Two 21 Century 7th graders come face to face with their 18 Century book report subject and smack in the middle of a famous Revolutionary Battle!
Can snooty, seventh grader Kristy Sawyer’s day get any worse?It’s a Monday at Langdon Middle School and first thing in the morning Kristy is sent to see Principal DeWitt. His long, drawn out lecture makes her late for Miss Wickware’s history class. But the worst is when she finds out she is being partnered with nerdy Larry Peables to do an oral report on some historical Molly Picture, or Pincher, or Pitcher. And the report is due tomorrow!
Her plan to bat her eyes and flirt with the little nerd, sure that he will jump at the chance to do whatever she wants, blows up in her face when he flat refuses to do the research. Her day takes a drastic turn for the worse when she and Larry find themselves in 1778, Trenton, New Jersey.During their trip back in time, Kristy and Larry come face to face with the British, George Washington, become involved in the Battle of Manmouth, and of course, meet their oral report subject, the famous Molly Pitcher.
She has only Larry to help her figure out why they are there and how are they going to get home.
Excerpt
Kristy whirled back to face him. “I’m not kidding, Larry! What’s happening? Where is everybody and what are we doing in these clothes? Where’s the school?” Kristy’s voice got louder and louder as her panic grew.
“I don’t know!” Larry’s voice was just as loud. A tear fell from Kristy’s eye. Larry swallowed hard, squeezing and rubbing his own eyes. He took a deep breath and took her hand in his. “Don’t cry, Kristy. I’m here and I won’t let anything happen to you.”
She jerked her hand out of his. She swiped a hand across her eyes. “Seriously? You actually said that out loud? We are…who knows where, or how or why, but I have you, Larry Peables, to protect me! Well then everything is just perfect!”
“Fine,” Larry yelled, heading for the bend in the road, which was hidden by the trees.
“Fine,” she yelled right back. “I can take care of myself, Twerp!”
“Knock yourself out, you rude, self-centered…” The rest of his words were swallowed up as he rounded a turn, disappearing behind the trees.
“What a jerk,” Kristy hollered, hoping Larry heard her. “Like that little twerp could protect me!” She looked around. Not a sound could be heard. No birds, no rustling of leaves, nothing. She opened her mouth to call Larry back, but stopped herself. “He’ll be back!”
Kristy was beginning to regret her outburst when Larry came around the bend in the road, running as fast as he could. Her “I knew it” smirk faded when she saw the frantic look on his face. He grabbed her arm and dragged her into the group of trees. In the process he succeeded in tripping them both and they ended up rolling into the brush.
“What’s your…” Her words were smothered as Larry’s hand clamped over her mouth. Kristy’s outrage lasted only seconds before fear took its place.
Larry’s face twisted with terror when a group of men in red coats galloped by on sweat streaked horses.
When the dust cleared, they continued to sit in stunned silence. Kristy attempted to dislodge the hand still gripping her lower face. The guy kept staring blankly through the bushes at the empty road. Kristy rolled her eyes in annoyance and bit down hard on Larry’s finger, snapping him painfully out of his trance.
“Ouch!” he yelped, pulling his finger from between her teeth.
“Well, get your hand off my mouth!” she growled. They got up and brushed the leaves off their clothes, glaring at each other. “Did you think, maybe for one second, those guys could have helped us figure out where the heck we are?” Kristy asked, hands on hips.
Larry opened his mouth to answer, and then shut it. From far off, a muffled thud reverberated across the countryside. The ground seemed to tremble underfoot with each new thump.
“What is that sound?’ Kristy asked, annoyed at Larry’s silence. “And did you see those funny looking cowboy hats those guys had on? They were shaped in a triangle and had, like, three little sticky-up points on them.” She stalked back up to the dirt road. “And why is it so darned hot?” She yanked her skirt up to her knees. “Would you please say something? Anything!”
Larry joined her on the road. He cleared his throat. “Those weren’t cowboy hats. They are called Tricorn Hats. I think the sound we are hearing is cannon fire and we couldn’t ask those men for help, uhm, because they were British soldiers.”
Professional Reviews
Historical Fiction for tweens
Kristy Sawyer is Mrs. Wickware’s number one seventh grade snob. Kristy’s Monday morning starts off poorly when Ms. Plumb sends her to see Principal DeWitt for talking during the Pledge of Allegiance. Late for Mrs. Wickware’s history class, she is the last to pull a name from the box to present an oral report about Molly Pitcher. (Who’s dat?) Fortunately for Kristy, she is paired with super smart Larry Peables, a new kid promoted up from 6th grade. Kristy and her friends affectionately refer to him as “Larry the fairy,” or “Geekville.”
After school, Kristy tries to get Larry to do the research and she’ll present the information to the class. Larry won’t have any part of that con when suddenly the duo finds themselves in Revolutionary War era garb hiding from British soldiers.
Flash to the Past is a wonderful vehicle in which Estelle magically transforms a snooty seventh grader with little respect for her country into a patriot and mensch
Fun, Quick, Relevant to my Core
Flash to the Past is the 2nd of this series that I have actually purchased. My 5th graders really enjoyed it as a read-aloud. We have been studying the Revolutionary War, and one of the non-fiction article we had done a "close" read on lately was about Molly Pitcher. My students were sooooo excited when they realized who the Molly in this book was. It was very worth the purchase.
These books are very quick to read (I think we finished in a week), and just a lot of fun. :)
THE WICKWARE SAGA continues to bring history into LIFE for one and all.
This is getting serious...I'm becoming addicted and an addicted Ladybug...there's no telling what that means. I spent part of today researching what it means to be an addicted ladybug and even looked for pictures...and this is all I could find. Since I don't drink coffee, I don't think that fits my condition. Don't get me wrong I like butterflies but unlike the glorious Publisher at Muse It Up Publishing, Inc. I'm not over the moon about them, so this isn't me either.
Nope, my growing addiction is much more in staying in line with what I was and what now am. So what does that mean. What was I? I was a teacher, and I loved every moment of it, but it was cut short by a car accident, and now I am an author, and Ladybug Lin Book Reviewer most unique.
It's the review side of me that I bring to the table here.
FLASH TO THE PAST
I just finished the THIRD installment in one of the most brilliant series I have ever laid my hands on, THE WICKWARE SAGAS geared towards presenting history in a way that is engaging, entertaining, and educational without seeming to knock the reader in the head with it.
I LOVE Penny Estelle's writing style. As far as I'm concerned every history teacher in the United States at the very least if not the world, should make her books a required part of their teaching curriculum.
In each of her books, to date, she has introduced elements about either historical figures I never learned anything about in MY history courses, back before we had as MUCH history to cram into the twelve years of public schooling we have to cram into it today, or if it was a figure we HAD heard about, she gives details far beyond anything I was given.
One of the saddest things about history is it is rarely taught in a way that makes the past seem like it was lived by REAL people. They're abstract concepts that you just can't relate to.
But not so in the books Penny Estelle, in what is commonly called SHORT STORIES, creates. We not only MEET actual people, we get to literally drop into their environments and live their story right along side them.
So far I've learned about two women that played roles during the Revolutionary War, I had never heard of. How sad is that? Also I learned the details around an event that I thought was foolhardy because I didn't know what led up to the event. Now I know what motivated this historic figure to act in the way he did, and because of that I can empathize with him and realize I would have done the same thing.
Penny Estelle makes history JUMP into vivid life for me, and for everyone who opens one of her books. That's what a good author does.
FLASH TO THE PAST Keep them coming Penny. This is one very addicted Ladybug who is deliriously happy to give you another FIVE STARS!
FLASH TO THE PAST is Book Three in THE WICKWARE SAGAS
Don't pass up Book One: BILLY COOPER'S AWESOME NIGHTMARE
or Book Two in this amazing series RIDE OF A LIFETIME
Cherry doesn't know him from Adam, so is he real or is he fake?
Cherry and Adam are lonely in their new, separate worlds and hook up on social media, but that's when their problems start
Bristlecone Magic is a YA Christian fantasy about family, friends, neighborliness, love, magic and yes, even tragedy. The story takes place in Clinton County in upstate New York.
There is more than one kind of Magic! Contact me if you'd like an au
