A Kiss in Time
by Alex Flinn

    A KISS IN TIME by Alex Flinn
    Category:  Contemporary
    Age Recommendation:  Grades 6+
    Release Date:  4/28/09
    Publisher:  HarperTeen
    Reviewed by:  Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"
    Rating:  5 Stars


    When Jack escaped for the summer on a trip around Europe, he never dreamed he would be pulled into a real-life
    fairy tale.  

    His main goal in agreeing to the numbingly dull tour of European museums was to avoid an even more boring summer
    working in his father's company.  Both his father and mother think he is a lazy slacker without any real interests.  
    What they don't know is that Jack has an interest, but he knows that as the son of a successful business family, they
    will not approve of his future plans.

    After weeks of museum tours, Jack and his friend, Travis, decide to skip out on the tour group and head for the
    beach.  They take a wrong turn and end up sneaking through a thick hedge hoping to find the illusive beach, but
    instead they end up in a strange place that seems lost in time.  As they explore, they stumble across some of the
    residents of the area, only to find them fast asleep.

    When they arrive at the main gates to a huge castle, they begin to wonder exactly what is going on.  Inside the castle
    they find the same situation - everyone is fast asleep.  Life seems to have suddenly halted for these people, leaving
    them in the middle of whatever activity or task that had kept them busy before their sudden slumber.

    Jack and Travis find their way to an isolated area of the castle and are surprised to discover a beautiful young girl
    sleeping peacefully.  Travis is more interested in returning to the throne room and snatching the crown jewels, and
    Jack gladly sends him off.  Jack is fascinated by the sleeping girl whose beauty is astonishing.  He can't help himself.  
    He bends and gently kisses her soft lips.  Suddenly, she's awake!

    By now readers will recognize the similarities to Sleeping Beauty, but what they don't know yet is that they are in for
    some great adventures.  

    Imagine being awakened by a stranger's kiss and learning you've slept for three-hundred years.  The world doesn't
    even know your country exists, and you don't have a clue that things like cars, buses, airplanes, cell phones, and
    televisions are now the norm.  Princess Talia believes Jack must be her true love, but at seventeen, he's pretty sure
    she must be wrong.

    Alex Flinn, author of YA books like BREATHING UNDERWATER and BEASTLY, has a new treat for her fans.  
    She puts a unique twist on fairy tale retelling - by connecting the past and present as Jack and Talia struggle through
    problems created by their strange meeting and their own personal family struggles as young teens trying to find their
    own direction in life.