Customer Reviews

Partners in Time #4: Family Matters

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Kristen Sheley's "Partners in Time" series has been one of my favorite book series for a few years now, and I anxiously awaited this fourth installment after reading the brilliant third, "Future Shock."

"Family Matters" is no less brilliant. It follows a different formula than the first three books, in that the main characters Meg (a teen girl hailing from the 1850s) and Sam (a present-day, time-traveling teen) do not spend the majority of the book in one time period. A few different years are briefly visited, such as 1994, 1996, and 1985, but the main focus of the book is alternate universes, an inevitable consequence of going back in time to change things. Sam learns a Spider-Man-esque message, which is "just because you have the power to change something, doesn't mean you should" (this is the tagline of the book). In other words, "With great power comes great responsibility."

One of the driving forces of the PiT series, for me at least, has been the relationship between Meg and Sam. By the fourth book it becomes very evident that they have become accustomed to one another, and though they have their disagreements, they are good friends through it all. Sheley has even tossed in inklings of a future romance between the two, an intricate setup that will ultimately be a huge payoff in a future book.

The only thing disappointing about this book is its short length, which is really a testament to Sheley's writing pulling you in and making you want more. I said this in my review of "Future Shock" and I will say it here: I can't wait for the next one!