Day of Deliverance

Gr 6—9—Jack and Angus are members of the VIGIL society, dedicated to protecting the secret of time travel from the Revisionist party, who want to change the future by altering the past. VIGIL learns that Revisionist chief Dr. Pendelshape is in Elizabethan England. The enemy scientist is seeking to secure the success of the Spanish Armada, making Spain rather than England the dominant influence in modern Western history. Jack and Angus are sent back to stop the plot, but something goes wrong in the transference. Separated from their team, the teens are lost in 16-century England. They fall in with a group of players on the way to a command performance before Queen Elizabeth I, but one of the actors has a more sinister plan in mind. With assassins from the Spanish Inquisition on one hand and Revisionist goons on the other, can Jack and Angus survive until they can get back to the 21st century? Real personages such Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare fit smoothly into the plot. Actual historical events are portrayed accurately within the confines of the fictional plot, and black-and-white reproductions of maps, prints, and portraits add to the period feel. Plotlines and characters carry over from Day of the Assassins (Candlewick, 2009), but sufficient background is provided to allow this book to stand on its own. A challenging and exciting read for those who appreciate a blend of history and science fiction.—Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL