Giveaway and Book Review: Escape from the Past-The Kid
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Escape from the past: The Kid (Escape from the Past #2)
by Annette Oppenlander
by Annette Oppenlander
Time-traveling gamer, Max, embarks on a harrowing journey through the Wild West of 1881! After a huge fight with his parents, Max tries to return to his love and his best friend, Bero, in medieval Germany. Instead he lands in 1881 New Mexico. Struggling to get his bearings and coming to terms with Dr. Stuler s evil computer game misleading him, he runs into Billy the Kid. To his amazement Billy isn t at all the ruthless killer history made him out to be. Trouble brews when a dying Warm Springs Apache gives Max a huge gold nugget to help his sister, Ela, escape from Fort Sumner. Shopping for supplies Max attracts the attention of ruthless bandits. Before Max can ask the Kid s help, he and Ela are forced to embark on a journey to find his imaginary goldmine. This is book 2 in the Escape from the Past trilogy."
As a huge fan of historical fiction, I knew this novel would be in-line with what I devour in the book department. The addition of the science fiction element of time-travel (think A Conneticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court) add a depth of discovery to Max's experiences; the reader gets to discover about the West right along with Max.
Both books from Escape from the Past are now on my suggested reading list for my students. I had The Kid on my What I am reading now sheet displayed by my door. This prompted several students to ask about it and my opinion already.
The Kid is a perfect shared text for students who are learning about westward expansion. The students can see the historical locations, people, and lifestyle from social studies class in this fiction text. Also, The Kid would work well as an option for students to choose from as part of a historical fiction unit or literature circles. There is so much they can discuss.
I did not read the first book in the series before I started this one, and while there were some details that I am sure would be clearer if I had read the first book, I was able to consume this novel just the same. I will be going back and reading the first book for sure.
“As an English teacher of 43 years and as a life-long student of the Wild West and Native Americans, I found Annette Oppenlander’s, The Kid, to be an accurate, well-researched and thoroughly entertaining novel for young readers. The portrait of Max, the adventurous and risk-taking protagonist, is spot on;he has the language of young men his age and all the angst, dreams and longings that are hallmarks of a typical 17 year-old adolescent male. Ms. Oppenlander has a keen eye for detail, and her ability to create cliffhanging situations of high suspense makes for a great read. I strongly recommend this novel for any imaginative young reader who likes to have one foot in fantasy and one in reality.” —Bill Hays, English AP/Honors Teacher, Retired, Bloomington North High School
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About the Author
Annette Oppenlander writes historical fiction for young adults and anyone who loves stories set in the past. When she isn’t in front of her computer, she loves indulging her dog, Mocha, and traveling around the U.S. and Europe to discover amazing histories."Nearly every place holds some kind of secret, something that makes history come alive. When we scrutinize people and places closely, history is no longer a number, it turns into a story."
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