The Alchemist War

Gr 4–8—One of the advantages of having parents who are temporal researchers for the Cosmos Institute in the 25th century is the chance to join them during field research. One of the disadvantages is having to explain nearly derailing Hannibal's march across the Alps due to a mouse, a herd of elephants, and a squeamish Carthaginian soldier. On probation after the rodent mishap, teenagers Dawk and Hype are sent with their parents to Prague in 1648 to research the footwear of Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand III. They meet Richthausen, an alchemist who seems able to actually transform metal into gold. The siblings, along with their OpBot Fizzbin, suspect that he has come across technology from far in the future. Posing as the man's new apprentices, the teens find themselves embroiled in a dangerous mystery. The novel is light on character development but full of action and intriguing concepts and possibilities. The requisite technology of the 25th century is quickly explained in the early chapters, including the NeuroNet, which allows everyone access to all the world's compiled knowledge, and the Link, its social component. The short chapters may appeal to reluctant readers. This sci-fi foray is sure to be embraced by kids who once relished the time-traveling adventures in Mary Pope Osborne's "Magic Tree House" series (Random) or Jon Scieszka's "Time Warp Trio" (Penguin) and those who enjoy the "Infinity Ring" (Scholastic) series.—Amanda Raklovits, Champaign Public Library, IL