Customer Reviews

Changing Tides (National Treasure - A Gates Family Mystery)

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They've made a mistake on the product review. The noval isn't about Benjamin Gates or the Templar Treasure, its about Ben Gates' ancestors and how the Gates family migrated to America.
In 1612, just as America is first being colonized, Samual Gates and his family are living in London. Having always been drawn to brave explorers and tales of treasure in far off lands, Samual is dissatisfied with his poor simple life but cannot escape it, having little money.
Then not long after, his father makes a foolish mistake that costs the Gates family everything. Determined to save his family and restore the Gates's reputation, Samual and his brother, William, travel to the Americas and the newly organized Jamestown, hoping to find a fortune that will help their fate.
As they cross the ocean, Samual meets a man who talks of a hidden treasure somewhwere in Jamestown. But before he can find out much more, the man suddenly and suspiously dies but not before passing the clues of the treasure to Samual. Now armed with a letter and only a few cryptic messages to go on, samual finds himself caught up in a hunt that goes back to the very begining of the New World, and traces back to a vanished colony.

Having seen the movies I was skeptical about a prequel. However, from the introduction to the satisfying ending I enjoyed meeting the characters, reading the reasonably fictionalized historical character's activities and exchanges with the Gates boys, and following the clues to the resolution. This is family entertainment at its best and I look forward to the next installment. Hurry!

My son blew through this book in two days and wants more of the series! As the other reviewers said, the Amazon.com summary is incorrect.

I also just read the book, and while it's not terribly complex, it's interesting and exciting enough to propel a youngster who, just two years ago, wouldn't pick up a fiction book unless he was under duress. Just don't expect "Pillars of the Earth" or "Gone with the Wind" - after all, it's a kid's historical novel!

Like said earlier, the product description on here is wrong. This is the first of a set of 6 prequels (hopefully they can squeeze a few more in) that tells the story of the ancestors of Ben Gates. The first title National Tresure: Changing Tides tells the story of Samuel Thomas Gates, and his journey from England to Jamestown in 1611. Samuel's father had lost his family's money in a scheme that promised gold and riches from the new world. Upset and penniless Samuel and his brother William head off to the New World to get jobs and make enough money to send for the parnets.

During the long boat ride to the New World, they encounter two men. The first man talks about the Temple of the Ancients (the Templar Treasure from the movie), while the second talks about the "True Treasure". Before the second man dies onboard, he befriends Samuel and tells him the secret of the treasure. The man gives Samuel a letter which gives him the first clue to the True Treasure. With the help of new friends he meets in Jamestown, Samuel spends the book trying to solve the clues and find the treasure.Samuel has some enemies though, who want to find the treasure just as much as he does. Real life historical figures such as Pocahontas, John Rolfe, and Governer Gates (no relation) interact with the fictional characters well and the story is written so well that you feel this actually could have happened. There are also a few winks to the movies by mentioning the treasures without focusing on them.

This story will be very good for young adults, any reader that likes a good adventure, or those who are really into history. This book is definetly worth reading.

Maybe, just maybe that this could be a good book for the young. But really the plot line is kind of weak. Not exciting at all.