Book

Time Twisters

📖 Overview

Time Twisters follows three thirteen-year-olds who discover they can travel through time using their middle school library books. The friends must navigate historical events while trying to prevent disaster in both the past and present. The story moves between modern day and key moments in American history, focusing on figures like Abraham Lincoln and Harriet Tubman. Their mission becomes increasingly complex as they realize their actions in the past can have major consequences. The book involves questions of historical responsibility, friendship, and the weight of seemingly small choices. It examines how students might view and interact with history if given the chance to experience it firsthand.

👀 Reviews

Readers note this book series offers an accessible introduction to American history for grades 3-7, with humor and adventure that keeps kids engaged. Parents and teachers report students laugh at the silly moments while learning historical facts. Positive feedback: - Makes history fun without dumbing it down - Strong appeal for reluctant readers - Works well as classroom read-alouds - Characters feel relatable to young readers Common criticisms: - Plot can feel scattered and chaotic - Historical details sometimes get lost in slapstick - Some find the humor forced - Writing style too simplistic for advanced readers Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (300+ ratings) "My 9-year-old couldn't put it down and kept sharing historical facts at dinner," wrote one parent reviewer. A teacher noted: "Students who normally tune out during history were completely invested in these books." Critics mentioned "the silly jokes sometimes detract from the actual history lessons."

📚 Similar books

Story Thieves by James Riley A boy discovers his classmate can leap in and out of books, leading to adventures where they change famous stories and must deal with the consequences.

The Hypnotists by Gordon Korman A young boy learns he comes from a family of hypnotists and gets caught in a plot involving mind control and historical events.

The Book of Story Beginnings by Kristin Kladstrup A girl finds a mysterious book that brings story beginnings to life, causing her to travel through time to rescue her father.

The Infinity Ring by James Dashner Three kids use a time travel device to fix breaks in history while competing against a secret society that wants to change the past.

The House of Power by Patrick Carman A boy discovers his floating world is not what it seems and uncovers connections to Earth's past that could change his future.

🤔 Interesting facts

🕰️ Author Steve Sheinkin was previously a textbook writer who quit to pursue more engaging ways of teaching history to young readers 📚 The Time Twisters series combines real historical events with time travel adventures, making history accessible and exciting for middle-grade readers 🏆 Sheinkin's other books have won multiple awards, including the Newbery Honor, the Sibert Medal, and the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction ✍️ The series features Abraham Lincoln and other historical figures interacting with modern-day kids, creating entertaining "what-if" scenarios while teaching accurate historical details 🎯 Each book in the series includes primary source materials and historical photographs, helping readers distinguish between factual history and the fictional elements of the story