Review: Very interesting and engaging, but I felt it needed some development
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 9, 2013
I had mixed feelings about this story.  I think it was a superb idea, and I found the history woven into it fascinating.  I appreciate it is written for a younger audience, perhaps ages 10-12 I'd say, but I'm a mother and I do like a good children's book.I think the main thing preventing me from giving this book 5 stars is that it seemed to go by very quickly, and some ideas were not fully developed.  For instance, there is a point where the little girl has an idea that something she has taken from her time traveling experience might help her in school one day...then the very next scene shows her using it in school.  There was no build-up, which made it hard for me to care about that event.Another point is there were quite a few anachronisms that were bugging me.  For instance, there's mention of the Loch Ness Monster, but I'm not convinced they called it that back in the time this book is set.  At another point, Fiona asks Elizabeth, 'Are you daft?'  I believe this is modern slang and I don't know if this belongs in that era.I also couldn't understand the connection between the supernatural beings (don't want to give too much away here) and the resolution to the story.  At first we were led to believe they had some involvement in what was happening.  Then at the end it transpired to be the work of someone else entirely.  Yet the little girl was told to show gratitude to those beings...for what, exactly?  What part did they play?  None that I could see.  I think either make their connection clearer or just leave them out of the book.For me, the strongest element of this book was the parallel story about the boys digging for treasure.  I found that fascinating, and it's what kept this story from simply being a rewrite of 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court'.  It's what made it original.  I loved this and the mystery character certainly had my attention by the end.  I really wanted to know who he was and what was going on.  I presume this means there's going to be a sequel, where this question gets answered?  There was no indication at the end that there would be a second installment, but I sincerely hope there is because it's an interesting story, despite my comments above, and because there were so many unanswered questions.So it's not perfect, but I definitely enjoyed it, and I would read book 2 (if it gets written!) to find out where this is going!