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Drift House #2
The Lost Cities
Returning for the summer to Drift House, their uncle’s seagoing mansion, Susan and Charles Oakenfeld find themselves separated when a tidal wave carries the house out to sea. Charles is stuck up a tree with a parrot and a mysterious book, while Susan and Uncle Farley are adrift in the house. As each attempts to track the source of the time squall that set the tidal wave in motion, it soon becomes clear that they are separated not just by space, but centuries.
From the coast of Newfoundland, to the rocky shores of medieval Greenland, to the tumbling tower of Babel, Charles and Susan are in for much more of an adventure than they could have imagined, and whether or not they get home again is out of their control . . .
From the coast of Newfoundland, to the rocky shores of medieval Greenland, to the tumbling tower of Babel, Charles and Susan are in for much more of an adventure than they could have imagined, and whether or not they get home again is out of their control . . .
400 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
5 people are currently reading
187 people want to read
About the author
Dale Peck
41 books108 followersDale Peck (born 1967 on Long Island, New York) is an American novelist, critic, and columnist. His 2009 novel, Sprout, won the Lambda Literary Award for LGBT Children's/Young Adult literature, and was a finalist for the Stonewall Book Award in the Children's and Young Adult Literature category.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
October 24, 2009
It is with GREAT regret that I give this a lukewarm review, and it just crushes me because the first book was so good. You know, this kind of book has always bothered me -- it's a magic/fantasy/time travel adventure story, and it's completely joyless. NOT ONE FUN THING happens to the kids having the adventure. If you're going to have magical adventures in time travel, they shouldn't be A Total Drag. Honestly, you'd be better off staying home. I get that time travel is frequently a serious business, but does it have to be a Giant Hassle from start to finish? Even serious magic stories should have some moments where you can take a step back and enjoy something awesome and cool and, well, magic, otherwise why even bother? Thunderbolt City! Aunt Beast! Talking Mice! That's what magic is supposed to be about.
Grade: Eh.
Recommended: Eh.
Grade: Eh.
Recommended: Eh.
April 2, 2023
I didn’t read the first one in this series mostly because I didn’t realize there was a first one and I definitely think I should’ve. There was just a couple of the characters personalities that would’ve probably been more rounded and the beginning wouldn’t have been so quick paced and confusing for me. I have been wanting to read an adventure/ fantasy book that gave me the same excitement as I used to get from childhood books. I think because it was a children’s book it did exactly that but it was long enough that I didn’t feel like too much of an easy read. I really enjoyed this book and enjoyed stepping into another world. I definitely think I probably will go back and read the first one.
November 30, 2012
The Lost Cities: A Drift House Voyage by Dale Peck opens at the start of summer, 2002. It's been almost a year since the Oakenfeld siblings were driven up to Canada to escape the chaos of the World Trade Center destruction. Just as Susan, Charles and Murray are preparing for their trip back, Murray comes down with chicken pox, meaning he is left behind in Manhattan.
Susan and Charles, though, have been given a book that provides further clues to how Drift House and the Seas of Time work. Unfortunately, disaster strikes in the form of a temporal tsunami, thus separating Charles from the house, while Susan and Uncle Farley are once again adrift.
Parents who might have read (or seen the episode) Doctor Who and the War Games will understand straight away the plight both siblings are in. Living along the shores of the Seas of Time are lost cultures, including entire lost cities — temporal echoes of times long forgotten. Much like the crew of cursed Flying Dutchman, these people continue to go about their business, unwilling or unable to grasp that their time has come and gone.
I found the continuing exploration of time travel in a temporal maelstrom, fascinating. Charles this time gets to experience first hand some of what little Murray has gone through or will go through depending on where in time he is.
Susan and Charles, though, have been given a book that provides further clues to how Drift House and the Seas of Time work. Unfortunately, disaster strikes in the form of a temporal tsunami, thus separating Charles from the house, while Susan and Uncle Farley are once again adrift.
Parents who might have read (or seen the episode) Doctor Who and the War Games will understand straight away the plight both siblings are in. Living along the shores of the Seas of Time are lost cultures, including entire lost cities — temporal echoes of times long forgotten. Much like the crew of cursed Flying Dutchman, these people continue to go about their business, unwilling or unable to grasp that their time has come and gone.
I found the continuing exploration of time travel in a temporal maelstrom, fascinating. Charles this time gets to experience first hand some of what little Murray has gone through or will go through depending on where in time he is.
September 12, 2010
I have to say that this book was a huge let down for me. After reading Drift House I was assured the sequel would be amazing just as the first was. When I read the first Drift House book, I was transferred to a fantasy world much like ones you see in movies. Not only were the characters mysterious and mystical, but the writing was very descriptive. The book was full of imagery the author had included. Needless to say, I thought the second book would be just as amazing. However this book started off slow and only got slower. The first thing I did not like about this book was the fact that Murray was not in any of the plot. He was my favorite character and I think the author made a huge mistake by taking him out of the second book. Also, this book was very confusing and hard to follow. Half the time I was reading this book, I found myself very confused and unsure of what was going on. I appreciate that the author changes points of view, however I found that it made the book even harder to follow; seeing as each character is on their own adventure. I did not understand the ending of this book either and I would not recommend this book to anyone. I hope Dale Peck can do better next time.
February 17, 2008
In the Lost Cities, Susan and Charlies Oakenfeld go to stay with there Uncle Farley for the summer, hoping that they will once again end up on the Sea of Time.
However when they do get there things do not turn out as they would have wished. The first hint that this is not going to be a normal vacation is when, Mario, a "cursed returner" leaves a package for them before they leave, containing a mysterious book, but before they agree on who should open it, they are in Drift House, staring at the drawing room walls, at the disaster they see there.
Then Charlies is stuck up in a tree with his oh-so-special book, and Susan is out on the Sea of Time way sooner then she suspected.
They are both launched into untold adventure, and wonder if they will ever get back home.
One thing that really stood out to me from this book, was that Dale Peck could not possibly be a Christian.
It was basically said that it was not God that brought down the Tower of Babel, but Charlies Oakenfeld.
I was also a little confused through the first book, and this book, about returners, and what they are.
I would say that this book was not as good as the first one.
However when they do get there things do not turn out as they would have wished. The first hint that this is not going to be a normal vacation is when, Mario, a "cursed returner" leaves a package for them before they leave, containing a mysterious book, but before they agree on who should open it, they are in Drift House, staring at the drawing room walls, at the disaster they see there.
Then Charlies is stuck up in a tree with his oh-so-special book, and Susan is out on the Sea of Time way sooner then she suspected.
They are both launched into untold adventure, and wonder if they will ever get back home.
One thing that really stood out to me from this book, was that Dale Peck could not possibly be a Christian.
It was basically said that it was not God that brought down the Tower of Babel, but Charlies Oakenfeld.
I was also a little confused through the first book, and this book, about returners, and what they are.
I would say that this book was not as good as the first one.
August 21, 2009
The story begins with the three siblings Susan, Charles, and Murray Oakenfield back at home in NYC. A mysteriously-delivered book sets up their return to their uncle’s Drift House in Canada, and soon they are (separately) out on the Sea of Time with the vague knowledge that their journey has something to do with a “time jetty” (some sort of time storm squall), the magic book, and lost cities including Atlantis, the Tower of Babel, and the World Trade Center buildings. Like the first book, there are various time-bending issues that seem meant to raise important questions but actually end up being more confusing than anything else. The youngest brother, Murray, pops up as “Mario” in various times/places because he has somehow become unmoored in time. (I don’t think my confusion is just forgetting the details of the first book; there is much left unsaid, apparently to be mysterious.)
On a frivolous note, the portentous symbol that appears on the book, the Tower of Babel, and on a lost Indian tribe’s shaman also is on an amulet that forms part of the book; a sketch of the amulet is on the chapter headings, and I have to say it looks a lot like an athletic cup.
On a frivolous note, the portentous symbol that appears on the book, the Tower of Babel, and on a lost Indian tribe’s shaman also is on an amulet that forms part of the book; a sketch of the amulet is on the chapter headings, and I have to say it looks a lot like an athletic cup.
September 13, 2008
More fun with Drift House, as Susan and Charles go to spend another summer with Uncle Farley. Murray has the chicken pox and can't come . . . but other, older incarnations of him keep popping up. Some are helpful, some a hindrance, depending on which Murray appears. (In the first book, Murray was cast adrift on the sea of time, and though he technically returned minutes later, during those minutes he lived an entire lifetime.)
This time around, the children are caught up in the history of, and destruction, of several lost cities. Though Atlantis and Roanoke are mentioned (along with others) they are mainly involved with Osterbygd (the Viking colony on Greenland) and Babel. Yep. As in Tower of.
Really fun stuff, and it was nice to separate Susan and Charles on their adventures, as their sibling squabbling when they are together is not my favorite part of the books.
This time around, the children are caught up in the history of, and destruction, of several lost cities. Though Atlantis and Roanoke are mentioned (along with others) they are mainly involved with Osterbygd (the Viking colony on Greenland) and Babel. Yep. As in Tower of.
Really fun stuff, and it was nice to separate Susan and Charles on their adventures, as their sibling squabbling when they are together is not my favorite part of the books.
June 26, 2011
Susan, Charles, Murray, and their eccentric uncle return again in this Drift House sequel. This time the two older children "accidentally" embark on an adventure to close the time "jetty," rather than the "great drain" of the previous book. "The jetty is a manifestation of the eternal human desire to cheat time, to get to the end without going through the middle." (taken from chapter 23) The ideas of time and the disruption of time, people, events & war addressed in this book make it both a fascinating and complex read. The "jetty" slices through the "lost cities" of Babel, Troy, Atlantis, Pompeii and others, destroying them and threatening to destroy others. The book begs for another in the series, as the reader is still left hanging regarding Murray's eventual return to his rightful place in time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2009
Susan, Charles and Murray Oakenfield have an unusual secret -their uncle’s house is really a ship that sails on the Sea of Time, taking its occupants wherever and whenever.
In this second adventure, a mysterious book is delivered to the children’s apartment in New York, a book that will lead Susan and Charles to the 16th century. While Charles adventures among the Huron Indians, Susan and her uncle find themselves in Greenland in pursuit of another mystery – an amulet that gives the wearer knowledge beyond their time. Susan and Charles, with the help of a past incarnation of their brother Murray, must stop the amulet and book being used or all of time will be disrupted.
A good next step for teens who loved “The Magic Tree House” Series!
In this second adventure, a mysterious book is delivered to the children’s apartment in New York, a book that will lead Susan and Charles to the 16th century. While Charles adventures among the Huron Indians, Susan and her uncle find themselves in Greenland in pursuit of another mystery – an amulet that gives the wearer knowledge beyond their time. Susan and Charles, with the help of a past incarnation of their brother Murray, must stop the amulet and book being used or all of time will be disrupted.
A good next step for teens who loved “The Magic Tree House” Series!
July 29, 2010
Susan, Charles and Murray Oakenfield have an unusual secret -their uncle’s house is really a ship that sails on the Sea of Time, taking its occupants wherever and whenever.
In this second adventure, a mysterious book is delivered to the children’s apartment in New York, a book that will lead Susan and Charles to the 16th century. While Charles adventures among the Huron Indians, Susan and her uncle find themselves in Greenland in pursuit of another mystery – an amulet that gives the wearer knowledge beyond their time. Susan and Charles, with the help of a past incarnation of their brother Murray, must stop the amulet and book being used or all of time will be disrupted.
A good next step for teens who loved “The Magic Tree House” Series!
In this second adventure, a mysterious book is delivered to the children’s apartment in New York, a book that will lead Susan and Charles to the 16th century. While Charles adventures among the Huron Indians, Susan and her uncle find themselves in Greenland in pursuit of another mystery – an amulet that gives the wearer knowledge beyond their time. Susan and Charles, with the help of a past incarnation of their brother Murray, must stop the amulet and book being used or all of time will be disrupted.
A good next step for teens who loved “The Magic Tree House” Series!
September 17, 2007
I was so disappointed by this book. I loved the first one so much that it was in my top 5 of 2005. I've been waiting for this one since, and I am so sorry to say that it doesn't even come close to measuring up to the first one. The plot is muddy and sprawling, the parrots annoying, the grownups stupid, the denouement unclear. The bits inserted to teach the young'uns historical facts are like little unblended pieces of hard sugar in your cake. It struck me as a novel which had several directions from which to choose, but which did not choose, rather sailed off in all directions at once.
October 28, 2014
3.5
There were a good amount of aspects I liked about this sequel and throughout the book I was always at least mildly interested, but it didn't have any wow factor for me. After finishing and thinking on it, I also realize that I missed the character interaction between all three siblings. It was there sometimes, but not like it was in the first book and it must have been one of my favorite parts about it. However there were some very nice surprises and turns and overall would recommend you try finishing this duology if you're at all interested.
There were a good amount of aspects I liked about this sequel and throughout the book I was always at least mildly interested, but it didn't have any wow factor for me. After finishing and thinking on it, I also realize that I missed the character interaction between all three siblings. It was there sometimes, but not like it was in the first book and it must have been one of my favorite parts about it. However there were some very nice surprises and turns and overall would recommend you try finishing this duology if you're at all interested.
April 1, 2008
This book kept our 18 hour drive to Las Vegas bareable over Spring Break. It was an entertaining story of the love brother and sister have for each other mixed with time travel, evil mermaids and other mystical creatures. My child and I really enjoyed it and have been quoting some of the lines from it all week.
June 22, 2009
When I started this book I had so many unanswered questions from the first book. This story didn't answer enough of them, it just created new ones. Which leaves me to believe a third book is coming soon. I did love how the author used history and fiction together,mentioning the Tower of Babel and the Vikings and many more lost cities.
August 17, 2009
ok this book was better than the first but still a little dull and not that engaging...
and there was a little anti-religion in there (they pretty much replaced god with time-travel) and it was pretty far out, but i;m still expecting a cult or something to sprout that believes in time travel as their diety...
January 11, 2011
It had been a while since I read the first book in this series, so it took a little while for me to get into it. The Characters are enjoyable, the plot is exciting (if a little confusing), and overall I really enjoyed reading this. Looking forward to the next Drift House Voyage!
February 20, 2008
Not as good as the first book, but still interesting. Still leaves a lot of the story untold...waiting for more.
May 18, 2008
Second installment in the Drift House series - good read!
February 10, 2009
This is the sequel to Drift House. I really liked both of these books. They are very well written!
March 9, 2009
Not as good as the first...it got a little bizarre with the time travel thing in some spots...but still a good read.
February 8, 2012
While The Lost Cities was great, it didn't QUITE have the pull on me that the first book, Drift House, had had. A good book all around, though.
March 22, 2013
I was a little leery on reading this after seeing everyone's low ratings, but I really liked this book. Good story. I look forward to more adventures!!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews