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From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

In their third adventure, Josephine, Ajay, Dominique, and Eric find themselves in an America ruled by a dictator. Surely, someone's been fiddling with the past, but a trip through the Smithsonian's time machine will help them set history right again. Traveling back to the late eighteenth century, the kids find help from Alexander Hamilton and Oney Judge and discover a sinister plot to transform America from the free republic it's supposed to be into a monarchy in the hands of a power-hungry autocrat. With fancy gadgets and a fun time-travel plot, there's enough adventure here to satisfy reluctant readers, but the lessons in history particularly using a critical lens to examine history are quite poignant. Oney Judge's character offers a much-needed alternate perspective on the Founding Fathers, and the kids are moved by learning about her plight: It's hard to understand how people who treasured freedom were willing to keep it from others. The lively cartoon action will make this story go down easy, but the surprising depth might encourage students to think differently about history lessons.--Hunter, Sarah Copyright 2018 Booklist

School Library Journal
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Gr 4-6-Eric, Dominique, Ajay, and Josephine return to an altered present of forced curfews, missing family members, and a soon-to-be-crowned king. Alarmed by the sudden changes, the kids head back to the Smithsonian to find it has once again transformed and the Hall of Presidents has been renamed the Hall of Monarchs. With the help of the Smithsonian's time machine, the schoolmates travel to the late 18th century to thwart an imposter George Washington from becoming the first king of the United States and to correct the events of the past. This fast-paced, action-heavy tale builds to an exciting climax and leaves room for a sequel. The art is clean, with a simple panel structure that will appeal to those new to comics. However, characters other than the main students lack defining features. Readers will need a basic familiarity with the series to identify the villains by name. Alexander Hamilton, Washington, and members of the Continental Congress are especially difficult to discern from one another. This latest installment in the series offers more backstory and details about the Smithsonian's time machines but doesn't stand out. Parallels are drawn between Washington's decision to resign as president (rather than seek a third term) and the current political climate, but they are nothing groundbreaking. While other books in the series used a framing device to impart information, this latest veers closer to the realm of fiction; educators seeking a deeper dive into the time period should seek out more serious sources. VERDICT Worth purchasing where the series is popular.-Thomas Jonte, Pensacola State College, FL © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.