The Book of Time
by Guillaume Prevost

    THE BOOK OF TIME by Guillaume Prevost
    Category:  Science Fiction
    Age Recommendation:  Grades 6+
    Release Date:  9/1/07
    Publisher:  Arthur A. Levine
    Reviewed by:  Carrie Spellman
    Rating:  5 Stars


    This isn't the first time Sam's dad has disappeared.  According to Sam's grandparents, Allan Faulkner was always
    an odd kid, but he pretty much settled down when he married Sam's mom.  In the three years since Sam's mom
    died, Allan seems to have reverted back to his own little world.  One that sometimes involves him disappearing
    for days at a time.  Never for ten days in a row though, and he's NEVER forgotten Sam's birthday.  Sam's pretty
    sure there's more going on then an unexpected business trip.

    Having escaped a judo tournament due to cancellation, and a beating from his much larger archenemy by feminine
    intervention, Sam is off to do some investigating.  While Sam has lived with his grandparents, and cousin Lily,
    since the beginning of the year, Allan is still living in the house/bookstore he runs.  That seems like the best place
    for Sam to start looking for clues.  

    Sam finds his way to the basement of the old house.  There he finds a hidden room, a strange book, an old coin of
    some kind, and a strange-shaped stone that seems to be making noise.  Sam feels almost drawn to the stone, and
    when he touches it...  Let's just say the adventures truly begin.

    Sam's dad seems to have found a way to travel through time!  And now time has sucked Sam in, too.  Sam is
    beginning to suspect that his dad is caught somewhere in the past.  With the help of this crazy stone and some
    other coins, Sam just might be able to rescue him.  That is, if he can figure out how to get out of the random
    places he keeps getting sent to, and find a way to wherever his dad went.  Plus, he'll have to find a way to keep
    his grandparents from worrying about his disappearances, and keep Lily's nosy mom and her boyfriend out of his
    way.  Oh yeah, and he still has make it through the judo tournament and possibly through the bully who wants to
    smash his face in.

    I love time travel books, and this story does not disappoint.  For a book that's not too thick, and reads very
    quickly, there's a whole lot packed in to it!  And it's so much more than just a time travel story.  These characters
    seem like real people, with normal problems.  It's a recognizable family that's trying to hold itself together, in spite
    of very strange occurrences.  

    Sam has such great adventures, both in the past and in the present.  I wish I could do all of it, except I'm not sure
    I could think as fast as he does at times!

    The book ended much sooner than I wanted it to.  I wanted to keep reading more and more about Sam, and his
    family, and his travels.  Maybe I can find a time traveling stone to the future, so I can read all of the books that I
    hope come next!  Even if I have to wait, I look forward to as many of these as I can get.