Time Meddlers: Undercover [Paperback]

Deborah Jackson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 2009

While breaking into his old house, thirteen-year old Matt Barnes finds a microfilm that connects his family to a spy in World War II. Then his time-traveling father is yanked to the same period, in occupied Amsterdam. The only way Matt can rescue his father is to travel to this time, and the only person who can help him is his best friend, Sarah Sachs. When Matt and Sarah land in the war-torn country, they're immediately caught up in a world of high intrigue and dangerous covert operations. Matt and Sarah receive the surprise of their lives when they meet the legendary Anne Frank. But Matt and Sarah know what time will bring. Can they help those who are destined for a terrible fate? Should they interfere in history once again? Ultimately, Matt will be forced to make a choice that might save his father but lead to a sacrifice greater than anything he'd ever dreamed of. Will he be able to live with his decision, even though it will rip his heart in two?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Deborah Jackson lives in Ottawa, Ontario-the capital city of Canada. After obtaining a degree in science from the University of Ottawa in 1986, she worked for many years as an R.N. and dialysis technician before she began writing full time. Fascinated by ancient mysteries and scientific phenomena, Deborah tends to weave these into her stories. Time Meddlers Undercover is the second book in a series of time travel novels for children, ages nine and upward, that explores history in an exciting, adventurous way. Deborah is also the author of the critically acclaimed novel, Ice Tomb, an adult mystery/thriller. She's a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and SF Canada.

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Lachesis Publishing (September 15, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1897562438
• ISBN-13: 978-1897562437
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,832,046 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Continues where the first story left off., January 20, 2010

By 

Detra Fitch "Always hunting good books." (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Time Meddlers: Undercover (Paperback)

Begins in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada's capital city. Present date.

After thirteen-year-old Matt Barnes and Sarah Sachs had their last adventure, the police kept a look out for Nadine. Thanks to Nadine, Matt's dad is still being transported to different time periods via his multiverse time machine. Since Matt's old home is no longer being watched for signs of Nadine returning, Matt and Sarah sneak inside. They hope to find a code, believed hidden by the power-hungry woman, to help free Mr. Nathan Barnes from the machine.

Later, while Matt and Sarah are at the machine, they manage to locate Mr. Barnes in Amsterdam, during World War II. Nadine's sudden appearance causes a bit of chaos for the young teens. Nadine ends up falling into the machine's open portal. Matt and Sarah follow soon afterward.

Nadine finds herself running from Nazis and ends up hiding with none other than Anne Frank! Her anger against Matt and Sarah changes to fear for her own safety. As she begins to plot out a plan for returning to her own time period, Anne's courage and attitude begins to alter Nadine's priorities.

As for Matt and Sarah, they find themselves in England. They cause quite a stir as they connect with a secret organization and make their scary way into occupied Europe. As the young teens try to locate Matt's dad, they must be sneaky, cunning, and just plain old lucky as they avoid Nazis. Can they locate Mr. Barnes before their time runs out? Can they help the brave people who are destined for a horrible fate? Will history be altered by their actions?


**** FOUR STARS! This book continues shortly after the first, Time Meddlers, ends. You do not have to read the first book in order to understand and enjoy this one; however, I strongly urge you to. It gives more details on the time machine and backgrounds on the teens.

As for this story, it overflows with danger, excitement, and adventure. Readers will easily connect with Matt and Sarah. As the teens sneak around, they must take risky chances, putting their lives in serious danger. An enthralling story that readers will have a difficult time putting down. ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

5.0 out of 5 stars great time travel thriller, January 19, 2010

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Time Meddlers: Undercover (Paperback)

In Ottawa, thirteen year old Matt Barnes and his best friend Sarah Sachs sneak into his home hoping to find clues to where his father is. They know he is caught back in time in the multiverse. They remain alert knowing his former caretaker and lab assistant Nadine is on the run. When Nadine breaks into the house, they observe her opening a hidden safe. After she leaves, they find microfilm inside the safe. Her father tells the two kids that the library has a reader. There they see highlights from WW II in Amsterdam.

After doing some research Matt recognizes the name of a Dutch undercover Special Operations Executive (SOE) operative Johanna "Celery" Van Duizen. They disobey her dad and reenter his father's lab only Nadine follows them. They push her into the time portal in which lands her in 1942 in Nazi occupied Amsterdam. The pair follows in terms of time, but switch location to England only to run into trouble with an elite British Royal Air Force unit who ignores their warning that the SOE has a deadly fate awaiting them.

This is a great time travel thriller with a super surprising final twist. The story line is fast-paced and loaded with action as Matt is obsessed with rescuing his dad lost in time and Nadine having his back end up in WW II England and Amsterdam at a key point in which the Dutch resistance is in trouble. Deborah Jackson interweaves the Dutch resistance to the German occupation especially hiding Jews like Anne Frank and her family and other targeted people from the Nazis as a key element in the strong plot. Middle school readers and anyone who read or saw the movie The Diary of Anne Frank (except Holocaust deniers) will enjoy this fine sequel to the Time Meddlers as courage is an equal opportunity trait that ignores religion, ethnic origin, age and gender.

Harriet Klausner