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Black Powder [Hardcover]

Staton Rabin (Author)
3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

Price: $16.95 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
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Book Description

October 25, 2005
South Central

Los Angeles, 2010

Fourteen-year-old Langston Davis's best friend, Neely, has been shot and killed in a gang fight. Langston wishes that he could turn back the clock. But he knows you can't change history. Or can you?

When his science teacher invents a century-hopping time machine, Langston knows exactly what he must do: go back in time to stop the invention of gunpowder...which will prevent the invention of guns...which will stop Neely from getting killed.

Hijacking the time machine, Langston leaves a holographic "twin" of himself at home and bounces back to Oxford, England, in 1278, where he's in a race against time to stop the scientific "wizard" Professor Roger Bacon from sharing his new invention -- the Western world's first form of gunpowder. When Dr. Bacon is kidnapped by his archenemy, it's up to Langston and his new friend, Niles, to try to rescue him and destroy the formula for gunpowder. But is changing history really saving the world? Or is it just standing in the way of progress? Can Langston accomplish his mission and bring Neely back to life before he gets stuck in the thirteenth century forever? No matter how you look at it, it's going to be one heck of a ride through the dangereous hairpin turns of history and back to the future again!



Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9–In 2010 Los Angeles, brilliant Langston Davis loves to go to his science class, where he studies astronomy. He and Neely Neubart have been best friends forever, and Langston becomes concerned when his pal starts running with a gang and lets his grades fall. Then Neely is gunned down by his own gang, and Langston will go to any measures to get him back. When Mrs. Centauri, his science teacher, shows him the time machine she's invented, the 14-year-old uses it to go back to the 13th century so he can convince Dr. Roger Bacon to destroy his formula for gunpowder, thus preventing Neely's murder. What follows is a touching story of two great scientific minds discovering the humanity behind the ideas. Langston is particularly well-developed as an intelligent, mostly responsible African-American finding his way, reminiscent of Bobby in Angela Johnson's The First Part Last (S & S, 2003). Lots of adventure and strong characterization are only slightly marred by a few far-fetched plot elements that require leaps of faith on the part of readers. The author of the well-received Betsy and the Emperor (S & S, 2004) has once again woven together an inventive plot that will sweep readers along to a satisfying conclusion.–Melissa Moore, Union University Library, Jackson, TN
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Staton Rabin has a B.F.A. in film from New York University. In addition to writing for children, she is a screenwriter; a popular speaker about the art, craft, and business of writing for film; and a veteran story analyst for Scr(i)pt magazine, screenwriters, and producers. Staton Rabin lives in Irvington, New York.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 256 pages
  • Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books; Second printing edition (October 25, 2005)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0689868766
  • ISBN-13: 978-0689868764
  • Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,527,659 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

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Average Customer Review
3.0 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Black Powder, October 17, 2009
By 
D. Cox (Oklahoma City, OK USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Black Powder (Hardcover)
My twelve and ten year old sons and I loved this book. It is a fast paced historical fiction / adventure / suspense story that had them on the edge of their seats. It has everything boys could want in a book: Action, science fiction, drama, suspense, and humor. It also taught them quite a bit about the origins of gunpowder, historical figures like Dr Robert Bacon, and the living conditions of people and street children in 13th century England.
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars Black powder, September 21, 2010
By 
G.W.mikula (KYALAMI ESTATES South Africa) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Black Powder (Hardcover)
It wasnt clear that this was a boys story whereas I was looking for technical info on gun powder. ......prrobably my fault for being hasty!Georg Mikula
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Inside This Book (learn more)
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
laser remote control, model gun
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Roger Bacon, Oxford University, Anaheim Angels, Brother Jerome, Jerome of Ascoli, President Lincoln, Benjamin Banneker High, Doctor Mirabilis, Father Bacon, Giacomo Polo, Langston Hughes, Langston Davis, Professor Raffier, Los Angeles, World War
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