia:
Regarding the 1347 Verona telescope (looker) cardboard parts - corrugated paper was invented in 1800s England, cardstock heavyweight paper I couldn't find an origin, and parchment in Italy was probably costly goatskin.

[Brooke Blogs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review originally posted on Brooke Blogs on 06/26/2014.

The Verona Trilogy by Lory S. Kaufman really blew me away. I thought the books sounded interesting, but I had no idea the journey I was about to take in reading them. The Lens and the Looker was so fascinating, right from the very beginning. I love the world that Lory built in the 24th Century. As brief as our stay in that time period was, it was really neat to read about. I really liked the concept of the history camps/hard time history camps.

When the three teens are kidnapped and transported to 14th Century Verona, Italy, the story takes an exciting new twist. I was completely immersed in the time period. The author does an outstanding job of really making this time period come alive. I felt like I could truly see and hear the sights and sounds of Verona in 1347. It was amazing!

I really liked the concept of the story, and the fact that the story was a skillful blend of history and fantasy. I thoroughly enjoyed each book in the trilogy. I’m actually downloading The Lens and the Looker free podcast that is available, because I want to still be a part of this fascinating trilogy. :) It’s neat, too, that you can go to the author’s website and learn more about the back story. If I truly enjoy a book/series, I want to stay with it as long as I can. It was fun for me to be able to go to the site and learn more about it.

This trilogy is one that I cannot say enough good things about. These three gorgeous books (seriously, the covers are beautiful!) will have a happy home on my bookshelf, though I know I will pick them up again. I look forward to letting my older daughter read them soon as well.

The Verona Trilogy by Lory S. Kaufman transcends ages and genres. It is a series that I feel will stand the test of time. It is one that I can see myself reading over again. I love the blending of a futuristic/post-dystopian society, fantasy, history, love, YA…the trilogy encompasses many facets of literature that I love. If you love these, too, this is a story you will enjoy as much as I do. I love that the first book is just 99 cents! It is worth much more than that. I would read another book by Lory S. Kaufman in a heartbeat!

The Verona Trilogy by Lory S. Kaufman gets 5+++++ stars from me.

I received a complimentary paperback for review purposes.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a huge history nerd, so this book is right up my alley. It's the first book in a trilogy about history camp. This is such a cool idea, its set in the 24th century and to help shape up delinquent youth, they send them to history camp to learn about how people lived and worked in the past. It kind of reminded me of Colonial Williamsburg in the US. It actually sounded like a really cool experience, and not a punishment, but like I said- I'm a nerd. The three main characters end up actually getting sent into the past, not just to the reenactment. So cool!

I loved learning about all the little gadgets they had in the future just as much as I loved reading the pretty realistic account of how people lived and worked in the past. The three main characters were troublemakers, and they initially wanted to go into history camp causing trouble. I wish we would have learned more about Shamira. We did not find out too much about her, and to be honest I never really saw the trouble maker aspect of her personality, so I would have liked some more insight on her. Maybe in the next book? Lincoln was the most trouble of the three in my opinion. Hansum started out wanted to disrupt the peace but I think he was quickly genuinely interested in everything and how it all worked. Plus there was the whole crush on a girl in the past issue. I won't say too much about it, because I don't want to give anything away. But I will say that I thought there interactions were adorable. I liked how the romance was interspersed throughout the story, but it wasn't the true main focus.

What I loved the most about The Lens and the Looker was the way everything was described. I could see this being a great informational book for younger kids and teens. They will get an idea of how things worked in 14th century Italy. Everything is really detailed, and presented in a really interesting way. I really enjoyed reading this book and I can't wait to start the second one in the trilogy.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you like books about the past? Books about time travel? You should love this book.

A brief overview:
Hansum, Lincoln, and Shamira are three kids from the 24th century who are what we would call 'problem children'. They don't pay attention in school and cause problems wherever and whenever they can. They are juvenile delinquents in the making. As a punishment, they must "do time" in a history camp. A
re-enactment of a time when life wasn't so easy. The kids are sent to a camp representing Verona,Italy in 1347. Does the date sound familiar? Remember The Black Plague?
Luckily for them, they have the assistance of an Artificial Intelligence genie named Pan. Pan is a genie whose goal is to cause havoc. With help from Pan they cause problems in the camp..Remember, this is supposed to be a school of sorts. Well, obviously they are not learning much.
A strange traveller from the future named Arimus approaches the kids and takes them to the real Verona, Italy. During the actual 14th century. No prettified (is that a word?) camp with safety precautions in place. The kids must find a way to survive, or die.

I like Mr. Kaufman's writing style. This was a very well written book. His descriptions of life in the history camp and then in 14th century Verona were just incredible. He even went so far as to explain the differences in the 14th century between the camp and the actual Verona. I love history and was fascinated by his descriptions of everyday life. Next time you walk down the street, think about how you would feel (or smell) if your neighbor threw the contents of a chamber pot in front of you.

The three brats, I mean kids, were spoiled individuals. I didn't think too much of them at first. Slowly I began to change my mind. We see them mature and grow.

Remember, this is the first in a trilogy.
The second book, The Bronze and the Brimstone is available now.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good concept, well-executed. At least as good as The Hunger Games better than the 1632 and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone series. More fun, too, for someone with even a slight interest in history.

The "Connecticut Yankee" story propels twenty-fourth century (well, modern) teens into fifteenth century Italy with just enough technology and help to justify them surviving the first day. Kaufman even develops devices ("History Camp", translator implants and "Pan") to explain how the teens survive and thrive. There's a cute Shakespeare homage/subplot.

Even given that, it's all too easy and too quick, but that's a characteristic of this class of literature. Still, this has enough darkness and grit to give the semblance of truth while being respectful of the people of pre-renassaince Verona. Lots of emotion and angst and all the thinking done by an AI companion, but what do you expect for SF teens?

That this is the set up for a series is revealed from the start, but Kaufman delivers a satisfying conclusion to this introductory tale, rather than leaving the reader, if not the protagonists, hanging from some cliff (other, of course, than being stranded in the fifteenth century).

I'll probably read more.

A good read.

[Jessica Bierschied · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE LENS AND THE LOOKER, by Lory Kaufman brings you to the perfect world, post-dystopian where nothing bad can happen. Trouble making kids don't get detention, they get History Camp, a place from the past with all the details included. The three trouble-making kids make too much trouble in History Camp and end up in the past, for real. I was engaged the whole time waiting to see what was going to happen! This was a great read!

I loved the idea of time-travel. That is what caught my eye when I was offered this book. I love history and usually it isn't Italian, lower class history but I was just as interested. The kids were smart mouths and rude and being in high school, I thought Kaufman really captured the kids personalities wonderfully.

I was really excited for the romance of this, just because I knew it was going to be incredibly difficult with one from the future and one from the past, and I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED! The romance was mild, but it was there and it kept me gushing...yes gushing. The novel wasn't dominated by romance so any little bit made me smiling like a little girl.

Lory Kaufman did such a wonderful job with this novel and I really recommend this to anyone who is even remotely interested in history, time travel, post-dystopian or just a really good book! I am excited for the next in this series!

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book in a Goodreads First Reads contest.

Hansum, Shamira, and Lincoln are hard cases, kids who don't follow the rules. So these kids are sent to History Camp to learn how good they have it. But something odd happens at History Camp, and the are taken back in time to 1347 and they have to live through the REAL history. How will they survive and how will they impact the future.

I want to start off saying I really enjoyed this book. I really found the story captivating. The style of the book is written for a young audience, maybe 11-14 year olds. Although it is labeled as a young adult book, I think it is much less a Hunger Games audience and more a Percy Jackson audience. The writing is simplistic and the characters do pretty much as they are expected to. And these kids are less hard cases and more spoiled brats.

There was very little about the future world, and at first, I didn't love that, but as I got further in the book, I found it didn't matter to me, I enjoyed the story in the past. I think the characters did what I would probably do as well, how could you live in the past and not make it better? I couldn't image going without indoor plumbing just for one.

I look forward to seeing what happens next with our trio.

[Cheryl Christensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that really touches me. I love historical fiction and futuristic stories. This book is the best combination of both. What are historical re-creations but a way to understand things about the past that are not a part of our everyday lives? It is a great way to learn, especially for our youth. There are many state and national park sites across the land that do just that.

We have many youth programs designed to help those who strain against the institutions of our day, who refuse to see how destructive their behavior is. But what can save citizens who refuse to participate, to learn from the past – our “History Camps”? Imagine taking such delinquents into the past, remove their “safety zones”, and let them learn from REAL LIFE!

This is what intrigued me about this book, as well as the quality of writing. Lory Kaufman writes a great story. I enjoyed the reality he provided in the historical terminology, the “feel” of Verona in 1347. The color of the language and the descriptions were right on top, as were the conversations and character development.

I really feel that I know Verona of the 14th century. I can imagine the machine and the process of grinding and polishing a lens. This is a great story and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book, and am anxiously awaiting the next in the series. I have seen the comments others have made about not spending enough time in the characters real world, but I totally disagree. As the book progresses you learn a lot about the 3 main characters and the way they evolve and step up to the situations they find themselves in. They learn to trust each other and work together to survive in the true 13th century, and deal with all the things that happen to them, of which there are many. It is a fun read, great characters, well written, and an opportunity to give some thought ourselves as to how we truly have it made with the technology we have that makes our lives what they are. If any of your readers were cast into that era, they would be in shock at the conditions and oppression the people dealt with on a daily basis. I found it quite interesting taking the trip back in time through this book and opening my eyes on a personal level. It is a great book though, and the author is getting slammed unfairly. This book is a quick read, a great adventure, and I highly recommend it! You will find yourself anxiously awaiting the 2nd book.

[Randy Bartley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a little outside my normal library but my son recommended it to me, which was quite rewarding insofar as I normally am doing the recommendations.

What i particularly enjoyed about the book was that the characters were down to earth; there were no real villains or angels, just people in a situation in which they had to find a way to initially survive and then prosper, using their innate intelligence, obviously their advanced knowledge, and yes, some magic, to posively affect their reality of being cut off from their homes, their families, and initially their world. It made me sit back and think about raising my own children, how I did or did not prepare them for the world they find themselves in, and how well they have fared. Would they have used their initiative, toughness, sensitivity, and intelligence as well as the children in the Lens... A thought provoking read - would have given it a 4 1/2 stars if allowed - and looking forward to the next one by the author...

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven’t read anything like this book before the concept is fresh and exciting. Set in the future but played out in the past it was a perfect mix of what the future holds but how the pasts plays a huge part in the future. I loved the idea of using the past as a form of discipline, teaching kids that they have it pretty easy now days. Sometimes a writer adds to much detail or not enough but Kaufman adds just the right amount of detail that make everything much more interesting. I am not a fan of historical novels, but this one really pulled me in and kept me reading. Also I loved the used of time travel, it wasn’t too much, so it didn’t over power the storyline like it can in so many other books I have read. The Lens and the Looker is a well written novel that anyone will like, it has the adventure, the detail and spot on plot that will pull you in until the last chapter. 4 out of 5 stars.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great modern book, I was lucky enough to get an early copy from a friend of mine and fell into the story after the first page. I recommend it to all readers, young or old, Sci-Fi, romance or just escapist. This is definatly (along with 1st Hungar Games book) my favorite book in the last 5 years. Now to tell the truth, I don't tend to like modern books (past the 90's) because of their lack of drive, I mostly read the classics and old Sci-Fi. But this book has drive and is diffinatly the best Sci-Fi to come out in a while. Keep on writing Lory.

[Mason Christiaans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank-you so much for the 3 books Mr.Kaufman. I really enjoyed reading the lens and the looker and leaning about how people lived in the 14th century. Did you have to research about how the lathe worked? Did you use the characters romero and guilietta to symbolize romeo and guliette? thanks again for the books.

-Mason Christiaans

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unbeknownst to me, this is a young adult book, so it was a bit simplistic, but I still liked it. It is the story of 3 teenagers, at least 1 of which, is sent to "history camp" as punishment. History camp is like historic Williamsburg, except EVERYONE is dressed and works as though in the time period chosen. Somehow, these 3 actually end up time traveling back to the dark ages.
It is a love story as well. What do you do when you fall in love with someone in a different time than yours?
A good read for any age.

[Dee Renee Chesnut · Rating 1 out of 5]

This ebook did not work well in 3 of my Nooks as the page-turning would stick. I gave up reading this.

[Maria · Rating 1 out of 5]

так, всё, моё терпение лопнуло. какая-то унылая примитивщина.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this book was quite intriguing, so I had high hopes to see how this concept of "History Camps" played out using the city of Verona in the year 1347. What I did not really understand was why Hansum and Lincoln were specifically cast as lens-maker apprentices. Kaufman goes into extreme detail regarding the intricacies of making lenses for eye glasses with rudimentary tools of that time period, and quite a bit of the book is devoted to the education of the process and the modernization of the tools used. Seeing the lens-making business in practice in the "real" Verona showed that the "lenses for the eyes" contributed as more of a novelty for the wealthy and educated than a wide-spread tool used by the masses. In contrast, Shamira's role as kitchen girl made much more sense to me, as that is a generic role that would not necessarily impede the progression of plot.
Backing up, I was very interested in the present-day time period of 2347 and the few details that Kaufman spared regarding this society. Unfortunately, not much is explained about how this society came to be. A brief explanation is given for the planetary population of 300 million, along with other random details interspersed throughout the book, such as every child born is paired with an A.I., people are implanted with a device that keeps disease and infection at bay, and parents are only allowed to have one child with a lottery sometimes allowing for a second child. The purpose of the History Camps are explained through the rebellious attitudes of the three main characters and how they can easily manipulate the system for their own entertainment. As a parent, the word that continually echoed through my head regarding these children in the Hard-Time History Camp is "Spoiled!" Though they are supposed to be learning about how the rebellion of the human populations of the past caused everything from war, to disease, to poverty and famine, the way the children are coddled and protected from any sort of real pain or hardship makes me wonder how these History Camps ever accomplished anything of lasting value in any child.
Once the children are brought to the real Verona and abandoned as orphans, they finally begin to get a taste of real difficulty and hardship, but this is where the believability ends for me. The children had a single day in the History Camp Verona to get acquainted with their roles, and they show up in the real Verona as near-experts, maneuvering the details of their jobs to accommodate for comfort and ease of use that the family they work for is not familiar with, of course all with the help and direction of a very convenient genie. On top of all of this, the three children become agreeable, cooperative, and hard-working practically overnight, with little sign of the rebellious tendencies that put them in a History Camp in the first place. These transitions in character development felt forced to me.
Another aspect that really bugged me from the beginning of the book was the awkwardness of the dialog throughout the book, specifically regarding the children's speech. It felt stilted and over-simplified, and slowed down my reading because I consistently felt that children today did not speak like this. Some of the speech of the people native to the real Verona also seemed strange, but I attributed that to the speech of the time period.
Many of the characters took on unique facets that made them rather memorable to me, such as Ugilino's looks and arrogance, Signora della Cappa's madness, and Shamira's artistic inclinations. The budding romance between Hansum, or "Romero", and Guilietta copies the Shakespearean play, "Romeo and Juliet", in many ways, down to the presence of a Father Lurenzano, and I have to wonder about Kaufman's motivations for working this tale into the plot. And again, their romance also felt forced and over-the-top, missing the reality-warping conviction that is obvious in the original Shakespeare story.
I also have to wonder how these advancements that the three children are introducing to 1347 Verona are actually affecting the progression of time, since this is a much harped-upon concern regarding time travel. The only thing that is apparent to both the children and the reader is the quaint changes made to the appearance of the genie. Something else that is also mentioned early on is that this is also the same time period as the Black Plague, which has yet to make an appearance. Hopefully, the next book in the trilogy will address these things, The Bronze and the Brimstone: The Verona Trilogy, Book 2.
This book seemed geared to appeal to pre-teens and young teens in many ways, but as an adult reader, it left much to be desired for me.

[Karielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Lens and the Looker by Lory S. Kaufman
Series: Verona Trilogy (#1)
Release Date: March 16th, 2011
Publisher: The Fiction Studio
Page Count: 336
Source: Received from author via Pump Up Your Book for review

There's hope for the future, but what about the past?

It's the 24th century and humans, with the help of artificial intelligences, (A.I.s) have finally created the perfect society. To make equally perfect citizens for this world, the elders have created History Camps, full-sized recreations of cities from Earth's distant pasts. Here teens live the way their ancestors did, doing the same dirty jobs and experiences the same degradations. History Camps teach youths not to repeat the mistakes that almost caused the planet to die. But not everything goes to plan.

In this first of a trilogy,we meet three spoiled teens in the year 2347. Hansum, almost 17, is good looking and athletic. Shamira, 15, is sassy, independent and has an artistic genius. Lincoln, 14, is the smart-aleck. But you don't have to scratch too far beneath the surface to find his insecurities.

These three "hard cases" refuse the valuable lessons History Camps teach. But when they are kidnapped and taken back in time to 1347 Verona, Italy, they only have two choices: adapt to the harsh medieval ways or die. The dangers are many, their enemies are powerful, and safety is a long way away. It's hardly the ideal environment to fall in love — but for Hansum, that's exactly what happens. In an attempt to survive, the trio risks introducing technology from the future. It could save them — or it could change history.

What Stephanie Thought: Though this book isn't particularly lousy, my biggest problem is how half-assed it is. Is it a sci-fi? A young adult fiction? A romance? A historical novel? A middle-grade book? A contemporized classic? Well, it's a little bit of all of the above, which makes it sound really, really cool. That's what I thought at first. But seems to be, when you mix everything up together, you don't result in a beautiful wonderful charming story. No. What you get, is a big, tricky mess.

Kaufman had such a rolling idea with this story. The dystopian young adult thriller -- with time travel! What's not to like?

Here's what's not to like: the addition of a cumbersome romance, which I'm sure most young adults don't care for; that could ruin a few things. An awkward, difficult-to-follow writing style (the kind that names the main character Hansum since he IS handsome... HAHAHAH!!); that might do it. An embarrassingly childish tone to the narrator; that will do it. I kept telling myself this is young adult. Nitty gritty, hits-so-close-to-home young adult. But an immature cast of characters and the author's way of narrating as if he were talking to a ten-year-old, completely disrupts the expected tone.

And then there are the contradictions. The Lens and the Looker is based loosely off of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Even if you haven't read the Elizabethan play, you know the story is basically of two people who fall in forbidden love, and end up killing themselves for it by the end. Sort of crappy? Well, that's why it's called a tragic romance. For a younger audience's novel to contain the heaviness of tragedy and love, pleases me some. I like how this book is sort of a modern version of the classic play. However, paired with the adolescent voice of the story, it just doesn't work. Either this is a children's story, or it's an adult story. Adding elements from both won't equate the book into the median and make it magically become "young adult".

Like I said, Kaufman's ideas really could have gotten somewhere. The concept of History Camps is fascinating, but he really should have stopped there. The Lens and the Looker needs to make up its mind about what type of book it is. Overall, it's a so-so read (if you can get past the author's lack of creative flow), but it certainly isn't something I am able to recommend to kids, teenagers, or adults, mostly because I don't know who it's aimed for in the first place.

Radical Rating: 5 hearts- Satisfying for a first read, but I'm not going back.

[Diana (Offbeat Vagabond) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original review here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2013/02/indie-book-review-lens-and-looker.html

The Lens and the Looker takes place in the 24th century. We start things off with a guy named Hansum. He likes to start trouble and give his professors a run for their money. His professors think he needs to learn a lesson. The kids of this generation have it way too easy. No real responsibilities and no real work. So they send him to History Camp. History Camp is where they send kids to learn how things were back in the past. While at the camp Hansum, he meets two other kids named Lincoln and Shamira. The camp is just full of actors who want to teach the kids something. But the kids have a few things up their sleeve so they could be sent home early. Hansum's mom works for the History Camp, so he knows how to play the game. They sneak in technology into the camp (which isn't allowed) and trick the actors. So while the actors are trying to figure out what to do with the troublesome kids, they meet someone that wants to take them on a real adventure. They may have been sent into the past for real and they have to figure out how they will cope while waiting to be sent back to the future.

This book really took me by surprise. The concept was great. I love the mixture of dystopian meets history. It was brilliant. Hansum and his new found friends are all given jobs in the history camp. Hansum and Lincoln are being taught how to make glasses or “discs for the eyes”. But after their prank, they are taken back into 14th century Italy. They notice things will not be as easy as they thought. I love all things they had to face while stuck in the past. There skills with creating lens makes a huge impact in the past. While there, Pan (the technology genie) tells them to create the telescope. The telescope isn't to be created until hundreds of years from now. So this would force the History Camp makers to bring them back to the 24th century. It is quite a mystery wondering if the History Camp makers will show up or whether they will stop them. Their inventions could change the fabric of history completely.

We also have the story of the kids and the family they are living with. They are brought in as orphans to serve a family that is a bit down on their luck. All three of the kids have their own special talents. Their talents earn them much love amongst the family, but jealousy and greed amongst others. The kids have to team together to not only save the family, but each other.

I had a lot of fun with these characters. Hansum, Lincoln, and Shamira were a blast together. I liked them more and more as the book went on. Hansum was suppose to be the rebellious teenager. I wasn't 100% on board with that. I just didn't get why he was that way. It is never really explained. Same thing goes for the other kids. But I love how close they became. We also have Ugilino, he is in love with the Master's daughter, Guilietta, and he hates that she has taken notice of Hansum and not him. I felt really sorry for him in this book. He was treated so badly because of his looks and I think that is why he acted the way he acted. I hope to see more of him in the other books and that he can be redeemed. I wish I can tell you guys the whole story, but this is a book that can be easily spoiled.

Overall, I say check this book out. It does start off quite slow and it can be a bit verbose in parts. But it really picks up by Book 3 (the book is split up into books or sections). Section 3 is definitely the best part. This book is full of mischief, laughs, and adventure. It also has its fair share of gross out moments which were sometimes quite funny. I love this idea of mixing science fiction and history. I know sometimes time travel reads can get a little crazy and confusing, but this did a good job. Kaufman has a great writing style and I am looking forward to reading his other works. This book is imaginative and fun. Definitely worth reading.

[Alanna (The Flashlight Reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hansum, Shamira, and Lincoln are all “hard cases” from the 24th century. They are spoiled, lazy, and resilient to the lessons that the elders of their society try to teach. In a desperate measure to get the teens to learn from their mistakes, they are whisked away to History Camp—a reenactment of some of the hardest times from history. History Camps are designed to teach even the hardest 24th century kids a lesson about the past. Unfortunately, Hansum, Shamira, and Lincoln are too smart for their own good; they manage to disrupt the “lesson.” Thinking that they have successfully interrupted the History Camp Elder’s plans, the three teens are surprised to find themselves being approached by a time-traveling man. This man—Artemis—transports (i.e. kidnaps) the teens to the real 14th century Verona, Italy.

Suddenly the teens aren’t as interested in causing mischief as they are in their own survival. Life in Verona during 1347 is much different from anything they have ever experienced! Luckily, they have the help of Pan and knowledge of future technologies to make their new lives easier. However, they learn that all knowledge comes with a price—an extremely high price. When things go terribly wrong, and they find themselves permanently trapped in 1347, the three teens are forced to find a way to survive, even if it means disrupting the course of history.

The premise of this story was fascinating. It reminded me of H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine. In Lory Kaufman’s book, The Lens and the Looker, three incredibly spoiled teens find themselves reaching “the last straw” with the adults in their 24th century society. Being the arrogant teenagers they are they go off to History Camp with the sole purpose to torment the adults, instead of learning any valuable life lessons. There wasn’t a lot of attention given to the future world since the majority of the story takes place in the past. I was very impressed with the amount of detail that went in to creating 1347 Verona, Italy. The descriptions of the characters were fantastic—even when the descriptions were revolting! This story was a post-dystopian sci-fi read with a hint of historical fiction thrown in. A very interesting combination!

If you’re wondering about the pacing, it was quick and steady. The first few chapters were interesting, but they were slow in comparison to the remainder of the story. I would have liked to have had some resolution with the character Ugilino at the end of the book. Having him scurry off to the medicine woman and then not being mentioned again was a little disappointing. Since this is the first book in a series, I’m sure he will resurface in the next book. I also liked that the characters did learn lessons throughout the story, and they didn’t all learn them at the same time. Each character had a different challenge to work out and come to terms with. Watching them struggle throughout the story made them very believable. On a side note, the Italian used in the book was impressive. I’m glad Pan was there to translate for me, or else I would have been very confused!

Overall, this was a well-written, fast paced science fiction read. I’m not typically a fan of science fiction, but I enjoyed reading this book. I learned a lot about 14th century Verona and lens making (who knew books could teach you things!). I liked how the book didn’t feel like science fiction; it was more historical fiction with a few “out there” twists thrown in. This gets a solid 4 from me. The second book is already finished (I couldn’t help but read the snippets at the end), and it looks even better!

[Sensitivemuse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay. Word to the wise; there is sci fi elements, but you won’t be spending too much time in the future world. The book is mostly set in 14th century Italy. That being said, this might disappoint some readers who are looking forward to reading about a post-dystopian world. I didn’t mind as historical fiction was always something I liked to read. Mixing historical fiction with science fiction elements also provides an interesting story. The sci-fi element does make a significant impact on the story (with Pan) but it doesn’t overpower it. Which is nice, as there’s lots of historical setting descriptions to provide a good accurate setting that is easy to picture.

I thought it was interesting the author decides to make this book a post-dystopian society/setting. With all the dystopian fiction out there, this is an interesting and refreshing twist. Although not all the answers on how the setting came to be is revealed. It would have been nice to provide that bit of background information, alas it’s not necessary.

The main general plot was really good. It gets even better towards the end with a good action climax and the ending leaves you wanting to know what happens next (there is a bit of a sneak preview of the second book at the back). As mentioned before, I liked the description of the historical setting. Not only was it concise and in detail but it was enforced and repeated throughout the novel. I can only think this is because it makes the characters (and the reader included) realize how much everything is taken for granted. The constant reminder of people’s rotting teeth was rather gross, but it really does enhance the setting, and lets you count your blessings for being born in a different time period.

The three characters were nicely written and well done. I would have preferred to see more of Lincoln in this story (he is a smart aleck and has a funny quote or two). Yet the story focuses a lot more on Hansum and a little on Shamira. Lincoln does disappear for some time during the last half of the book however I am hoping he would come back with a bigger role in the second book. I’d have to say I liked how all three developed in their own way. Lincoln ends up maturing a lot as he used to be the real mouthy and rebellious one of the three. I liked Hansum, he was the steadier and unspoken leader of the three plus the love story with Guilietta provides a good part of the romance in the book - I thought they were rather cute together. Although besides Lincoln, I liked Pan a lot too. He helped the three through their adventures, but also provided a means of making their living situations improve (however it does have consequences). I’d like to know more in detail what consequence this may have in the future, but for now you do see a change in Pan’s appearance (which is comical).

With such a unique idea of the History camps and an interesting blend of science fiction and historical fiction, this book was a real fun read. It had a bit of everything in one well written book. Readers might also notice it’s also an interesting history lesson on 14th century Italy (well, at least on how people lived back then). I would definitely recommend this to other readers (I think it’s most suited for those that like YA). It’s certainly a different read and lets readers take a break from the massive amounts of dystopian fiction out there.

[Heavensent1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lens and the Looker is book one in the Verona Series (History Camp: the Verona Trilogy)

Hansum, Shamira and Lincoln are three teenagers who like to create chaos wherever they go. They don't like to follow rules or listen to their elders and for that reason, they are sentenced to a session at History Camp where for the next two weeks, they will live in 14th century Verona, serving their time while living the hard reality of another.

Arriving at their destination, the three work to upset the balance of their teachers and enactors. Working as "apprentices" to an eye glass maker, the three play a few pranks and earn the wrath of their elders and are sent to bed without any supper. However, before they can decide if they have pushed the gambit too far, a mysterious man, who speaks in rhyme and prose, appears and whisks them through a time travel portal and takes them to the real Verona, a place where their are no teachers to stop the program and protect them. The three must learn to survive until the mysterious stranger arrives to take them back home.

Again, they are placed in the care of an eye glass maker and his family. Believing they aren't really in dangers harm, the three conspire to do the same and bring the attentions of the teachers to their aid. However, there is no one listening and when accidents befall them, they realize that they are in this for real and only their wits will keep them alive. Changing the course of history, the three begin to realize that if they make the wrong choice or influence the wrong thing, then maybe they will undo their own existence and change history forever!

I really enjoyed this book and the characters portrayed within. The concept of History Camps is a rather interesting one and the ability to go back in time and experience life first hand would be a very creative way to spend your time. I enjoyed the characters and the humour that ensues. I found everyone to be believable in their roles and the history that is dispersed throughout the pages, concerning ancient Verona, were most enjoyable to read. It's like getting a history lesson without even realizing it!

There are a few minor expletives, but nothing that defracts from the enjoyment of the story, and the violence is mild to moderate. The background description of their place in history was well done and I could almost imagine myself walking through the streets of the market. The mystery of how the children will return keeps you reading to see where their antics are going to lead them next as well, their coming into their own was well-balanced and read well. At first you disliked the spoiled, rude, obnoxious children but as the story progresses you watch them mature and come to love them, even Lincoln, whose sassy mouth continously lands him into troubles of some sort or another.

I cannot wait to read the next book in the series, I would recommend this for young adults and anyone who enjoys fantasy and history combined. I think author Lory Kaufman has done a magnificent job of creating a fantasy that can give us a break from our reality for a few hours.

[Jaime K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting post-dystopian story of a non-Jetsons future with A.I. (I read the backstory on the author's site and it was a fun, informative read).

Hansum lives in 2347 Common Era (CE), which I believe is millenia after humans nearly drove themselves to extinction (although from mentions of the lack of religion, it might just be 2347 BC named as CE). Every human has an artificial intelligence nanny from the moment they're born. Population is controlled to where engines, transportation, roads and rails were replaced by levitation technology and some telepathic ones as well. A.I.s "could look like anything but a good imitation of a human" (pg. 3) which makes some of them quite interesting. Nanny A.I.s are essentially linked to their wards' minds.

Hansum lives at the Community of New York College, but because he's constantly mentioned as a teen, I can't determine if it's boarding school called college or a university college. Anyway, his behavior has forced the dean to send him, as well as two others (Shamira and Lincoln) to Deep-Immersion History Camp.

History camp allows anyone to learn about the past and the mistakes that can't be repeated. It also teaches them skills that would otherwise go forgotten - like cooking (which Shamira has to do) or making spectacles (which Hansum and Lincoln are apprenticing for). Actors at History Camps may not know much beyond the common language, so they simulate dialects while throwing in a few foreign terms. Many students do summer camps at History camp either as goers or actors, or will even take vacations.. Because it's usually enforced, Hansum finds it to be more like brainwashing to get youth into shape instead of helping them learn life lessons, including patience, hard work, and true struggles.

So the 3 teens end up in 14th Century Verona....in the year of the Black Death. Fortunately, Hansum has a genie to help! Unfortunately, a future traveler named Arimus brings the teens to the real 1347 Verona. Armius gives them what the TV show "Farscape" calls translator microbes, allowing them to speak and understand Italian. I absolutely love how the translation works and how realistic it is when some curses don't transfer over (like merda, if I'm understanding it correctly) and also slang, like 'zippy'. Again, it's so much like "Farscape" that I have to smile.

The three are taken in as orphans by the della Cappa's, wher the husband is a former drunk, the wife has some mental disability that's been strengthened by the Master's past mistakes, a beautiful daughter, and a servant named Ugilino who has a very low status and poor manners/behavior.


Great quote: "Life is learning to always dance back into Heaven." - page 205 (59%) (Guilietta)


Some typos/grammatical errors: (and yes, sometimes I seem nitpicky, but certain things just jump out at me and because there were so few, I wasn't distracted by them)

- At 5%: "And if you thought tunic was itchy."

- At 15%: "feathered animal a short while earlier."
(maybe this should be "from earlier")

- At 70%: "The truth didn't really matter, possessing the..."
(I think there should be a semicolon, not a comma)

[Emi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lens and the Looker is unique in the sense that it’s difficult to label as belonging to a single genre. On one hand, it’s sci-fi. You begin in the 24th century, where you spend a brief time learning just enough to know that all the kids in a three hundred million populated world are sent back in time as part of their education. Learn from hardships of the past to change the future and all that. But on the other hand, once the main characters are transported and trapped back in time, the book is just as much historical fiction as it is science fiction. Hansum and his friends are exposed to a world without plumbing, hearthcare, and easy transportation in 14th century Italy. The detail put into creating the past was by far the greatest strength of the book, and watching the characters mature to deal with the difficulties of that time period in order to survive was the most rewarding aspect of the plot. The historical fact blended well with the fantasy of the entire novel, and I felt like I was being given a focused lesson in history without actually having to attend class. I especially loved the detail put into explaining the art of lens making. You never see that kind of focus in YA fiction, and the craftsman in me loved it.

As far as action goes, there’s really not much of it. Instead, the book draws you in through the character relationships and everyday drama of life in the 14th century. There are no real villains, just characters in a position to act out of the need to survive (well, with the exception of one, but to say anymore would mean I'd spoil some stuff for you). But, to be honest, though I liked the characters of the book, I didn’t feel like they stood out. We’re not given much back story about our three heroes, and the chapters sort of bounce around from character to character as needed . It was difficult to seperate Hansum as the main character from a minor character like Ugilino when the emotions of all of the characters were sort of light and didn't go far beyond the surface level, even when dealing with big emotions like love and heartache. It was clear by the end of part one that this was very much a plot driven story. Hopefully we’ll get to know the other main characters (specifically Shamira--who was sort of pushed to the side after she was introduced) in the sequel.

So, if you’re looking for something a very different compared to the other dystopia/post apocalyptic novels out there or in the mood to read the equivalent of watching a History Channel special, I highly recommend you pick up The Lens and the Looker. It was an interesting way to start what looks like will be an awesome series, and I can guarantee that you’ll learn a thing or two as you read through it’s pages. I know I did, and I can't wait to read the sequel!

For the full/original review, please visit my blog:
http://oktopusink.blogspot.com/2011/0...
Thanks! :)

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely one of the more unique books that I've read in a while, The Lens and the Looker blends both historical fiction and a bit of post-dystopian fiction into a perfect mixture of a book. I went into this story a little worried, since again historical fiction doesn't generally tend to be my favorite genre. However Lory Kaufman has found a way to blend these two worlds together, and he creates characters that will captivate you and draw you in. Despite my original misgivings, this was a book that I completely enjoyed.

Hansum, Shamira and Lincoln are all kids who are growing up in the year 2347. However during the course of the story, they are transported to the year 1347 in Verona, Italy. What I liked about these characters was how well they complimented one another. Hansum is the oldest, and although he has a snarky attitude sometimes, he's also very intelligent and perceptive. Shamira is good at understanding others, and kind of fills in the holes that they boys have in the emotional department. Then there's Lincoln of course, who kind of ends up as the comedic relief. He definitely has his share of insecurities, but he's also quite funny because of that! These characters bond together beautifully to pull you in and make you want to read on. I wanted to see what happened to them. Would they be smart enough and resourceful enough to make it through? One can only hope.

The setting of this book is mainly Verona in the 1300's. I'll admit that the one thing that I was a little disappointed in was that I didn't get to learn more about the world that these kids came from, before being deposited in the past. There are little snippets of their original home given out here and there, but as a person who is rather in love with dystopian and post-dystopian fiction, I really wanted to see what it was that they didn't appreciate. I suppose there was an inner part of me that wanted to compare right along with them. I know that I would be glad to be home after being in 1300's Verona, and we live in a time that is supposedly much less amazing than theirs!

Overall though I really enjoyed this story. The research that was done into this time period shines through on each page. Verona is described perfectly, right down to the less pleasant aspects of it during this time, and it is easy to find yourself transported there as you read. Add in characters who are intelligent, multi-faceted and downright intriguing, and you have a book that is quite a read. The Lens and the Looker is admittedly not something I would have chosen for myself, but that makes me all the more glad that I was offered it for review. It has changed my perception of the genre of historical fiction even more towards the positive side. I know that there is a sequel coming soon, and I cannot wait to find out what adventures these three teens will go on next. Thank you Lory Kaufman, for bringing a new world into my reading.

[Tara Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hoping to win a copy of The Lens and the Looker by Lory S. Kaufman in a Goodreads giveaway some time ago, but was not so lucky. So when I saw the chance to participate in a blog tour for the Verona Trilogy I jumped on it.

Hansum is what they call a "hard case". He's incredibly bright but he just doesn't.... get it. Know what I mean? He takes for granted the things that he has and the life that he lives because he never knew the struggles and the hardships of centuries before. So he, along with 2 other "hard cases" are sent to History Camp to learn to appreciate the way that they live.

Only... Hansum brings along something that influences the trio to more or less kick the beehive and cause trouble to the enactors at the camp. Shortly after they are spirited away to ACTUAL 1347 Verona, Italy and are forced to apprectice with someone who is DEFINITELY not an employee in a History Camp. Scared and left on their own they have to figure out how to assimilate and get along with Medieval times and do what they can to get by until it's time for them to go home.

The book was exciting. It got right in to the swing of things from the very beginning when Hansum is sentenced to 2 weeks of History Camp. No time is wasted on getting him there and then the fun begins.

Hansum is a very likeable character. That may be because he knows how to charm the pants off of anyone he comes in contact with... or the fact that he's quick witted and good in a pinch. He may be a hard case, but no worse than a lot of teens in the days we live in now who take advantage of the things that are given to them. Shamira also doesn't seem like much of a hard case. She's quiet and reserved and a brilliant artist. She's a quick learner and eager to help those around her. Lincoln irritated me at first. Immature and rude, but what 14 year old isn't? He certainly proved himself later on in the story and actually became quite likeable. And an invaluable apprentice to the Master the trio was serving under.

The secondary characters in the story are very endearing and you can't help but smile at Master della Cappa. You can't help but hope that Hansum and Guilietta get to be together despite the fact that Hansum is a servant and Guilietta is the Master's daughter.

Honestly, I never thought I'd enjoy reading about a lensmaker as much as I did. Granted, at the beginning while they were describing the process I kind of skimmed over that. I'm not good at reading lengthy directions (personal flaw, what can I say) or instructions. But other than that the book was a very fast read. It was an interesting look in to Medieval Verona and it was fun to imagine what life was like for the teens in that time. I'm very excited to really get in to book two, The Bronze and the Brimstone to see what happens to our "hard cases".

I'd recommend this book to absolutely anyone. Once you get pulled in to the story you'll find it hard to make your way back out until the book is over.