I haven’t visited this book in some time, but it’s just as I remembered. I’ve probably read this book four times now; I keep returning to this trilogy because I was never able to read the final installment, but this year I hope to!
Summary: Peter Shock and Kate Dyer live miles apart and have nothing in common—nor do they want anything to do with each other. All Peter wants to do is spend time with his aloof father, and Kate would be more than happy to see him leave her family’s farm and return to London. But an encounter with Dr. Dyer’s antigravity machine quickly changes their circumstances, and not for the better.
Living in 1763, Gideon Seymore has had his share of trouble and grief; and when Gideon discovers his lifelong foe, the Tar Man, is close on his heels, he’s not certain how he’ll escape his pursuer this time. Suddenly, an inexplicable event occurs, seeming to rip a hole in the sky and leaving in its place two very odd-looking children.
As the Tar Man makes off with the antigravity machine—Peter and Kate’s only way back home—the children will need to rely on each other and their new friend Gideon to return to the twenty-first century.
My Opinion: This is one of my favorite books from childhood. It’s a great combination of history and science. The scientific side of the story is well explained, even if time travel isn’t a reality; I also enjoyed learning more of Britain’s history in the late eighteenth-century. There were some elements of the book I didn’t like, however. When Gideon is explaining the Tar Man’s backstory to the children, the descriptions he gives were mildly gruesome; and there were several expletives said by the adults throughout the book. For these reasons, I believe this book leans closer towards the YA level than the middle-grade level for which it seems to be intended. When I read this book as an eleven- or twelve-year-old, I remember quickly reading over these parts. In summary, this was an entertaining read full of history, science, and humor.
My rating for this book is ☕️☕️☕️/5 coffees. Happy reading!
I Corinthians 10:31 KJV, “…whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
Books, Coffee, and Jesus 