Throwback

Loved the NYC setting and the 9/11 story line. Unfortunately, the two extra time hops had too many confusing action scenes. The situation with the two time travelers who have transformed into mutant animals seemed unnecessary and distracting. Corey also assumes a girl in 1917 is gender-fluid just because she has disguised herself as a boy so she can audition to become a cowboy. This is supposed to be part one of a trilogy. Despite the satisfying ending of book one, I am not sure if I will be looking for books two and three.<br /><br />Thank you to HarperCollins for providing a paperback ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The story: When Corey learns he's inherited the family ability to travel through time, he also finds out that he's a "throwback"--one of the few time travelers with the ability to alter the past and thereby affect the future. His first mission: to rescue the grandmother he's never known, who died on 9/11. What he doesn't expect is to find himself stranded in 1917, being hunted by the street gangs of New York, or rescued by an unexpected cowboy named Quinn...<br /><br />June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG-13; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic &amp; the occult PG; GLBT content G; adult themes G; overall rating PG. Good for grades 5-8.<br /><br />Liz's comments: A fun adventure/time travel story that both boys and girls will enjoy, with a nice twist at the end. If your readers like this one, the second book in the series, "The Chaos Loop" is now available.

DNF. Started out with so much promise but then it lost me with that weird character chasing them in the park, half cat half rodent or whatever it was.

I got this book 3 years ago and put off reading it until now. I love Peter lerangis' books and I knew I would love this one. And I did!

I love the character interactions and the depiction of historical New York City in this middle-grade time-travel adventure, but it's maybe a bit overstuffed with plot. (The hero is nominally trying to save his grandmother from dying on September 11th, but he spends most of the narrative stuck in 1917.) There are also a few talking animals, which are technically explained yet feel far wackier than anything else in the story. And I'm not convinced that the ending is wholly earned, nor that some darker material involving the actual 9/11 attacks and repeated mention of suicide represents the best choice for a book in this age range. Overall, though, it's a fun quick read.<br /><br /><i>Find me on <a href="https://patreon.com/lesserjoke" rel="nofollow noopener">Patreon</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6288479-joe-kessler" rel="nofollow noopener">Goodreads</a> | <a href="https://lesserjoke.home.blog/" rel="nofollow noopener">Blog</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/lesserjoke" rel="nofollow noopener">Twitter</a></i>

Corey is living in New York and has a best friend Laila. He comes to find out he can touch objects and travel in time. They need to have some metal in them. His grandfather who has been missing for over a year, suddenly shows up to talk to Corey because he too can time travel and as Corey has traveled back in time accidentally he saved someone's life and changed history! He is called a throwback, which means he not only can travel time, but he can change history. Corey's grandmother died during 9/11 and he decides to travel back to try to save her. His grandfather has tried many times, but it never works. As he travels back to 2001, he accidentally travels even farther to 1917 and things get a little out of control.<br /><br />Great sci-fi. I couldn't stop reading!

I really wanted to like this, but it felt superficial to me. The characters had little depth and what could have been a great emotional story and teaching moment (relationships, regrets and the tragedy of 9/11) just skates by.<br /><br />I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I really like the premise of the book. After reading the first third I was ready to give it 4 stars but the quality of the middle third of the book is not as good as the first third and the last third. Once I got past the middle, it got better again. I am still curious enough about the premise of the book to want to read the second book in the trilogy.

Thirteen-year-old Corey Fletcher discovers the actual existence of time traveling and that he has a genetic link to do so through his paternal grandfather. When his first accidental traveling leads him to change the present, he discovers that he a special traveler called a “Throwback” for their unique ability to change history while the others cannot. His first mission as a Throwback comes at the request from his grandfather to rescue his grandmother from the events of September 11, 2001. His harrowing trip will take him from the present, to 2001, to 1917, and then back again. Will his journey be successful and is this the last of his travelling? Only time will tell…<br /><br />This action-suspense novel for middle grade readers will draw them right into the story from the first glance at the exceptional cover art through the exciting conclusion of what is the first book of a trilogy. Lerangis sets up the story arc so that while the reader has some resolution to the central mission of this story; there are some intriguing larger picture consequences to his traveling that need to be answered in future books. These unresolved threads will keep readers coming back for the next novel which is set to be published in late April 2020. Mature life and death consequences from a character who is a new teen should be noted as Corey struggles with some of the moral pathos that result from his actions and make this title more suitable for middle school collections than early grade school. <br /><br />I would recommend this book for purchase by any school or public library.<br />This book was provided by the publisher for professional review by SWON Libraries.<br /><br />

First in a new trilogy by Lerangis.<br />Everyone thinks Corey has an active imagination. He sees people who aren't there and sees other times. He learns that he indeed does see things from other time periods and is a time hopper. In fact, he's a rare, potentially one-of-a kind time hopper who can change history. He accidentally does this twice during the first book.<br />Much of the book is setting background for the story. Readers meet the characters and see them interact. They also experience several time hops to 2011 and 1917. Lerangis slips history in seamlessly along with his tale.