The Sinclair family
is on a vacation in Williamsburg, Virginia. They’re eager to explore the
colonial town. The family begins their stay with a tour and meet
reenacters at each location. The reenacters explain their roles and
give a bit of history.
Suddenly the family
finds themselves transported back in time to 1775. Each member of the
family goes his or her own way meeting freed slaves, Indians,
military leaders, and healers. In each case, the family member
becomes an integral part of the action, actually influencing history.
The people they meet are wise bringing an understanding of daily
lives in the revolutionary period. The children learn about what was
actually happening as the country prepared for war. The parents bring
their skills to bear to heal themselves and help others.
The book is well
researched and gives an in-depth picture of Williamsburg in colonial
times. I enjoyed learning about each individual. I’ve read a lot of
history, so this wasn’t new, but if you’d rather read a story
than a history book, you’ll enjoy learning this way.
I was disappointed
in the depth of the characters and particularly the dialog. A great
many of the interchanges, particularly in the beginning of the book,
were data dumps. I understand that the author was trying to teach as
well as tell a story, but it did not enhance the atmosphere. The time
travel seemed almost too facile. It’s a good device, but very much
on the surface with no explanation of how it happened.
If you’re
interested in the revolutionary period, I recommend this book. You’ll
learn a lot of history. The documents from George Washington at the
end are well worth reading.
I received this book
from Net Galley for this review.
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