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Time Snatchers

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Time Snatchers
by Richard Ungar
G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2012. 321 pp. Juvenile chapter book.

Caleb lives in the year 2061. He is a time snatcher--a group kids trained to time travel and steal famous objects from the past so they can be sold in the future for large amounts of money. The man who runs this questionable business is an unpleasant, Fagan-like character, named Uncle, who forces orphans to work for him. And don't even think about trying to run away. Unfortunately, things are getting pretty bad  these  days. Stakes are high and Uncle has some big plans for the business. Plans that Caleb wants nothing to do with.

I really enjoyed this book. Though there are some gaping holes in the time travel logic at times, I have to admit that I was so caught up in the likable characters and the well-executed, by-the-edge-of-your-seat plot that I found I really didn't care very much about those minor inconsistencies in the end. Kids who love books like Dark Life and Lightning Thief will adore the action and adventure of Caleb's story. The book ends in such a way that a sequel just might be forthcoming. We can always hope.

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