Flashback Four: The Lincoln Project (by Dan Gutman)

Publication Date: February 2016

 

SYNOPSIS: Congratulations! You are invited to participate in a very special once-in-a-lifetime experience. Please do not share this invitation or discuss it with anyone. In New York Times bestselling author Dan Gutman's all-new series, which blends fascinating real history with an action-packed and hilarious adventure, four very different kids are picked by a mysterious billionaire to travel through time and photograph some of history's most important events. This time, the four friends are headed to 1863 to catch Abraham Lincoln delivering his famous Gettysburg Address. They'll have to work together to ask the right questions, meet the right people, and capture the right moment. And most important—not get caught! Back matter separating fact from fiction and real black-and-white photographs make Flashback Four the perfect mix of true history and uproarious fun.

THOUGHTS: I really like Dan Gutman. I would say he is in my top ten favorite middle grade authors. This book was really good, too - a diverse, historical fiction adventure novel. There were four main characters: a white boy and girl, a Hispanic girl, and an African-American boy. This diversity just is – it is mentioned briefly but the characters are allowed to “be” without the color of their skin being part of the plot. (The exception being the obvious concern David has for going back to a time period that included slavery.) Also, the photos throughout were definitely a good addition.

Kids will really like this. The plot moves very fast, and both kids who enjoy history and those who enjoy adventures will find something here. Mr. Gutman put in an afterward detailing what in the story was true to history and what parts he used creative license on. As an aside, the story doesn't have a real ending, which I found disappointing.

CARTWHEEL AWARD NOMINEE?: I’m going to say no, and I wish I didn’t have to. I usually do not mind nominating first books in a series (last year’s “Favorite Book” winner was Gordon Korman’s Masterminds, a series starter). However, I think in fairness to the kids, there should at least be an ending to the specific story arc, which this story lacked.