Time Gangsters
By: Berin L. Stephens
Sweetwater Books
ISBN-13: 9781599559667
When Billy discovers a hidden cache of ancient coins, it isn't long before a gang of thugs from the 1920s swipes them right from under him. Plotting to use the magical properties of the coins to seize power in the past, these power-hungry gangsters will do anything to reach their goal. Their future threatened, Billy and Danny must race through time to steal back the coins before history is changed forever.
Review
Billy and his cousin Danny have never gotten along, even though they live next door to each other and their parents are best friends. They decide to call a truce though when 1920s gangsters break into both of their bedrooms within a two day period, looking for ancient coins with magic powers. They decide to find the coins before the gansters and spend the next few days chasing the gangsters through time, trying to save the future from being destroyed. But when Danny (Danielle) is kidnapped by the gangsters and taken to their boss in the 1920s, it's up to Billy to save both her and the coins. The future of the United States depends on it. This book was more middle grade then YA, but the storyline was one of the most refreshing that I've read in quite awhile. Stephens manages to use time travel as a sidekick to magic Egyptian medallions and deals with alternate timelines in a graceful anf fun manner, giving us a look at the world if gangsters would have gotten in charge of the U.S. I honestly don't care for Billy or Danny individually, but together they make a great team (when they're not at each other's throats). I liked the side characters well enough, but like in most middle-grade books they were just there mainly to move the plot forward. I would recommend this book to kids between 9 and 14 years old mainly, epsecially to kids who are not necessarily great readers. The fun aspects of this book will easily engage them. For older people, this isn't really advised unless you can look past the young qualities of the plot, characters and resolution. It made me feel like a kid again (in a good way) because I just forgot everything else and had a good time.
VERDICT: 3.75/5 Stars
*I received an Advanced Reading E-book Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book was published February 14th, 2012.*
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