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Nick McIver #2
The Time Pirate
It's 1940 and the Nazis are invading Nick's beloved home, the British Channel Islands. So Nick takes to the skies: He has discovered an old World War One fighter plane in an abandoned barn. Determined to learn to fly, he is soon risking life and limb to photograph armed German minelayers and patrol boats, and executing incredibly perilous bombing raids over Nazi airfields by night.
Meanwhile, the evil pirate, Captain Billy Blood, still desperate to acquire Nick's time machine, returns to Greybeard Island. He kidnaps Nick's sister, Kate, and transports her back to Port Royal, Jamaica, in the year 1781, leaving Nick a message that if he wants to see her alive again, he must come to Jamaica and make an even swap: Kate's life in exchange for Nick's wondrous time machine -- that's Blood's bargain.
Having traveled back in time, Nick discovers a plot that might change the outcome of the American Revolution. Disguised as an eighteenth-century cabin boy, he travels to the Caribbean and confronts his old enemy, who has assembled the world's largest pirate armada.
From the battlefields of the New World to the brutal German occupation of English soil in World War Two, The Time Pirate has Nick McIver fighting once again to defend his country, the outcome of two wars resting on his young shoulders.
Meanwhile, the evil pirate, Captain Billy Blood, still desperate to acquire Nick's time machine, returns to Greybeard Island. He kidnaps Nick's sister, Kate, and transports her back to Port Royal, Jamaica, in the year 1781, leaving Nick a message that if he wants to see her alive again, he must come to Jamaica and make an even swap: Kate's life in exchange for Nick's wondrous time machine -- that's Blood's bargain.
Having traveled back in time, Nick discovers a plot that might change the outcome of the American Revolution. Disguised as an eighteenth-century cabin boy, he travels to the Caribbean and confronts his old enemy, who has assembled the world's largest pirate armada.
From the battlefields of the New World to the brutal German occupation of English soil in World War Two, The Time Pirate has Nick McIver fighting once again to defend his country, the outcome of two wars resting on his young shoulders.
464 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
36 people are currently reading
558 people want to read
About the author
Ted Bell
51 books859 followersTed Bell was the author of 12 consecutive New York Times best sellers and a former advertising executive. He began his advertising career in the 1970’s as a junior copywriter at Doyle Dane Bernbach (DDB), New York. At the age of 25, he sold his first screenplay to Hollywood, as well as became the youngest vice-president in the storied history of DDB. He then joined Leo Burnett Co., Chicago, as a creative director and four years later, he was named President, Chicago Creative Officer where he was credited with developing numerous innovative and award-winning advertising campaigns. In 1982, Bell joined Young & Rubicam, London, and in 1991 he became the Vice Chairman and Worldwide Creative Director. Ted won every award the advertising industry offers, including numerous Clios and Cannes Gold Lions, and while at Young & Rubicam, the Grand Prix at the Cannes Festival. In 2001, Ted retired to write full time. He has 10 New York Times Bestsellers to his credit: The Alex Hawke series of spy thrillers published by HarperCollins and the young adult targeted time travel adventure series, Nick of Time and The Time Pirate published by St. Martins Press.
A native Floridian, Bell graduated from Randolph-Macon College in Virginia and was a former member of the college’s Board of Trustees. He held an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Kendall College in Michigan. Bell was also an Adjunct Professor of English Literature at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida. He was a member of the Defense Orientation Conference Association (DOCA), a program run by the Department of Defense in support of America’s military. He served on the Advisory Board at George Washington’s Home at Mount Vernon, a group chaired by former Secretary of the Army, Togo West. He also served for a time as an advisor to the Undersecretary for Domestic Relations at the U.S. Department of State.
For the 2011-2012 Academic Year, Sir Richard Dearlove, Former Chief of MI6, British Intelligence, sponsored Ted to become a Visiting Scholar at Cambridge University (UK). In addition, he was named Writer-in-Residence at Sydney-Sussex College, Cambridge and studied at the University’s Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLIS) under the tutelage of Sir Dearlove, who was the Master of Pembroke College.
In May 2018, Ted published OVERKILL, the 10th book in the popular Alex Hawke spy thriller series.
In January 2019, Ted and Jon Adler of Jon Adler Films formed El Dorado Entertainment, a feature film and television production company based in New York.
In July 2019, Ted signed a two-book deal with Random House.
In July 2020, the 11th Alex Hawke thriller, DRAGONFIRE, was published.
On December 7, 2021, the 12th Alex Hawke thriller, SEA HAWKE was published.
Ted appeared on numerous television and radio programs and was a featured speaker at associations, clubs, libraries and organizations across the country.
Ted traveled the world and lived in Italy, London, France, Palm Beach, New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Maine. He last lived in a beloved 19th century farmhouse in Connecticut.
A native Floridian, Bell graduated from Randolph-Macon College in Virginia and was a former member of the college’s Board of Trustees. He held an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Kendall College in Michigan. Bell was also an Adjunct Professor of English Literature at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida. He was a member of the Defense Orientation Conference Association (DOCA), a program run by the Department of Defense in support of America’s military. He served on the Advisory Board at George Washington’s Home at Mount Vernon, a group chaired by former Secretary of the Army, Togo West. He also served for a time as an advisor to the Undersecretary for Domestic Relations at the U.S. Department of State.
For the 2011-2012 Academic Year, Sir Richard Dearlove, Former Chief of MI6, British Intelligence, sponsored Ted to become a Visiting Scholar at Cambridge University (UK). In addition, he was named Writer-in-Residence at Sydney-Sussex College, Cambridge and studied at the University’s Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLIS) under the tutelage of Sir Dearlove, who was the Master of Pembroke College.
In May 2018, Ted published OVERKILL, the 10th book in the popular Alex Hawke spy thriller series.
In January 2019, Ted and Jon Adler of Jon Adler Films formed El Dorado Entertainment, a feature film and television production company based in New York.
In July 2019, Ted signed a two-book deal with Random House.
In July 2020, the 11th Alex Hawke thriller, DRAGONFIRE, was published.
On December 7, 2021, the 12th Alex Hawke thriller, SEA HAWKE was published.
Ted appeared on numerous television and radio programs and was a featured speaker at associations, clubs, libraries and organizations across the country.
Ted traveled the world and lived in Italy, London, France, Palm Beach, New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Maine. He last lived in a beloved 19th century farmhouse in Connecticut.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
April 21, 2010
Spoilers within:
I enjoyed The Time Pirate alot. It's fun to experience Nick McIver growing in confidence as the story builds. He is no longer unsure of being the hero - like he was in Nick of Time. I liked the whole plot development around the Nazis invasion of the Islands - and the introduction of the female spy. That has great potential in future stories. The whole episode where Nick bombs the Nazi airfield is masterful - you feel you are in that plane with young Nick. If I have one complaint - and it's a small one - the book spends 2/3 developing the above plot - then spends the final 1/3 back in time with George Washington and Billy Blood. Now - I loved how history was interwoven here - this section is great, especially the scenes with young Nick and Martha Washington - but when we return to the Islands and WWII - it's only for the Epilogue and many of the plot lines and tension - such as Nick's father being held by the Gestapo - are casually written off. I had hoped for a little more here. But - as they say - that is what sequels are for - and knowing Ted - he probably has already written the opening chapters of the next adventure. Bravo!
I enjoyed The Time Pirate alot. It's fun to experience Nick McIver growing in confidence as the story builds. He is no longer unsure of being the hero - like he was in Nick of Time. I liked the whole plot development around the Nazis invasion of the Islands - and the introduction of the female spy. That has great potential in future stories. The whole episode where Nick bombs the Nazi airfield is masterful - you feel you are in that plane with young Nick. If I have one complaint - and it's a small one - the book spends 2/3 developing the above plot - then spends the final 1/3 back in time with George Washington and Billy Blood. Now - I loved how history was interwoven here - this section is great, especially the scenes with young Nick and Martha Washington - but when we return to the Islands and WWII - it's only for the Epilogue and many of the plot lines and tension - such as Nick's father being held by the Gestapo - are casually written off. I had hoped for a little more here. But - as they say - that is what sequels are for - and knowing Ted - he probably has already written the opening chapters of the next adventure. Bravo!
April 8, 2020
My family enjoyed this series of the time-traveling Nick McIver. Although far-fetched, I thought the time periods of WWII and the revolutionary war were so fun. I loved seeing Lafyette and George Washington in these. I missed not having plucky sister Katie as much in this one. A really fun listen and one that entertained all my kids.
Content: mild language and violence
Content: mild language and violence
March 17, 2017
I did. It know this was the second book in a series when I started. This would have helped me understand the opening chapter/prologue much better. Just the knowledge that he had a time machine and had encountered pirates before would have made a huge difference. That being said, it was a good book
The premise being that what happens earlier in history makes a difference in how history moves forward now. I loved that historically we were in the middle of the Germans invading Channel Islands, the revolutionary war, and early pirates in the Caribbean. Such great details in the life of a young boy.
The premise being that what happens earlier in history makes a difference in how history moves forward now. I loved that historically we were in the middle of the Germans invading Channel Islands, the revolutionary war, and early pirates in the Caribbean. Such great details in the life of a young boy.
April 22, 2010
Rollercoaster Ride Through Time
Time Pirate, Ted Bell’s new Young Adult novel and sequel to Nick of Time, comes back full steam ahead with a rip-roaring action packed adventure story for boys and men of all ages! 464 pages of non-stop thrills and chills that will have you on the edge of your seat from page one to the end.
Time Pirate picks up right where Bell left us at the end of Nick of Time, on the island of Greybeard in the British Channel Islands, with 12 year old Nick McIver getting ready for the inevitable coming war. The year is 1940 and as we start out this installment, the Nazis are slowly approaching and inching their way to invading the islands. Nick McIver’s friend Winston Churchill is doing his best to forestall the onslaught, but the powers that be have British troops retreating leaving the islands demilitarized and abandoned to fight for their lives on their own.
This story is pretty complex and involves many paralleled events that put Nick McIver and his friends Gunner, Lord Hawke, Commander Hobbes and his adorable little sister Katie, in quite the tailspin as they once again risk their lives for home and country. One day Nick uncovers his father’s old WWI fighter plane, a dilapidated old Sopwith Camel. With the help of Gunner, the islands Inn owner, they rebuild and rejuvenate the old plane to it’s original glory. After Nick presents his father with his old war prize, Angus McIver teaches his son to fly it himself just in time to do some real live spying and reconnaissance work for Churchill as his daily flights take secret mission photographs of the enemy. Death defying barnstorming scenes with Nick in the air shooting at Nazi’s, and German parachuters sailing onto home grounds, have Gunner and Nick realizing it’s time to fight. Together with the help of weapons specialist Hobbes, they create apple size bombs that allow our young hero to teach the enemy a few lessons.
But that’s not all that’s in store for Nick McIver. His old arch enemy, the evil pirate of the Caribbean, Billy Blood, is out for revenge after Nick sliced of his hand and comes to kidnap his sister and bring her back to 1781. Billy Blood wants the second time travel orb that Nick has in possession and uses Katie as bait to get Nick to travel back to the high seas to get his sister back in trade for Leonardo Da Vinci’s time machine. And while we the readers witness more high seas battles of wit with cannons firing and pirates dueling, Nick uncovers Billy’s secret mission to band together 100 pirate ships that will attack and overtake an armada in the Americas. His plan involves another historical event that involves George Washington, and General Lafayette amidst the American Revolutionary War at Yorktown Virginia, the crucial battle that ends the winning war for America that sent the Redcoats packing! Masquerading as a British drummer Boy, Nick goes undercover surviving in the wilderness alone, killing indians and becomes a double spy for both England and America, helping George Washington win the war.
This is a superb action novel that never lets up. It is finely written with wonderful characters both good and bad, and reflects detailed historical research on the author’s part that surely adds to the success of this series. When it comes to action and a hero destined for the classics, you can’t beat Nick McIver and his Time Travel adventures. Time Pirate has you hearing the clang of Pirate swords, cannon fire exploding upon tall ships of the high seas, the sound of blunderbusses and flintlocks, cavalry horses stampeding, and droning airplanes complete with bombs and bullets flying as Nick McIver once again saves the day Fabulous, absolutely positively fabulous!
Time Pirate, Ted Bell’s new Young Adult novel and sequel to Nick of Time, comes back full steam ahead with a rip-roaring action packed adventure story for boys and men of all ages! 464 pages of non-stop thrills and chills that will have you on the edge of your seat from page one to the end.
Time Pirate picks up right where Bell left us at the end of Nick of Time, on the island of Greybeard in the British Channel Islands, with 12 year old Nick McIver getting ready for the inevitable coming war. The year is 1940 and as we start out this installment, the Nazis are slowly approaching and inching their way to invading the islands. Nick McIver’s friend Winston Churchill is doing his best to forestall the onslaught, but the powers that be have British troops retreating leaving the islands demilitarized and abandoned to fight for their lives on their own.
This story is pretty complex and involves many paralleled events that put Nick McIver and his friends Gunner, Lord Hawke, Commander Hobbes and his adorable little sister Katie, in quite the tailspin as they once again risk their lives for home and country. One day Nick uncovers his father’s old WWI fighter plane, a dilapidated old Sopwith Camel. With the help of Gunner, the islands Inn owner, they rebuild and rejuvenate the old plane to it’s original glory. After Nick presents his father with his old war prize, Angus McIver teaches his son to fly it himself just in time to do some real live spying and reconnaissance work for Churchill as his daily flights take secret mission photographs of the enemy. Death defying barnstorming scenes with Nick in the air shooting at Nazi’s, and German parachuters sailing onto home grounds, have Gunner and Nick realizing it’s time to fight. Together with the help of weapons specialist Hobbes, they create apple size bombs that allow our young hero to teach the enemy a few lessons.
But that’s not all that’s in store for Nick McIver. His old arch enemy, the evil pirate of the Caribbean, Billy Blood, is out for revenge after Nick sliced of his hand and comes to kidnap his sister and bring her back to 1781. Billy Blood wants the second time travel orb that Nick has in possession and uses Katie as bait to get Nick to travel back to the high seas to get his sister back in trade for Leonardo Da Vinci’s time machine. And while we the readers witness more high seas battles of wit with cannons firing and pirates dueling, Nick uncovers Billy’s secret mission to band together 100 pirate ships that will attack and overtake an armada in the Americas. His plan involves another historical event that involves George Washington, and General Lafayette amidst the American Revolutionary War at Yorktown Virginia, the crucial battle that ends the winning war for America that sent the Redcoats packing! Masquerading as a British drummer Boy, Nick goes undercover surviving in the wilderness alone, killing indians and becomes a double spy for both England and America, helping George Washington win the war.
This is a superb action novel that never lets up. It is finely written with wonderful characters both good and bad, and reflects detailed historical research on the author’s part that surely adds to the success of this series. When it comes to action and a hero destined for the classics, you can’t beat Nick McIver and his Time Travel adventures. Time Pirate has you hearing the clang of Pirate swords, cannon fire exploding upon tall ships of the high seas, the sound of blunderbusses and flintlocks, cavalry horses stampeding, and droning airplanes complete with bombs and bullets flying as Nick McIver once again saves the day Fabulous, absolutely positively fabulous!
April 22, 2010
How exciting could life possibly be with no cell phones, computers or video games? Very! While I wasn't head-over-heels crazy about the first book of this series, Nick of Time, Book 2 is a different story (pun intended). Less nautical jargon, same vintage feel and a much better story!
Other than the prologue (which, to me, does nothing except make the book fourteen pages longer), everything about The Time Pirate is fun. The main characters we met in Book 1 are all here again, but Nick is much more front and center than before. In this adventure he travels to 1781 and meets such legendary characters as George and Martha Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette. Bad guy Billy Blood has used his own Tempus Machina to threaten the very existence of the United States of America, and in order to save his own dear England from the Nazis in 1940 Nick must fight against her in the decisive battle of the Revolutionary War.
This might be a fun book for middle school teachers to use during a unit on Revolution as much of the story takes place before and during the Battle of Yorktown. There is some battle-related violence, but no bad language...a great book for kids and the rest of us who love to dream about time travel!
Other than the prologue (which, to me, does nothing except make the book fourteen pages longer), everything about The Time Pirate is fun. The main characters we met in Book 1 are all here again, but Nick is much more front and center than before. In this adventure he travels to 1781 and meets such legendary characters as George and Martha Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette. Bad guy Billy Blood has used his own Tempus Machina to threaten the very existence of the United States of America, and in order to save his own dear England from the Nazis in 1940 Nick must fight against her in the decisive battle of the Revolutionary War.
This might be a fun book for middle school teachers to use during a unit on Revolution as much of the story takes place before and during the Battle of Yorktown. There is some battle-related violence, but no bad language...a great book for kids and the rest of us who love to dream about time travel!
April 8, 2010
The Time Pirate by Ted Bell
In the tradition of Tom Swift and The Hardy Boys this book is a rollicking good time for the young reader and those of us young in heart. Nick McIver is a young man with a time machine. In this adventure he faces historic events in American history, pirates and Nazis.
Ted Bell does an excellent job of recreating the feel of the grand adventures I read as a boy. Nick McIver is pure of heart and free of malice. He attacks life with gusto and with the characteristic disregard for fear illustrated so well by Tom Swift. The character shows decision making and wisdom far beyond his chronological age. He thrusts himself into situations adults would fear to approach. He incites loyalty in adults who indulge his adventurous nature and who give him full rein to jump into exceedingly dangerous situations. So much of the book is totally outrageous in that any adult that knowingly allowed a young teen to do what Nick does in this book would be committed, arrested or pilloried for their behavior. This is probably what will make the book enormously successful for the young reader.
I heartily recommend it.
In the tradition of Tom Swift and The Hardy Boys this book is a rollicking good time for the young reader and those of us young in heart. Nick McIver is a young man with a time machine. In this adventure he faces historic events in American history, pirates and Nazis.
Ted Bell does an excellent job of recreating the feel of the grand adventures I read as a boy. Nick McIver is pure of heart and free of malice. He attacks life with gusto and with the characteristic disregard for fear illustrated so well by Tom Swift. The character shows decision making and wisdom far beyond his chronological age. He thrusts himself into situations adults would fear to approach. He incites loyalty in adults who indulge his adventurous nature and who give him full rein to jump into exceedingly dangerous situations. So much of the book is totally outrageous in that any adult that knowingly allowed a young teen to do what Nick does in this book would be committed, arrested or pilloried for their behavior. This is probably what will make the book enormously successful for the young reader.
I heartily recommend it.
December 28, 2014
The Time Pirate is an exceptional sequel to Nick of Time.
So much adventure! So much intrigue!
As a note to parents: The story sometimes gets pretty violent, especially considering that a 12-year-old boy is shooting down Nazis from his tiny plane. There is warfare and battles that take place. The descriptions of these scenes are never gory, but provide a good enough illustration in your head for you to fully understand the violence taking place.
Halfway through, I felt so much despair for the characters -- it pulled at my heartstrings. The author kept a amazing storyline going. In fact, a wonderful plot twist took place and transported me (and Nick, of course) back in time where more action would take place. We're talking about travelling the globe, and meeting important historical figures!
Love this book. Perhaps even more than the first book.
I hope the author writes another sequel. Soon, please?
So much adventure! So much intrigue!
As a note to parents: The story sometimes gets pretty violent, especially considering that a 12-year-old boy is shooting down Nazis from his tiny plane. There is warfare and battles that take place. The descriptions of these scenes are never gory, but provide a good enough illustration in your head for you to fully understand the violence taking place.
Halfway through, I felt so much despair for the characters -- it pulled at my heartstrings. The author kept a amazing storyline going. In fact, a wonderful plot twist took place and transported me (and Nick, of course) back in time where more action would take place. We're talking about travelling the globe, and meeting important historical figures!
Love this book. Perhaps even more than the first book.
I hope the author writes another sequel. Soon, please?
July 19, 2015
Great adventure story -- blend of Robert Louis Stevenson, H G Wells, and Percy Jackson -- and it features actual historical figures.
Nick finds himself tangling with Billy Blood again while having his hands full with the impending Nazi invasion of his beloved Channel Islands in the summer of 1940. We get an age-appropriate taste of Nazi occupation. In addition, the notorious Captain Blood is stirring up trouble and Nick must ensure the correct outcome of the Battle of Yorktown -- or there might be repercussions in current time.
"As Admiral Lord Nelson said, 'If a man consults whether he is to fight, when he has the power in his own hands, it is certain that his opinion is against fighting.'"
Nick finds himself tangling with Billy Blood again while having his hands full with the impending Nazi invasion of his beloved Channel Islands in the summer of 1940. We get an age-appropriate taste of Nazi occupation. In addition, the notorious Captain Blood is stirring up trouble and Nick must ensure the correct outcome of the Battle of Yorktown -- or there might be repercussions in current time.
"As Admiral Lord Nelson said, 'If a man consults whether he is to fight, when he has the power in his own hands, it is certain that his opinion is against fighting.'"
March 13, 2010
I reviewed this one for VOYA. Completely fun and engaging. If you have a middle school boy in your life, they would enjoy it.
January 11, 2024
It's a rare thing when a sequel can live up to the hype of the first book. But The Time Pirate is as good as Nick of Time, and possibly better!
There's something enchanting about the way Ted Bell writes. Nick has all the fearless courage of a MG protagonist, and faces all the life-threatening danger of an adult thriller novel. The details of making homemade bombs, flying old aircraft, breaking the rules for what's right and struggling with problems you can't solve--it may have been years since I read it, but I still remember parts of this book so vividly.
There is a rather gruesome scene with a cannibalistic pirate, and plenty of bloodshed to go around, so per usual, I wouldn't hand a Nick McIver book to someone particularly young or unprepared. But for an older middle grade reader? It's a riveting read that covers some fascinating history.
Sometimes it's hard not to hope for a third book!
There's something enchanting about the way Ted Bell writes. Nick has all the fearless courage of a MG protagonist, and faces all the life-threatening danger of an adult thriller novel. The details of making homemade bombs, flying old aircraft, breaking the rules for what's right and struggling with problems you can't solve--it may have been years since I read it, but I still remember parts of this book so vividly.
There is a rather gruesome scene with a cannibalistic pirate, and plenty of bloodshed to go around, so per usual, I wouldn't hand a Nick McIver book to someone particularly young or unprepared. But for an older middle grade reader? It's a riveting read that covers some fascinating history.
Sometimes it's hard not to hope for a third book!
October 10, 2021
What a great adventure, science fiction companion book to the 1st one. I loved how history was interwoven - from their problems of the beginning of WW I and the Nazi's in England/Europe to the time travel back to the Revolutionary War to fix a problem there/then that would affect what would happen in WWI in England. Great line up. I did think there was a bit too much graphic detail regarding the Pirate Billy Blood in one of the chapters that I would suggest my grandchildren skip over. But this is a great book that covers flying a Sopwith camel airplane and bombing Nazi ammunition, his time travel machine from Leonardo DaVinci, his time travel experience to the pirate life in Jamaica reminded me of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" and so that enhanced part of the story as well. Very entertaining and fun to read.
March 1, 2018
Excellent fantastic novel! Yes, it is a Young Adult Adventure, and at time a bit far-fetched, but exciting, full of action, duty and loyalty, fighting and killing, meeting historic figures, and bravery. Sounds a bit hokey? Sometimes, you need a hokey adventure where good wins over bad, and duty and bravery are human emotions to experience (not happening in real life, but this novel brings it out of you).
Five stars for this series ..... look forward to many more .....
Five stars for this series ..... look forward to many more .....
December 27, 2019
I picked this book up in a dollar tree a couple years back. It got stuffed in the back of my bookshelf. When I was cleaning up I pulled it up and read it in a matter of hours. Full of both fun aspects such as time travel and guess? pirates XD. Also, it gives you a neat little lesson on avaition. A fun book, light and exciting, especially for younger readers. I'm 21, though, and it was fun to dust off the cover and drift into a world full of adventure.
December 12, 2018
A rollicking good romp for anyone that enjoys adventure stories featuring daring boys and girls. This one has just about everything - Nazis, pirates, Indians, daring escapes, time travel and naval and Revolutionary War battles. While geared towards younger readers, this is still a fun read for all ages.
January 30, 2019
I read this to my kids, since they enjoyed "Nick of Tine" by the same author. We all agreed this sequel was better than the first book...pirates, nazis, and the American Revolution- the stakes are high! And the writing is stronger. We're just sad the series ends here. We want to know more about how Nick fights the nazis!
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May 8, 2020In 1940 and the Nazis are invading Nick's homeland So Nick flies in his discover world war one fighter plane. He learns to fly in order to photograph armed German mine layers and patrol boats. the evil pirate, Captain Billy Blood wants Nick's time machine. He kidnaps Nicks sister for leverage and holds her hostage for the time machine. its an exiting story about time travel and pirates.
December 20, 2022
It was an interesting book that combined a lot of historical elements and some good fiction I liked the idea of time travel in the way that allowed for people to correct history in the way that it happened. Some of the details I think were might have been a little too much. But I feel that the author did due diligence in their research historical facts and figures.
August 13, 2017
Usually the second is a let down, but it this case, I think I enjoyed it even more than the first. Rebuilding the plane was super interesting--author must've had to research that quite a bit.
Definitely a good read for boys 10-14. Nick has great loyalty, ingenuity, courage, and sacrifice
Definitely a good read for boys 10-14. Nick has great loyalty, ingenuity, courage, and sacrifice
June 21, 2019
I left this one unfinished after passing the first climax. I now hold more than ever before to the belief that a good story should only have one.
I was ready for the story to be done and there was still a ways to go.
Also, plot holes galore.
I was ready for the story to be done and there was still a ways to go.
Also, plot holes galore.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2025
Didn’t enjoy this book as much as the first one - the magical element turned into a desire to rewrite history. However. I would never discourage anyone from giving it a go - especially a twelve year old boy!
December 19, 2017
another book of Ted Bell's that I read over and over again. amazing book.
February 2, 2018
A super adventure story and historical fiction all wrapped up in one. Magically written with wonderful characters, tight story line and thrilling adventure. A must read!
November 26, 2018
Young adult / time travel / pirates and yet enough Ted Bell for his adult fans. I enjoyed this book almost as much as the first one. Hopefully there will be more in the series.
September 11, 2019
More, Please!
January 13, 2020
Wonderful book filled with history, action and adventure.
June 23, 2011
I'm not actually sure why I read this book. I had read Nick Of Time (actually, listened to it via audiobook) and I was surprised that, for a time travel story, there was so much buildup in the "now" (Nick McIver's time, the years building up to World War II) before any time traveling at all happened. This sequel is no different: roughly half of the book takes place in 1940, and the rest takes place . It's almost two novels in one, which makes for a long read... it took me about a month to get through it, and I'm a fast reader who reads most every day.
Of course, a long read is a good thing if it's also a good read, and the characters in the Nick McIver adventures are engaging, but ultimately the plots sort of leave me flat, like a movie that's OK to pass an afternoon but which you wouldn't take the time to watch again. As time travel literature, the books are frankly quite bad. When one character who is in 1940 is kidnapped and brought back to 1781 and held for ransom for a specific period... say, two days... what's the hurry to go to that character's rescue? You don't have two days to save her. You could wait a month or a year to go back, if you wanted to, and your two days will not have expired. The books treat time as though it is running out for a time traveler, and that just doesn't make sense. Why not just go back to the last time you saw the kidnappee and follow her until you see the kidnappers, and stop the kidnapping before it happens? It doesn't make sense.
At one point in the book, Nick comes back to his present from the past with knowledge of something the evil pirate Billy Blood is about to try to do in the past. Nick begins reading a history book, and during his reading he realizes that what Blood is going to try to do will alter history. Well, if Blood had succeeded in Nick's past, then the history book would say something different, now wouldn't it? Nick rushes back in time to stop Blood and save history, but anybody who watched Back to the Future as a teenager knows that if the history book says something, that means it already happened that way and doesn't need changing DUH. But maybe the author considers all of this time paradox nonsense a little deep for his intended audience, tween/teen action/adventure readers, to slow down his story and provide explanations for "unimportant" details.
Admittedly, there is a lot of action and a lot of adventure. And I am admittedly not a twelve-year-old boy, so I'm a bit out of demographic range. But I didn't particularly like this book, and I didn't particularly like the first book in the series, either. I didn't actively dislike them, understand, but the absence of dislike is not the same as the presence of like. I'd say that a young person who enjoys action stories and who likes history (there's quite a lot of information about real history woven into the fiction) and who's not too concerned with details like why time travelers don't go back and fix their own mistakes or why people with machines that can magically transport them to any latitude/longitude on the face of the Earth even bother walking anywhere, might be a big fan of these books.
I'm not that person.
Of course, a long read is a good thing if it's also a good read, and the characters in the Nick McIver adventures are engaging, but ultimately the plots sort of leave me flat, like a movie that's OK to pass an afternoon but which you wouldn't take the time to watch again. As time travel literature, the books are frankly quite bad. When one character who is in 1940 is kidnapped and brought back to 1781 and held for ransom for a specific period... say, two days... what's the hurry to go to that character's rescue? You don't have two days to save her. You could wait a month or a year to go back, if you wanted to, and your two days will not have expired. The books treat time as though it is running out for a time traveler, and that just doesn't make sense. Why not just go back to the last time you saw the kidnappee and follow her until you see the kidnappers, and stop the kidnapping before it happens? It doesn't make sense.
At one point in the book, Nick comes back to his present from the past with knowledge of something the evil pirate Billy Blood is about to try to do in the past. Nick begins reading a history book, and during his reading he realizes that what Blood is going to try to do will alter history. Well, if Blood had succeeded in Nick's past, then the history book would say something different, now wouldn't it? Nick rushes back in time to stop Blood and save history, but anybody who watched Back to the Future as a teenager knows that if the history book says something, that means it already happened that way and doesn't need changing DUH. But maybe the author considers all of this time paradox nonsense a little deep for his intended audience, tween/teen action/adventure readers, to slow down his story and provide explanations for "unimportant" details.
Admittedly, there is a lot of action and a lot of adventure. And I am admittedly not a twelve-year-old boy, so I'm a bit out of demographic range. But I didn't particularly like this book, and I didn't particularly like the first book in the series, either. I didn't actively dislike them, understand, but the absence of dislike is not the same as the presence of like. I'd say that a young person who enjoys action stories and who likes history (there's quite a lot of information about real history woven into the fiction) and who's not too concerned with details like why time travelers don't go back and fix their own mistakes or why people with machines that can magically transport them to any latitude/longitude on the face of the Earth even bother walking anywhere, might be a big fan of these books.
I'm not that person.
August 20, 2012
Nick’s adventures continue. The Nazis have invaded France, Poland, Belgium, and Holland. England has declared war on Germany. Winston Churchill is the new Prime Minister of England. America has promised aid to England. And the first of four tiny Channel Islands has fallen to the Nazi invasion. Will Nick’s island be next? Not if he can help it!
With is friend Gunner’s help, Nick rebuilds the old Sopwith Camel biplane that his father flew in the first World War and learns to fly it—then stages a one-man, uh, one-boy bombing raid on the Nazi airbase on the neighboring island. He blows it sky-high.
Isn’t a twelve-year-old boy a little young for such an accomplishment? Don’t his parents know what he’s up to? Would the adults Gunner, Hobbes, and Lt. Hawke really condone, even aid, his involvement? Not where I come from! And perhaps not then, either, but sometimes we forget in our modern society that very, very young boys used to hunt, used to enlist as drummer boys, used to strike out on their own. And every war, it seems, draws boys as young as fifteen and sixteen who lie about their age and sneak into the ranks. Perhaps this isn’t quite as unrealistic as it seems at first glance. Either way, it’s fiction, and rousing good fiction. Quite appealing to today’s boys who don’t have such opportunities.
Not only is danger pouring in fast and strong in 1940, the pirate Billy Blood makes another appearance, and the action shifts to 1781. If you know your history at all, you realize what an extremely important year that was for the American colonies, for it brought about the surrender of General Cornwallis at the Battle of Yorktown and ended the Revolution. But Washington could not have led his troops to victory if the French Admiral Francois de Grasse had not cut off Cornwallis’s retreat. And wouldn’t you know it? Billy Blood has it in for de Grasse. He’s amassed a huge pirate armada to ambush the Admiral on his way to the Chesapeake Bay to assist Washington. When Nick finds out, he realizes that if Washington doesn’t win at Yorktown, there will be no America to come to England’s rescue in 1940. He aims to make sure that happens.
I really enjoy all the history in these books. They’re very unique in that Nick finds himself in the thick of action in World War Two as well as at some important points in the past. In this case, readers gets a first-hand look at the Battle of Yorktown and many of its key players. Shucks, Nick is running messages for them! That is, when he’s done blowing up pirate ships.
I must issue a word of caution. There are a lot of mild profanities. Billy Blood has a foul mouth. Of course it’s much tamer than reality, but he’s quite consistent. And book two seemed to me a little more graphically violent than the first–violence Nick is actively participating in. He strafes Nazi officers who “slump over.” He guns down an Indian who is attacking him. Gunner shoots a pirate in the temple. There are several scenes where “blood pools around his boots,” or something similar. And there are also many third person descriptions of the violence of war: the Nazi bombing of a port city, the shooting of 400 starving horses, the dismembered and unburied dead lying about Yorktown.
This one is not for the young or squeamish. It’s right on the edge, but I would let it slide for my own kids once they reached twelve-years-old. It’s certain to please today’s boys who still dream of becoming heroes.
With is friend Gunner’s help, Nick rebuilds the old Sopwith Camel biplane that his father flew in the first World War and learns to fly it—then stages a one-man, uh, one-boy bombing raid on the Nazi airbase on the neighboring island. He blows it sky-high.
Isn’t a twelve-year-old boy a little young for such an accomplishment? Don’t his parents know what he’s up to? Would the adults Gunner, Hobbes, and Lt. Hawke really condone, even aid, his involvement? Not where I come from! And perhaps not then, either, but sometimes we forget in our modern society that very, very young boys used to hunt, used to enlist as drummer boys, used to strike out on their own. And every war, it seems, draws boys as young as fifteen and sixteen who lie about their age and sneak into the ranks. Perhaps this isn’t quite as unrealistic as it seems at first glance. Either way, it’s fiction, and rousing good fiction. Quite appealing to today’s boys who don’t have such opportunities.
Not only is danger pouring in fast and strong in 1940, the pirate Billy Blood makes another appearance, and the action shifts to 1781. If you know your history at all, you realize what an extremely important year that was for the American colonies, for it brought about the surrender of General Cornwallis at the Battle of Yorktown and ended the Revolution. But Washington could not have led his troops to victory if the French Admiral Francois de Grasse had not cut off Cornwallis’s retreat. And wouldn’t you know it? Billy Blood has it in for de Grasse. He’s amassed a huge pirate armada to ambush the Admiral on his way to the Chesapeake Bay to assist Washington. When Nick finds out, he realizes that if Washington doesn’t win at Yorktown, there will be no America to come to England’s rescue in 1940. He aims to make sure that happens.
I really enjoy all the history in these books. They’re very unique in that Nick finds himself in the thick of action in World War Two as well as at some important points in the past. In this case, readers gets a first-hand look at the Battle of Yorktown and many of its key players. Shucks, Nick is running messages for them! That is, when he’s done blowing up pirate ships.
I must issue a word of caution. There are a lot of mild profanities. Billy Blood has a foul mouth. Of course it’s much tamer than reality, but he’s quite consistent. And book two seemed to me a little more graphically violent than the first–violence Nick is actively participating in. He strafes Nazi officers who “slump over.” He guns down an Indian who is attacking him. Gunner shoots a pirate in the temple. There are several scenes where “blood pools around his boots,” or something similar. And there are also many third person descriptions of the violence of war: the Nazi bombing of a port city, the shooting of 400 starving horses, the dismembered and unburied dead lying about Yorktown.
This one is not for the young or squeamish. It’s right on the edge, but I would let it slide for my own kids once they reached twelve-years-old. It’s certain to please today’s boys who still dream of becoming heroes.
February 19, 2014
It’s 1940 and the Nazis are invading Nick’s beloved home, the British Channel Islands. So Nick takes to the skies: He has discovered an old World War One fighter plane in an abandoned barn. Determined to learn to fly, he is soon risking life and limb to photograph armed German minelayers and patrol boats, and executing incredibly perilous bombing raids over Nazi airfields by night.
Meanwhile, the evil pirate, Captain Billy Blood, still desperate to acquire Nick’s time machine, returns to Greybeard Island. He kidnaps Nick’s sister, Kate, and transports her back to Port Royal, Jamaica, in the year 1781, leaving Nick a message that if he wants to see her alive again, he must come to Jamaica and make an even swap: Kate’s life in exchange for Nick’s wondrous time machine—that’s Blood’s bargain.
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I read Time Pirate only a few days ago after learning that there actually was a sequel to Nick of Time. Since I liked the first book so much, I (naturally) had really high hopes for the second one and I was not disappointed. There's a lot more of Nick and Gunner in this book (and a lot less of Lord Hawke and Hobbes) and I liked them a lot better the second time around, so to speak.
There were quite a few differences in this book from the previous one - the author jumped around a lot more with the points-of-view (which I didn't mind - but it was a bit confusing at first), there weren't really two separate plots (I appreciated the whole time travel angle a lot more) and I could just tell that the plot/characters/technique had matured.
A few random things I thought I should mention: One thing I really liked was that Hobbes made an exact replica of the Tempus Machina (Nick's time machine) to fool Billy Blood with. For some reason, I loved that plot point. There was a new character introduced in this book (for the life of me, I can't remember her name - her code name is 'Flower', though) - she's a spy and she helps Nick hide out from the Nazis one time. I liked how she buttered up the Nazi commandant and got information from him (I love spy stories). And this is really random...Nick and Katie and Gunner are caught by Blood and they're going to be executed and they're taken to the guillotine (although they don't die - it happens early in the story, so I didn't think that was a spoiler). And, you know, I'm sort of interested in the French Revolution, so I liked (?) that little touch.
There was one thing that I found a bit unbelievable (besides the whole concept of time travel) - Nick is only thirteen and he flew his dad's plane and wreaked havoc on a Nazi air base. He just seemed so young. Other than that, I really enjoyed this book (especially since it gave me an emotional experience - like the first one) and I would highly recommend it. I think it could be read as a stand-alone because the prologue backtracks a bit about the first book. Oh, any American history buffs will enjoy Time Pirate because the time travel plot is all about the American Revolution :)
Meanwhile, the evil pirate, Captain Billy Blood, still desperate to acquire Nick’s time machine, returns to Greybeard Island. He kidnaps Nick’s sister, Kate, and transports her back to Port Royal, Jamaica, in the year 1781, leaving Nick a message that if he wants to see her alive again, he must come to Jamaica and make an even swap: Kate’s life in exchange for Nick’s wondrous time machine—that’s Blood’s bargain.
______________________________________
I read Time Pirate only a few days ago after learning that there actually was a sequel to Nick of Time. Since I liked the first book so much, I (naturally) had really high hopes for the second one and I was not disappointed. There's a lot more of Nick and Gunner in this book (and a lot less of Lord Hawke and Hobbes) and I liked them a lot better the second time around, so to speak.
There were quite a few differences in this book from the previous one - the author jumped around a lot more with the points-of-view (which I didn't mind - but it was a bit confusing at first), there weren't really two separate plots (I appreciated the whole time travel angle a lot more) and I could just tell that the plot/characters/technique had matured.
A few random things I thought I should mention: One thing I really liked was that Hobbes made an exact replica of the Tempus Machina (Nick's time machine) to fool Billy Blood with. For some reason, I loved that plot point. There was a new character introduced in this book (for the life of me, I can't remember her name - her code name is 'Flower', though) - she's a spy and she helps Nick hide out from the Nazis one time. I liked how she buttered up the Nazi commandant and got information from him (I love spy stories). And this is really random...Nick and Katie and Gunner are caught by Blood and they're going to be executed and they're taken to the guillotine (although they don't die - it happens early in the story, so I didn't think that was a spoiler). And, you know, I'm sort of interested in the French Revolution, so I liked (?) that little touch.
There was one thing that I found a bit unbelievable (besides the whole concept of time travel) - Nick is only thirteen and he flew his dad's plane and wreaked havoc on a Nazi air base. He just seemed so young. Other than that, I really enjoyed this book (especially since it gave me an emotional experience - like the first one) and I would highly recommend it. I think it could be read as a stand-alone because the prologue backtracks a bit about the first book. Oh, any American history buffs will enjoy Time Pirate because the time travel plot is all about the American Revolution :)
April 16, 2011
This book is very suspenseful. It's about Nick (the main character) flying his dad's old war plane and attacking the Germans during the night. His friend Gunner is a whiz at making, building and remodeling planes and other war vehicles. He has to fend of the Germans so their town does not be a new P.O.W camp or a place for the Germans to make or keep their ships. Nick decides to go on a bombing run and bomb the ammunition building. Gunner builds the bombs and Nick is off on a suicide mission. Once he is done with bombing the building ( which he completly destroyed, an AA gun exploded just about 25 feet away from his plane. some of the flak got inside the engine and set it ablaze. He contacted Gunner on his walkie talkie and told what pickle he was in. Gunner told him to fly towards the water and using the power of hitting the water, propelle out of the plane using his legs. He got through alright and almost made it to the bank when a German soldier came walking by. The soldier had a dog, taking the smell of Nick, ran towards him. BOOM. The dog hit a land mine. Nick starts of running. plus he has the whole Nazi installation searching for him. Nick finds Gunner where his parents are when he says they are captured and his little sister is kidnapped by William Blood. Nick decides to go and get his sister back as soon as can. Lord Hawke gives the Nick and Gunner pistols to defend themselves and says they are prepared. As Nick and Gunner enter the street a gang of drunk pirates come up and try to attack Nick when Gunner shoots one of the pirates and they take off running. They reach the bar where Nick's sister is held up and take a trip upstairs when they open the door and they she is, Kate. As nick and Gunner are running out of the building they hear pirates coming from both sides. they try to fight them off but get caught. They are taken to a prison with lots of skeletons piled up. When William leaves they enter the coordinates in to the time machine and off they go back to home.
July 29, 2010
I read this aloud with Amber (10), and she and I have entirely different opinions of it, and, David, who listened in on most of it, pretty much agrees with her, which makes me think that I just wasn't the right audience.
It's 1940, Nick McIver, a 12 year-old boy must defend his home, a small British island, against the looming Nazi invasion. But the Nazis are not his only enemies; using a time-travel device invented by da Vinci, he also battles 18th-century pirates who've kidnapped his sister. To further confuse things, the pirates, who are equipped with a time-travel device of their own, threaten to change the outcome of the American Revolution. Nick feels compelled to help General Washington and his troops, even though doing so makes him a traitor, because he knows that the support of the United States will become crucial to the Allies in World War II.
First off, I'm not usually much of a fan of time travel; it just tends to get too confusing for me. War books are not typical reading for me either. Needless to say, I wasn't a real fan of this book. I found it too long and overly-detailed. By the end, I just wanted it to be over, please.
Amber, however, loved it. She enjoyed all the swash-buckling adventure and the details of battles. The action was exciting and she kept wanting to hear more of the story, as did David. At one point, he said we had to wait for him to read more of one of the battles. I mentioned to them that I could do without all the detail, but I was informed that I was wrong, that it was cool and made the story feel more real. Like I said, I think it just wasn't the right audience.
I will say, though, that it had a lot of historical details tucked in, both about World War II and the American Revolution. I can certainly see how it makes history fun and interesting for middle school kids, especially when the hero of the story is a character their own age.
It's 1940, Nick McIver, a 12 year-old boy must defend his home, a small British island, against the looming Nazi invasion. But the Nazis are not his only enemies; using a time-travel device invented by da Vinci, he also battles 18th-century pirates who've kidnapped his sister. To further confuse things, the pirates, who are equipped with a time-travel device of their own, threaten to change the outcome of the American Revolution. Nick feels compelled to help General Washington and his troops, even though doing so makes him a traitor, because he knows that the support of the United States will become crucial to the Allies in World War II.
First off, I'm not usually much of a fan of time travel; it just tends to get too confusing for me. War books are not typical reading for me either. Needless to say, I wasn't a real fan of this book. I found it too long and overly-detailed. By the end, I just wanted it to be over, please.
Amber, however, loved it. She enjoyed all the swash-buckling adventure and the details of battles. The action was exciting and she kept wanting to hear more of the story, as did David. At one point, he said we had to wait for him to read more of one of the battles. I mentioned to them that I could do without all the detail, but I was informed that I was wrong, that it was cool and made the story feel more real. Like I said, I think it just wasn't the right audience.
I will say, though, that it had a lot of historical details tucked in, both about World War II and the American Revolution. I can certainly see how it makes history fun and interesting for middle school kids, especially when the hero of the story is a character their own age.
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