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The Book that Proves Time Travel Happens
The first novel that explores-with dazzling wit and high adventure-the previously undiscovered, astonishing-yet-true connections between Morse Code and ancient Chinese I-Ching hexagrams!
This never-before-seen twist on time travel adventure explores the theme of accepting those who are different-and having the courage to join them. The moment Ambrose Brody steps into a fortune-teller's tent, he is whisked into a quest that spans millennia with his best friend, an enigmatic carnival girl, and an unusual family heirloom that drops them into the middle of the nineteenth century!
The year 1852 is a dangerous time for three non-white children, and they must work together to dodge slave-catchers and save ancestors from certain death-all while figuring out how to get back to the future. Fortunately, they have a guide in the helpful hints embedded in an ancient Chinese text called the I-Ching, which they interpret using Morse Code. But how can a three-thousand-year-old book be sending messages into the future through a code developed in the 1830s? Find out in this mind-bending, time-bending adventure!
This never-before-seen twist on time travel adventure explores the theme of accepting those who are different-and having the courage to join them. The moment Ambrose Brody steps into a fortune-teller's tent, he is whisked into a quest that spans millennia with his best friend, an enigmatic carnival girl, and an unusual family heirloom that drops them into the middle of the nineteenth century!
The year 1852 is a dangerous time for three non-white children, and they must work together to dodge slave-catchers and save ancestors from certain death-all while figuring out how to get back to the future. Fortunately, they have a guide in the helpful hints embedded in an ancient Chinese text called the I-Ching, which they interpret using Morse Code. But how can a three-thousand-year-old book be sending messages into the future through a code developed in the 1830s? Find out in this mind-bending, time-bending adventure!
416 pages, Hardcover
First published April 14, 2015
19 people are currently reading
375 people want to read
About the author
Henry Clark
61 books25 followersLibrarians note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
June 21, 2015
I feel so cheated by this book. The title suggested something really fun and quirky and perhaps something that was in the vein of Pseudonymous Bosch (whose books are hilarious and you should totally check them out.) This book wasn't really any of those things though. Some readers will find it hilarious, and there were moments when I laughed but this book just didn’t work for me the way I wanted it to.
The time travel aspects were not believable and given that this book is set in a world resembling ours, I was surprised at how easily the characters believed things without even questioning them. They find a connection between two codes and they are so quick to believe it isn’t a coincidence. I mean one of these codes was SWEET, sweet wasn’t a term used in the specific context they were using it when the code was invented.
I hate conveniences like that and I don’t think a book should be excused for relying on them to explain important parts of the world building just because it is intended for a younger audience. That seems like cheating to me.
I also didn’t really like the characters. Tom was smart but there were times when he would want to do things that put everyone’s life at risk, including his own, because he felt like it. Ambrose was kind of a jerk when the novel started and even though he became better by the end of the novel, his improvement came too late for me. I also didn’t give a flying fart about Frankie.
This all left me with a book I felt very mediocre about. It’s not a bad book; it’s just not the book for me because almost none of the aspects of the book really made me get excited. It’s especially a pity since I think MGs about time travel can be so much fun.
This book is not one I’d personally recommend but don’t be put off if you’re interested! It might work out for you.
The time travel aspects were not believable and given that this book is set in a world resembling ours, I was surprised at how easily the characters believed things without even questioning them. They find a connection between two codes and they are so quick to believe it isn’t a coincidence. I mean one of these codes was SWEET, sweet wasn’t a term used in the specific context they were using it when the code was invented.
I hate conveniences like that and I don’t think a book should be excused for relying on them to explain important parts of the world building just because it is intended for a younger audience. That seems like cheating to me.
I also didn’t really like the characters. Tom was smart but there were times when he would want to do things that put everyone’s life at risk, including his own, because he felt like it. Ambrose was kind of a jerk when the novel started and even though he became better by the end of the novel, his improvement came too late for me. I also didn’t give a flying fart about Frankie.
This all left me with a book I felt very mediocre about. It’s not a bad book; it’s just not the book for me because almost none of the aspects of the book really made me get excited. It’s especially a pity since I think MGs about time travel can be so much fun.
This book is not one I’d personally recommend but don’t be put off if you’re interested! It might work out for you.
February 28, 2015
Ambrose and his best friend Tom are on their way to the fortune-tellers' tents at the travelling carnival when Ambrose learns that his history teacher father is in danger of losing his job for being a "Trans-Temp" -- someone who dresses outside of his/her own time period. At the carnival, Ambrose meets Frankie, Madame Janus's daughter, who persuades him to help her on a dangerous mission. The three middle schoolers set off to rescue Frankie's family heirloom, and find themselves in 1852. They are almost immediately captured by slave catchers and must find a way to return to the present without disrupting history. They use both the ancient Chinese fortunetelling book the I-Ching and the Morse code hidden in the hexagrams to help with their decisions.
If you are a stickler for time-travel standards, this book does bend the rules of time-travel as it is usually portrayed. It is necessary for the plot, and will not bother most casual readers. More disturbing to me were some of the stereotypes used towards the beginning of the book, particularly the Chinese "Tiger Mom" and the use of the word Kemosabe (once). As I continued reading, I realized that the author purposefully included these and other examples of disrespect and intolerance to make the message of the book that much stronger. It is an exciting adventure that also drives home the point of acceptance and the importance of diversity. As an adult the message feels a bit heavy-handed, but I do not believe that the intended audience will see it as such. There are a lot of conversations to be had after reading this book.
Recommended for grades 4-7.
ARC provided by publisher.
If you are a stickler for time-travel standards, this book does bend the rules of time-travel as it is usually portrayed. It is necessary for the plot, and will not bother most casual readers. More disturbing to me were some of the stereotypes used towards the beginning of the book, particularly the Chinese "Tiger Mom" and the use of the word Kemosabe (once). As I continued reading, I realized that the author purposefully included these and other examples of disrespect and intolerance to make the message of the book that much stronger. It is an exciting adventure that also drives home the point of acceptance and the importance of diversity. As an adult the message feels a bit heavy-handed, but I do not believe that the intended audience will see it as such. There are a lot of conversations to be had after reading this book.
Recommended for grades 4-7.
ARC provided by publisher.
July 18, 2015
I love time travel novels, but what grabbed me most was the combined use of Morse Code and the I-Ching. Freakishly fascinating.
February 13, 2015
So silly, but also clever and imaginative in all the best ways. Great lessons in acceptance and morality slipped in between exploding river boats and time traveling trombones. Borders on preachy here and there but mostly not.
April 21, 2015
Funny, fast paced middle grade novel that has you looking at history in a whole new way!
July 27, 2015
My ten year old son and I really enjoyed this book. Great combination of action, realistic characters, and mystery to keep us glued to the pages.
March 10, 2017
3.5 stars. Good ya tale about two middle-school boys helping a girl who works at the circus find a mysterious item - and then things get weird. Fun read, with unexpected social commentary.
May 31, 2015
This book has all the fun anyone who has read What We Found in the Sofa and How It Changed the World will expect (and if you haven’t read it—that’s a lot). There are improbable coincidence, hair-raising escapes, good friendships, and tough decisions. Henry Clark also weaves in a message about the value of difference and the need to accept oddities in others, and in oneself. Rather than being A Moral which beats the reader over the head, it is an outgrowth of the plot and of the situations the characters find themselves in—and get themselves out of. These three are no passive bystanders; they cause problems and solve them—with a little help from the I-Ching and Morse Code.
The rest of the review is up on FangirlNation home of reviews, arts and entertainment news, and essays about the geek life.
The rest of the review is up on FangirlNation home of reviews, arts and entertainment news, and essays about the geek life.
April 27, 2015
Who knew that the Morse Code and ancient Chinese practice of I-Ching were one and the same and would prove that time travel could happen? Ambrose runs to the circus to find a fortune teller who will give him answers into his dad's strange behavior and if his parent's marriage is in trouble only to become swept up in an adventure to the slave trading days helping a circus girl retrieve an ancient Romini time travel device, the skagbolt. Ambrose, his friend Tom and the fortune teller's daughter, Frankie will use I-Ching and modern day Morse Code to solve where they must go and what to do next. Fun for adventure seekers, puzzle lovers and historical science fiction readers with a set of diverse characters.
April 30, 2015
I am one of those people who just can't resist a time travel book. And a book with proof of time travel? Who wouldn't just love a book like that! I finished this book in about three days which is saying something because I always read a book faster when I am enjoying it. This book was awesome and I loved the added hexagrams and morse code! If Henry Clark is reading this, here is a message to him. This book was a new favorite of mine and I am definitely going to be reading some of his other books soon.
May 17, 2015
Time travel trombone. Main characters are all POCs. Boys spend most of the story wearing period girls' clothing and not too much attention is drawn to it.
I like this book. I like everything about this book. The only reason it gets 4 stars (which is actually more like 4.5) is that it wasn't quite as good as What We Found In The Sofa And How It Saved The World.
Did I mention time travel trombone?!
I like this book. I like everything about this book. The only reason it gets 4 stars (which is actually more like 4.5) is that it wasn't quite as good as What We Found In The Sofa And How It Saved The World.
Did I mention time travel trombone?!
March 19, 2015
Very funny time-travel adventure! But the cover proves that even when an author writes a SF story with diverse cast and the publishers publish it, the cover are will minimize their brown-ness.
January 14, 2016
The giggles were a mile a minute on this one. Makes me smile just thinking about it.
September 21, 2018
My son loves time travel books, but not this one. The only time traveling he did was the time wasted in waiting for the actual story to start.
January 13, 2016
Have you ever thought to yourself while watching Back to the Future "I like this, but I wish it was more like Percy Jackson"? Because if so, you've effectively described TBTPTTH (Heck, even the abbreviation is a mouthful). The basic idea, on the surface, is one done a thousand times. Person is in trouble, goes back in time, accidentally changes a bunch of stuff while trying to get back to his time, arrives to a future that completely sucks, heads back to fix his mistake, hilarity ensues. Except this book has enough differences to make it stand out, enough clever hooks to keep you until the end, and enough background drama and subtle references to make you want to read it again.
One of my favorite parts of the book is actually a combination of two parts. The first takes place rather early, where the almost-obnoxious but hilarious main star, Ambrose, is hiding in a pile of hay to escape slave traders, and silently flirts with a couple of girls near the pile. One of them begins to wave, but is stopped almost instantly by another. Half a book later, the three main characters are back in the same area and time, trying to prevent a pretty terrible Nazi-filled future, dressed as girls to attract as little attention as possible. As they pass the hay pile, Ambrose, knowing he's currently hiding inside the pile, starts to wave to himself, because...well, it's just the sort of thing he'd do. Frankie hits his hand down, telling him to focus. It's glossed over pretty quickly, but when you read it again, it strikes you that the girl Ambrose flirted with was himself. It's a bit mind-blowing, and shows how much thought went into this book.
When something as small as an eraser can change the future, the three discover rather quickly that he have to be very careful in the past. But that turns out to be harder than expected when there's the involvement of a Sasquatch, an exploding steamer, a failed writer who faked his own death, and of course, their alternate timeline versions. And that's not even mentioning things like Psychic powers, a Chinese fortune-telling book, and a time-traveling trombone, all of which play a huge part in the plot.
If you couldn't tell, this is a classic story, but done so completely differently that it's worth the read anyway. The characters are excellent, and the plot has enough twists to keep you going all the way through. And, of course, if you like Percy Jackson, you may be happy to learn that the main character is almost just like him, with enough differences to make him his own character. Early in the book, when he was asked for his name in the 1800s, he replies "Marty McFly." At this moment, I was sold on his character.
All around, an excellent story if you're looking for something light and fun, yet with enough substance to entertain you. Read it, and you probably won't regret it.
One of my favorite parts of the book is actually a combination of two parts. The first takes place rather early, where the almost-obnoxious but hilarious main star, Ambrose, is hiding in a pile of hay to escape slave traders, and silently flirts with a couple of girls near the pile. One of them begins to wave, but is stopped almost instantly by another. Half a book later, the three main characters are back in the same area and time, trying to prevent a pretty terrible Nazi-filled future, dressed as girls to attract as little attention as possible. As they pass the hay pile, Ambrose, knowing he's currently hiding inside the pile, starts to wave to himself, because...well, it's just the sort of thing he'd do. Frankie hits his hand down, telling him to focus. It's glossed over pretty quickly, but when you read it again, it strikes you that the girl Ambrose flirted with was himself. It's a bit mind-blowing, and shows how much thought went into this book.
When something as small as an eraser can change the future, the three discover rather quickly that he have to be very careful in the past. But that turns out to be harder than expected when there's the involvement of a Sasquatch, an exploding steamer, a failed writer who faked his own death, and of course, their alternate timeline versions. And that's not even mentioning things like Psychic powers, a Chinese fortune-telling book, and a time-traveling trombone, all of which play a huge part in the plot.
If you couldn't tell, this is a classic story, but done so completely differently that it's worth the read anyway. The characters are excellent, and the plot has enough twists to keep you going all the way through. And, of course, if you like Percy Jackson, you may be happy to learn that the main character is almost just like him, with enough differences to make him his own character. Early in the book, when he was asked for his name in the 1800s, he replies "Marty McFly." At this moment, I was sold on his character.
All around, an excellent story if you're looking for something light and fun, yet with enough substance to entertain you. Read it, and you probably won't regret it.
January 6, 2018
Yay! A book that talks about history, and time travel, and transgenders... Wait, what?! This book talks about it under the term trans-temp (dressing in a different century's clothes), but really, look at the names. It's not that subtle.
In addition, one character decides they're born in the wrong century and stays behind, despite leaving a family in the present.
While it's fun to dress up, it doesn't change one's gender. Despite loving things related to history, that does not mean someone is born in the wrong century. Let's get one thing straight. God does not make mistakes - about gender, or about the time one was born in.
On a side note - it was lacking in "sparkling wit" and high on somewhat questionable jokes. I'm feeling cheated.
In addition, one character decides they're born in the wrong century and stays behind, despite leaving a family in the present.
While it's fun to dress up, it doesn't change one's gender. Despite loving things related to history, that does not mean someone is born in the wrong century. Let's get one thing straight. God does not make mistakes - about gender, or about the time one was born in.
On a side note - it was lacking in "sparkling wit" and high on somewhat questionable jokes. I'm feeling cheated.
September 15, 2015
This book is hilarious, diverse and I think the time travel logic works. There is a ton of perfect dialogue, just waiting to be read aloud, or just read by an unsuspecting teen. Within all that, there does manage to be a discussion of larger issues of diversity, acceptance, tolerance and whether it matters if people act differently. but it does it with a lot of humor and of course, time travel.
July 7, 2015
I adored this book- it's captivating, clever, and witty. A quick and interesting read, although the scenarios inserted for humor at times seems a bit unlikely to actually happen, but then again, it's a book about time travel. I also liked the references to pop culture.
July 3, 2015
Enjoyed the characters quirks and depth, also imaginative timing in of I Ching and Morse code as they discover and explore. Full of interest for intended audience, would enjoy book talking this one!
August 19, 2015
This is not the first book that I've read about time travelling and this book is quite easy to understand! Ambrose and his friends Tom and Frankie travel to the past using the trombone that belongs to Frankie's family to try and help Frankie obtain a book that was stolen from her. When they do get the book back and return to the present, they find that the present has been drastically altered... So they make a second trip to the past and correct the mistake that they made. Throughout their time traveling journey, they use the I-Ching book and the morse code that help them decide what to do. In the end, Ambrose loses Tom and I was feeling a bit sad but Tom's disappearance makes a lot of sense and it ties everything together.
This book deals with issues of race and individuality and teaches a great lesson to those who read it !
This book deals with issues of race and individuality and teaches a great lesson to those who read it !
Read
July 26, 2021I read an ARC of this that randomly ended up at a library bag sale, so my complaints MAY have been resolved in the final copy, so take the review with as many grains of salt as needed.
overall a very inventive idea. I think this would definitely appeal to kids who like to find patterns and maybe consider harmless conspiracy theories.
but I didn't like that a Romani character was like "yeah some people consider G*psy a slur but I don't get why they do" so then everyone in the book feels like it's cool to keep saying the G word. I'm not gonna say a Romani character is wrong for using whatever word she chooses for herself, but the lampshading felt like a clumsy attempt to address why the author was using the word in the first place and didn't want to edit it out, even though it's about the same amount of effort to explain it away as it is to just change it.
also disliked the "trans-temporal/cross-time-dresser" phrasing. while I have an easy time believing an uptight school board might get rid of a 'quirky' teacher, in this book it really comes across as taking an ACTUAL issue where people get fired for self-expression, and coopting it because you're basically just making a cutesy pun about "crossdressing" (which I'm pretty sure was an outdated phrase, even in 2015 when this book came out) or being "in the wrong time" rather than "in the wrong body" (which ALSO is an outdated understanding of what it means to be trans but I do think this explanation was quite prevalent in 2015 so I could understand if that was the thought process.)
The issue is compounded by the heavy-handed "next they'll come after you for wearing a kilt" type messages the main characters deliver to other characters. While yes, fascism does come in stages and there is always a new target, and while people who are gender nonconforming are usually among the first targets, the wording is just handled so clumsily. Like, I can't tell if the author is pro-trans because they're speaking out against bigotry or if they are kind of mocking trans people by the phrases chosen, and that's an issue you wanna be clear about. (and just so it's said outright, the CORRECT attitude is "protect and respect trans people")
Also, getting rid of a teacher because he dresses on-theme for his lessons doesn't feel like a thing that would actually happen. seems more like the sort of thing he'd be lauded for, for trying to make history come alive for the kids, etc. Now, maybe if he were an incompetent teacher they might lump the eccentricities on as another reason to get rid of him, but if he's doing a decent job and he's dressed like Mark Twain while teaching the kids about Mark Twain, who is actually going to be upset by that?
and I'm not a psychiatrist but I'm not really on board with how dissociative identity disorder is used/referenced in the book either. it's maybe not quite as glaringly bad imo but I definitely don't love it...
bottom line, I guess let your middle grade kid read it if they love codes and you're willing to have conversations about them with the outdated and problematic expressions taking place throughout the novel.
overall a very inventive idea. I think this would definitely appeal to kids who like to find patterns and maybe consider harmless conspiracy theories.
but I didn't like that a Romani character was like "yeah some people consider G*psy a slur but I don't get why they do" so then everyone in the book feels like it's cool to keep saying the G word. I'm not gonna say a Romani character is wrong for using whatever word she chooses for herself, but the lampshading felt like a clumsy attempt to address why the author was using the word in the first place and didn't want to edit it out, even though it's about the same amount of effort to explain it away as it is to just change it.
also disliked the "trans-temporal/cross-time-dresser" phrasing. while I have an easy time believing an uptight school board might get rid of a 'quirky' teacher, in this book it really comes across as taking an ACTUAL issue where people get fired for self-expression, and coopting it because you're basically just making a cutesy pun about "crossdressing" (which I'm pretty sure was an outdated phrase, even in 2015 when this book came out) or being "in the wrong time" rather than "in the wrong body" (which ALSO is an outdated understanding of what it means to be trans but I do think this explanation was quite prevalent in 2015 so I could understand if that was the thought process.)
The issue is compounded by the heavy-handed "next they'll come after you for wearing a kilt" type messages the main characters deliver to other characters. While yes, fascism does come in stages and there is always a new target, and while people who are gender nonconforming are usually among the first targets, the wording is just handled so clumsily. Like, I can't tell if the author is pro-trans because they're speaking out against bigotry or if they are kind of mocking trans people by the phrases chosen, and that's an issue you wanna be clear about. (and just so it's said outright, the CORRECT attitude is "protect and respect trans people")
Also, getting rid of a teacher because he dresses on-theme for his lessons doesn't feel like a thing that would actually happen. seems more like the sort of thing he'd be lauded for, for trying to make history come alive for the kids, etc. Now, maybe if he were an incompetent teacher they might lump the eccentricities on as another reason to get rid of him, but if he's doing a decent job and he's dressed like Mark Twain while teaching the kids about Mark Twain, who is actually going to be upset by that?
and I'm not a psychiatrist but I'm not really on board with how dissociative identity disorder is used/referenced in the book either. it's maybe not quite as glaringly bad imo but I definitely don't love it...
bottom line, I guess let your middle grade kid read it if they love codes and you're willing to have conversations about them with the outdated and problematic expressions taking place throughout the novel.
Read
October 29, 2021The Book that Proves Time Travel Happens of course does nothing of the sort. The author just makes stuff up wildly, without any attempt at being scientifically plausible. But it’s fun, and it’s funny, and it’s an adventure.
The way time travel happens is that a person plays a series of notes on a special trombone, called The Shagbolt. The notes take you to roughly the right area of time. For the exact location, the people have to concentrate on it together, so time travel is only possible for people with some degree of psychic ability. The “proof” that this is possible is that the ancient Chinese I-Ching gives messages that are confirmed by Morse Code, and Morse Code wasn’t invented until the 19th century.
Our heroes are Ambrose Brody, an African-American boy whose father is a history teacher, about to get fired because he can’t stop wearing the clothes of prior time periods, and Ambrose’s best friend, Chinese-American Tom Xui, whose personal passion is history. They meet Shofranka (“Frankie”), a Romani girl whose father runs the carnival. The three of them (pursued by a giant ape-like creature, who is Frankie’s guardian) travel back to 1852 so that Frankie can get a first edition of Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
While they are there, they are caught by slave catchers (all being some shade of non-white). They escape, travel back to their own time, and find it awful, since they had disturbed something in the past. They go back to fix whatever they had done wrong. There are a lot of people with guns, there are runaway horses, a collapsing pier on the river, a riverboat that’s about to blow up, a potential plunge over a waterfall, and other dangers. Surviving these dangers requires quick thinking, cross-dressing, and checking the I-Ching/Morse code manual.
The book is funny. In humor, there’s a fine line between clever and stupid, and some of the stuff is straddling the stupid line, if not tipping over onto the stupid side. There are some puns that are real groaners. In addition, I paused to wonder if the author takes too much advantage of ethnic stereotypes, with the Romani being fortune-tellers, and with the Chinese boy having a Tiger Mother who forces him to study to be a doctor. Perhaps, but the overwhelming message of the book is acceptance of those who are different. The book’s focus is on allowing people to wear whatever kind of funny-looking clothes they damn well please, but that is clearly a shorthand stand-in for tolerance in general.
So you get to have slapstick comedy, hair’s-breadth escapes, and a feel-good message all in one book. A little stupid, mostly fun, and would make an entertaining movie.
The way time travel happens is that a person plays a series of notes on a special trombone, called The Shagbolt. The notes take you to roughly the right area of time. For the exact location, the people have to concentrate on it together, so time travel is only possible for people with some degree of psychic ability. The “proof” that this is possible is that the ancient Chinese I-Ching gives messages that are confirmed by Morse Code, and Morse Code wasn’t invented until the 19th century.
Our heroes are Ambrose Brody, an African-American boy whose father is a history teacher, about to get fired because he can’t stop wearing the clothes of prior time periods, and Ambrose’s best friend, Chinese-American Tom Xui, whose personal passion is history. They meet Shofranka (“Frankie”), a Romani girl whose father runs the carnival. The three of them (pursued by a giant ape-like creature, who is Frankie’s guardian) travel back to 1852 so that Frankie can get a first edition of Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
While they are there, they are caught by slave catchers (all being some shade of non-white). They escape, travel back to their own time, and find it awful, since they had disturbed something in the past. They go back to fix whatever they had done wrong. There are a lot of people with guns, there are runaway horses, a collapsing pier on the river, a riverboat that’s about to blow up, a potential plunge over a waterfall, and other dangers. Surviving these dangers requires quick thinking, cross-dressing, and checking the I-Ching/Morse code manual.
The book is funny. In humor, there’s a fine line between clever and stupid, and some of the stuff is straddling the stupid line, if not tipping over onto the stupid side. There are some puns that are real groaners. In addition, I paused to wonder if the author takes too much advantage of ethnic stereotypes, with the Romani being fortune-tellers, and with the Chinese boy having a Tiger Mother who forces him to study to be a doctor. Perhaps, but the overwhelming message of the book is acceptance of those who are different. The book’s focus is on allowing people to wear whatever kind of funny-looking clothes they damn well please, but that is clearly a shorthand stand-in for tolerance in general.
So you get to have slapstick comedy, hair’s-breadth escapes, and a feel-good message all in one book. A little stupid, mostly fun, and would make an entertaining movie.
April 7, 2022
I absolutely loved this book. Not only does it cover time travel, which is one of my favorite subjects, but it also delves into the whole subject that it's okay to be different. The story also goes into I-Ching codes, which I had never heard of, but was super fun and interesting. If you like time travel, I would bet you would enjoy the story of these three friends who travel through time, learning that even the slightest thing you do can have a great impact on history as well as it's okay if you don't fit in, look different, etc. You still have value!
April 19, 2018
This book was so much fun!! Clever beyond measure, too!
The mix of I Ching and Morse Code was fantastic. And so was everything else.
I read this with my 5th grade son and he was glued to every word. My 13 year old daughter read it before we did and thought it was a lot of fun.
It’s definitely a book the whole family can enjoy!
The mix of I Ching and Morse Code was fantastic. And so was everything else.
I read this with my 5th grade son and he was glued to every word. My 13 year old daughter read it before we did and thought it was a lot of fun.
It’s definitely a book the whole family can enjoy!
April 5, 2021
3.5 stars
This was a fun read with a very unique take on time travel. I love the I-Ching/Morse code connection and I love the underlying “mystery”(ish)ness of it with the “I should realized the truth as soon as xyz happened” type of comments sprinkled throughout the book. And I really enjoyed the final reveal.
This was a fun read with a very unique take on time travel. I love the I-Ching/Morse code connection and I love the underlying “mystery”(ish)ness of it with the “I should realized the truth as soon as xyz happened” type of comments sprinkled throughout the book. And I really enjoyed the final reveal.
August 2, 2018
I was rather skeptical at first, but it turned out well. I love the hidden messages and am very glad the end was finally revealed (I wouldn't have slept for weeks if I didn't know). Likable characters and an interesting plot line.
February 17, 2019
My son enjoyed this one more than I did (we read it aloud). The adventure and time travel parts were interesting (though not very believable from an adult point-of-view), but I mostly felt that the message was both heavy-handed and not well executed.
November 27, 2025
middling for most of the book, then with a rather shocking ending. the author piled on the twists as the story reached the climax, and left me genuinely impressed. the finale to the protagonist's best friend's arc was surprising but refreshingly unique.
-->gift from a friend <3
-->gift from a friend <3
March 28, 2018
A clever and funny take on the time travel genre that is really more about the adventure and puzzle solving than it is heavily based in the sci fi aspect. Entertaining.
December 10, 2019
I loved this book so much. Another book by Henry Clark, What We Found In The Sofa And How It Saved The World was really good too.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews