The Lincoln Project

October 1, 2015

Gr 3-5-Four modern-day Boston tweens each receive a mysterious yellow envelope promising them "a very special, once-in-a-lifetime experience": the chance to time travel to 1863 and photograph President Abraham Lincoln delivering the Gettysburg Address. Things don't go quite as smoothly as planned, however, and the four find themselves knee-deep in an adventure wilder than they could have imagined. Fiction featuring Abraham Lincoln will always grab readers, and this middle grade entry into the genre should be no different; the protagonists meet Honest Abe, his firecracker son Tad, and even the infamous John Wilkes Booth. Gutman offers solid middle grade historical fiction with a briskly moving, if at times slightly rushed, story that leaves readers ready for a sequel. Non-genre fans will enjoy both its silly sci-fi flourishes and the fish-out-water humor of having 21st-century tween protagonists navigate Gettysburg's stinky 19th-century streets. Add in Gutman's broad fan base, and this will be a high-demand title. In addition, Gutman does a commendable job of at least somewhat incorporating the issues of slavery and the equality of all people at the root of the Civil War into his story, and his inclusion of a black protagonist gives the narrative additional resonance. VERDICT A fine purchase for middle grade fiction collections that will entice a wide audience and circulate well.-Ted McCoy, Springfield City Library, MA

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2015
Gutman kicks off a new time-travel series featuring four 12-year-olds ready for adventure. Wheelchair-bound billionaire genius Chris Zandergoth has found a way to warp space and time to make time travel possible, and with her smartboard--which she smugly calls "the smartest smartboard in the world"--she plans to send the foursome back in time to gather photographs for her collection. She starts by sending David, the one African-American in the group, to 1962 to witness Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point basketball game for the Philadelphia Warriors. When he returns with a souvenir program, he has proven that the Board works, but Miss Z. worries that taking artifacts from the past risks altering the course of history, a concern reminiscent of Ray Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder" and many other tales in the genre. Next, they go to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to witness--and photograph--Lincoln giving the Gettysburg Address. Of course, adventure ensues. The third-person narrative works to keep track of the Flashback Four, the narrator frequently addressing readers directly to fill in historical details. When the Four come across John Wilkes Booth, an interesting historical moral dilemma is raised: is it right to kill a person to prevent a future assassination? Breezy, good-natured fun and a fair amount of history, too. (author's note, recommended reading, websites, recommended sites, museums, and living history) (Science fiction. 8-12)

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November 15, 2015
Grades 3-6 Gutmanknown for his Genius Files and Baseball Card Adventure serieshas a knack for concocting middle-grade hits, and this series starter should certainly follow suit. History, photography, cutting-edge technology, time travel, a savvy group of kids, and a uniquely appealing adult mastermind are the enticing ingredients that make up the Flashback Four (a catchy name bestowed on the quartet by one of the heroes). Luke, Isabel, Julia, and David all receive a mysterious invitation from a multimillionaire tech whiz (refreshingly female) who asks them to travel back in time to capture a special, unphotographed moment she is determined to put on film. First up is the moment Lincoln gives his Gettysburg Address. It won't be as easy as it might seem, though, as a number of glitches need to be imaginatively overcome. Meanwhile, readers will learn about Civil War battles, customs, and famous figures of the time period. A fun and fast read, illustrated with photos of the past that really do exist.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2016
Four preteens are selected by an enterprising billionaire to travel backward in time to photograph Lincoln delivering the Gettysburg Address. Sent via a sophisticated time machine to 1863, they encounter a series of misadventures and return without the photo. The fast-paced, easy read includes archival photographs. However, imprecise interweaving of historical fact and fiction gives the reader a skewed account of the event. Author's note.

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)