April 1, 2014
Gr 3-5-A promising premise yields mixed results in this time-travel series. Without warning or explanation, 15-year-old Nickolas Flux is swept back in time to various pivotal moments in American history. Once on the scene, Nickolas learns about the specific situation at hand, such as the Boston Tea Party or the Battle of the Alamo. The illustrations suggest cartoon realism, while the panels are packed with action. A switch from full color to sepia tones help shift the reader from the present to the past and back again. However, the time-travel aspect comes across as contrived and artificial; Nickolas meets all the key players and asks all of the right questions from the get-go, and major historical figures such as Sam Adams have no problem revealing sensitive information to a teenager clad in blue jeans and a sweatshirt whom they have just met. Appropriate for educators seeking supplemental materials for reluctant readers.
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