Time Castaways: The Mona Lisa Key by Liesl Shurtliff
Genre: Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Suggested age: 8-12 years old
What is this book about? The three Hudson siblings live in New York City, with relatively normal lives, with just a few rules from their parents. The number one rule, though, is don’t ride the subway without an adult! That is until one morning they wake up late, and are forced to ride the subway by themselves. As they board the subway, something strange begins to happen, and they are swept off on a magical journey through time on a ship named the Vermillion. As the story goes on, they find themselves in the middle of one of the greatest art heists in history. The crew they are sailing through time with are attempting to steal the Mona Lisa. Perhaps their parents’ life has more secrets than they realized, maybe not for the better.
My review: The first book of the Time Castaways starts us off on a fun and magical journey through time. Shurtliff, has fun mixing fantasy with sci-fi. She puts time travel at the center of the adventure in this story. However, the author chooses to focus more on the adventure, than the technicalities of how it happens. This is a great book for kids who love solving a good mystery, while also enjoying the thrill of an adventure. It also works through family relations, as all of the kids are siblings. It’s a fun tribute to the idea that although kids see their mom and dad as just parents, there is always a whole life that they lived before becoming a parent.
Three words that describe this book: magical, whimsical, mysterious
Give this a try if you like: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle, The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart, The Timekeepers by S. J. King
Rating: 5/5
