by Dan Gutman (Author)
"History can be hilarious, at least in the hands of author Dan Gutman." --Washington Post
In New York Times bestselling author Dan Gutman's all-new series, which blends fascinating real history with an action-packed and hilarious adventure, four very different kids are picked by a mysterious billionaire to travel through time and photograph some of history's most important events. This time, the four friends are headed to 1863 to catch Abraham Lincoln delivering his famous Gettysburg Address.
They'll have to work together to ask the right questions, meet the right people, and capture the right moment. And most important--not get caught! Back matter separating fact from fiction and real black-and-white photographs throughout make Flashback Four the perfect mix of true history and uproarious fun.
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Gr 3-5--Four modern-day Boston tweens each receive a mysterious yellow envelope promising them "a very special, once-in-a-lifetime experience": the chance to time travel to 1863 and photograph President Abraham Lincoln delivering the Gettysburg Address. Things don't go quite as smoothly as planned, however, and the four find themselves knee-deep in an adventure wilder than they could have imagined. Fiction featuring Abraham Lincoln will always grab readers, and this middle grade entry into the genre should be no different; the protagonists meet Honest Abe, his firecracker son Tad, and even the infamous John Wilkes Booth. Gutman offers solid middle grade historical fiction with a briskly moving, if at times slightly rushed, story that leaves readers ready for a sequel. Non-genre fans will enjoy both its silly sci-fi flourishes and the fish-out-water humor of having 21st-century tween protagonists navigate Gettysburg's stinky 19th-century streets. Add in Gutman's broad fan base, and this will be a high-demand title. In addition, Gutman does a commendable job of at least somewhat incorporating the issues of slavery and the equality of all people at the root of the Civil War into his story, and his inclusion of a black protagonist gives the narrative additional resonance. VERDICT A fine purchase for middle grade fiction collections that will entice a wide audience and circulate well.--Ted McCoy, Springfield City Library, MA
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