The Hamilton-Burr Duel

Flashback Four #4

by Dan Gutman, Mark Turetsky (Reading)

In this jaw-dropping final installment of New York Times bestselling author Dan Gutman's action-packed series, four risk-taking friends travel back in time to record the most infamous duel in American history.

Billionaire Miss Z might be out of the picture, but a top-secret agency wants to send Luke, Julia, David, and Isabel on one final mission. This time, the Flashback Four are headed to Weehawken, New Jersey--in 1804--to videotape the fateful duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr.

But once they arrive, the team faces a question of historic proportions: Should they capture the tragic details of the duel or try to change them?

The Hamilton-Burr Duel tells the story of one of history's fiercest rivalries from a fun and fresh new angle.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Time Travel, Historical, Fiction, Middle Grade, Adventure, Science Fiction

1 pages, Audio CD

First published April 16, 2019

About the author

The author of over 80 books in a little over a decade of writing, Dan Gutman has written on topics from computers to baseball. Beginning his freelance career as a nonfiction author dealing mostly with sports for adults and young readers, Gutman has concentrated on juvenile fiction since 1995. His most popular titles include the time-travel sports book Honus and Me and its sequels, and a clutch of baseball books, including The Green Monster from Left Field. From hopeful and very youthful presidential candidates to stunt men, nothing is off limits in Gutman's fertile imagination. As he noted on his author Web site, since writing his first novel, They Came from Centerfield, in 1994, he has been hooked on fiction. "It was fun to write, kids loved it, and I discovered how incredibly rewarding it is to take a blank page and turn it into a WORLD."

Gutman was born in New York City in 1955, but moved to Newark, New Jersey the following year and spent his youth there.

Reviews

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was the weakest of this series: I don’t think Gutman is able to write a bad guy. Or woman, as in this case. However, the history part of the story was great! I did rather like how the kids outwitted the bad guy (woman) but otherwise the fictional story wasn’t all that great. Although I rather admire how Miss Z may have solved her own issue! In this case, someone other than Miss Z sends the 4 back in time to video the duel between Burr and Hamilton. The kids showed savvy in refusing to give info till they were back. Which got them back. It did rather end the series which was the point I suppose. I have enjoyed this series but great literature, it isn’t. Recommended as a light way to introduce kids to historical fiction.

[Urbandale Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. Teaches a lot of history about the topic of duels in the 1800s. I learned many facts about why this duel was started and all the other small details about the duel. Very exciting, builds up suspense to make it a better read. Would recommend to other teens or children.--UPL Library Patron

[Theresa Grissom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this series. It is a fun way to learn history. I can see kids who don't particularly enjoy learning history liking this.

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed The Lincoln Project, the first book in this series (though I wasn't keen on the ending). But this one...not so much. It was heavy on the history and didn't feature the kids and their adventures near enough. I understand that this point in history is "cool" right now with the popularity of the musical Hamilton, but I just didn't think there was enough story. There were so many breaks for historical explanation and information that I constantly forgot what was even happening with the Flashback Four.

I'm a little surprised this is the last book since there are so many parts of history that the kids could visit, but I can't say I'm all that disappointed. *shrug*

[AMY · Rating 5 out of 5]

228 pgs. The final book in the series was something to get a peek into history and witness an illegal duel. What drama-filled pages you will find here! I think the author did a great job finishing the saga and keeping the story alive as it went along. I think the whole idea of time travel should provide a great discussion if this book was read aloud to a class or used as a book study. The idea of whether one should try to alter history or take personal responsibility in such unusual instances would also be equally interesting to debate. I can't wait to discuss this series with my students. Highly recommended for Grades 4-5.

[Anastasia Tuckness · Rating 3 out of 5]

No one knows exactly who fired which shots when in the famous Hamilton-Burr Duel. So the Flashback Four are sent back in time to take a video of the whole thing and settle the debate. They have access to a Smart Board (a REALLY Smart Board) that can take them back in time. Having four kids ensures lots of funny, awkward interactions.

This was a good, gripping read in the tradition of the best historical fiction.

If you plan to read the other Flashback Four books, you'd best start with the other titles, because this one gives away the ending to the other titles. But if not, you're fine to start with this one and you won't be confused.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so sad this series is over! Realistically, I understand that it would be pretty impossible for the kids to keep getting out of messes, but still - there are so many historical events I would have loved to be "witness" to!

While I'm sad this is the last book, I am so happy I read these. Also, my favorite line in all 4 books has been at the end, when the author says: "Everything in these books is true, except for the things I made up." I don't know why, but I giggled every single time I read that.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fourth and final book of a series of time-travel adventures starring a group of teenagers. I got into this set with my kids, and we enjoyed all four. I kind of hated that the series ended here, but we found the final volume to be a worthy one. Full of historic information, it's an adventure series with some quick-thinking kids that will keep readers guessing. You could read the four in any order, really. My kids are 10 and 8, and they were both entertained, as was I.

[Yvie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fitting conclusion to the end of one of my kids' favorite series!

We made up history unit studies to accompany each of the four books in the series....this one is here : https://homeschoolontherange.blogspot...

[Pam Lilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was more enjoyable than I expected. I imagined it would be formulaic like Magic Tree House but it had some humor, some layers to the story, and I like the way the author breaks down the fourth wall in some places.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely loved books 1, 2, and 3. I adore historical fiction and the first three were such a treat. This book was a little too cutesy and did not have enough "meat" to enthrall me. Sorry, but I cannot recommend this one.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another series by Dan Gutman. I enjoyed these more than The Genius Files, but let's face it, these are written for kids and will never be my favorite. One positive is the Flashback Four have definitely got my kids more interested in history.

[Tyler Standish · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a good story and I learned a lot of history.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great story mixed in with an awesome, fun history lesson. Some minor typos and character irritations, but ultimately a good story. I’m a huge Dan Gutman fan!

[Hafsa Sabira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wish I really had a camera that could capture all the events that happened before.

[Sam Lomoro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing and very sad at the end if you have read all the books in order.

[AnnieM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just the right amount of escapism for my day.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this with my 11-year-old. My kids have enjoyed this series. I like the history it teaches in a fun way for middle grade students.

[Salma]

Great book if you like mrystry and history

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining historical fiction - a little humor, history with a twist. Perfect for older children.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is it bad that the soundtrack for the movie hamilton played in my head and ivr only watched it once

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook. I didn’t care for this one in the series as much as I liked the Lincoln and Titanic books. It was still educational and an interesting twist on the Hamilton-Burr duel.

[Maggie Townsend]

This was probably our least favorite of the 4 but still a good series to read with the kids!

[Hanna Case · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it! It was a bitter-sweet ending to the series. Loved all the books!

[Ms. McKelvie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was sorry to see that this is the last book. I would have enjoyed more and there are so many events that could have been photographed. Out of the whole series, I feel that this might have been my least favorite. The big changes at the start of the book give it a very different feel from the rest of the books in the series.
This could be tied into social studies units.
Grades 3-6

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started out great! Thought it would be a fun historical fiction for young readers. Unfortunately, the fiction far outweighed the history, and the history took on a fictional direction that I can't forgive. Very disappointing.