Time Meddlers on the Nile


Book Description

One of Canada’s top scientists has discovered the secret to time travel. But everything has gone wrong. Thirteen-year-old Matt Barnes and Sarah Sachs, while attempting to rescue Matt's father from multiple universes, face an even more challenging obstacle: the erasure of their own timeline. What can they do before they, themselves, are erased? Somewhere along the Nile the two teens must prevent the ultimate meddling during the time of Nubian pharaohs and princes, palaces and temples to rival the ancient Egyptians and fearsome desert raiders. They must puzzle out the moment and event where Matt's father or his arch nemesis, Nadine, interfered with history. If they don't, it could mean the end of time as we know it, or a never-ending loop of time. Warning: You must have a strong stomach to read this book, as it is sprinkled with the occasional mummified remains. “Time Meddlers on the Nile is an entertaining blend of historical fiction and science fiction that will appeal to readers of both genres” ─Kerri Hutchinson, CM Magazine “I really love this series. So so much. But this was by far my favourite book. I loved: The character development. Their growth moves right along with the story, yet not always doing things you expect. Which is nice, even as an adult I never found the story to be predictable. Anyone of any age can love these books.” ─Unorthodox Mama Kidlit Reviews * Time Meddlers is Recommended in The Children’s Literature Review and Canadian Teacher Magazine




Time Meddlers


Book Description

One of Canada's top scientists has discovered the secret to time travel. But something has gone horribly wrong . . . . On the first day of school, in a new city, Sarah Sachs experiences the shock of her life when she sees a car drive right through a strange boy. Did she really see it, or was it a figment of her imagination? The boy? Matt Barnes, son of the world-famous physicist, Dr. Nathan Barnes. The figment? Not so imaginary. A powerful new technology that could be behind Dr. Barnes’s disappearance. Sarah becomes swept up in Matt Barnes’s life as she helps him search for his father. They uncover an unusual device in a secret laboratory—a device that throws them far from the modern city of Ottawa into the forest-matted land of the 1600’s. In this strange New World, they must contend with wild animals and somehow survive a war between the Algonquin and Iroquois nations. But eventually they’ll have to make a decision that might change the world as we know it. Should they meddle with time? "Combining time travel technology, history and mystery, Time Meddlers is an enthralling science fiction story that transports readers from present day Ottawa back in time to the 1600s....Suspense, humour and memorable characters make this exciting adventure a page turner." –Diana Mumford, Canadian Teacher Magazine "Recommended. The characters are very real, and the situations make the book quite a page turner. Can time travel change history? . . . Includes a glossary of Native tribes and terms, and a set of questions for reading groups." – Children's Literature “Better stock up on batteries for your flashlights, kids. This book will keep you reading way past your bedtime. I know, because it happened to me.” – J. FitzGerald McCurdy, author of the bestselling Serpent’s Egg Trilogy and The Mole Wars * Time Meddlers is Recommended in The Children’s Literature Review and Canadian Teacher Magazine




Time Meddlers Undercover


Book Description

One of Canada’s top scientists has discovered the secret to time travel. But something has gone horribly wrong . . . again. When thirteen-year-old Matt Barnes finds out his time-travelling father is trapped in occupied Holland during World War II, there’s only one thing he can do. Even though he’s been forbidden to use the multiverse time machine, he drags his best friend, Sarah, along with him on another leap back in time. When they land in the war-torn country, they’re immediately caught up in a world of high intrigue and dangerous covert operations. They encounter courageous pilots, determined spies, gallant members of the Dutch resistance, and ordinary heroes. Matt and Sarah receive the surprise of their lives when they meet the legendary Anne Frank. But . . . with what they know of the future, the time travellers will be tempted to meddle again. Can they prevent a blunder by the SOE—Churchill’s spy organization—that will cost so many lives? And is it worth it, when interfering will force Matt to choose between the two most important things in his life? Meddling = Courage + Sacrifice. "...this is an enthralling story that will have middle grade readers turning the page to find out what risky situations Matt and Sarah will place themselves in next. Information about the English spy network and the Dutch resistance add historical context to the story, and readers are even introduced to the famed diarist, Anne Frank." -Diana Mumford, Canadian Teacher Magazine "An action-packed adventure novel that follows two time-travelling teenagers into the crossfire of the Second World War." -Kate Jaimet, author of Slam Dunk and the award-winning novel, Dunces Anonymous * Time Meddlers is Recommended in The Children’s Literature Review and Canadian Teacher Magazine




Mosaic


Book Description

It wasn’t until Carlos helped me put the pieces back together that I realized how many were missing. Shattered. Tormented. Brain on disconnect. A car accident leaves Erin Rocheford, a seventeen-year-old hockey player, fractured, disfigured, near death. Not only has her future career in the NHL been erased, but when she’s finally released from the hospital, she can barely walk, her thoughts stumble into each other, and people grimace when they see the scars crisscrossing her face. Erin's parents decide that a vacation in Florida, on an island of palm trees and pirate lore, is just what she needs to recover. But in her post-traumatic state, Erin is vulnerable to attack, to a ghostly invasion, and to a further fragmenting of her troubled grey matter. Soon after arriving on the island, a tale of an odd English pirate and his feisty captive—a story of defiance and decapitation—weaves itself into her mind, threatening her very soul. Erin will need to call upon every reserve in her hockey-toned body to keep from falling apart altogether, to fight back, and to protect her star player—the one boy who can see beyond the scars. "Mosaic, Deborah Jackson’s fourth young adult novel, involves young lovers, pirates, murder, ghosts and hockey; in short, something for everyone. The Ottawa-based writer has structured a suspenseful, action-filled novel which will appeal to an older teen audience.... Jackson considered Mosaic an 'experiment in structuring a novel to match its theme.' Her experiment is definitely a success." ─Ruth Latta, Apartment 613




Ice Tomb


Book Description

Deep within the heart of the Antarctic Ice Sheet lies a deadly secret. The year is 2015. A hotspot suddenly appears on satellite tracking in the Antarctic Ice Sheet. The US science team, sent from McMurdo Station to investigate, finds an icy graveyard. Minutes later, their transmission is cut off. The last sounds heard over the radio are their screams. NASA lures volcanologist Erica Daniels to a conference in Houston by promising to consider her for their upcoming mission—establishing the first moon base. Instead, her archrival and ex-lover, David Marsh, gets the plum assignment, while she’s sent to Antarctica to lead a new team beneath the ice. An irritating British archaeologist and a brilliant Russian astrophysicist join her on a journey through unforgiving snowscapes and mysterious ice tunnels. They present her with extraordinary suggestions for the origin of the hotspot. Along the way, Erica unearths scientific marvels that might just prove her own theory. But why is the ice sheet littered with bodies? Is the activity under the ice the remnants of an ancient civilization or is there a more sinister explanation? To discover the truth Erica will have to join forces with the man she despises—a man who’s on the moon. Editor's Pick "She may be a new kid on the science fiction block, but Ottawa writer Deborah Jackson could well rank up there one day with the likes of Isaac Asimov or Arthur C. Clarke. Ice Tomb is surprising not just for its entirely believable plot and well-crafted suspense, but because it has all the earmarks of a tale written by a sci-fi master." ─Mike Gillespie, Ottawa Citizen Top Pick "Ice Tomb is set in the near future and the science in the fiction is very plausible. A fast-paced story with plenty of twists, this book reads like a classic sci-fi tale. The characters are well drawn, the action plentiful and the outcome surprising." ─RT BOOKclub Magazine




Sinkhole


Book Description

Can the Lords of Death be fooled? “Zotz was a bat, but not just any bat,” said Megan. “He was a vampire bat like those we saw in the cave above. In Mayan legend, he played a part in the story of two brothers who upset the Lords of Death and were forced to travel to the Underworld—called Xibalba. There they had to pass several death-defying tests. They hid in the house of Zotz, but when one of them peered out, Zotz swooped down and tore off his head.” “Lovely,” said Kat. “Most of the Mayan legends are similarly gruesome. But in the story, the other brother managed to reattach the head. In the end, they fooled the Lords of Death . . .” Kat Delaney is a world class caver and microbiologist. While investigating one of the deepest caves on Earth, she becomes trapped, along with her team of fellow cavers and scientists. Far below the ruins of a Mayan city, they struggle to escape this mysterious cave, reportedly cursed and haunted by the Lords of Death. Kat’s husband, Mark, a doctor and pioneer of nanotechnology with a deep-rooted fear of caves, must try to rescue her. He enlists the help of a Mayan guide, who turns out to have revolutionary ambitions. Kat must keep her unravelling team together when they discover that something as threatening as the Lords of Death lurks within the cave. Mark must choose between trusting a guide who is patently untrustworthy, or leaving Kat to die. Will they escape? Will science be the solution? Or will it simply affirm their sentence as the Lords of Death win once again? Five Stars "Deborah Jackson explores a variety of human weaknesses and strengths as she leads her characters through the sinkhole and beyond in their quest for fame, fortune, and a miracle cure for disease. Sinkhole not only features a place where the action occurs but also represents the depths of the participants’ feelings... The meaning of love, life, and loss are explored as these explorers fight for their lives amidst amazing discoveries..." ─Melinda Hills, Readers' Favorite "With its fast-paced action and rich scientific details, this thriller is a pleasure to read. In particular, I enjoyed the fascinating references to biology, caving, microsurgery, revolutionary politics and Maya culture, which were interspersed among a healthy dose of exhilarating adventure." ─Alejandro Bustos, Apartment 613




The Furies' Bog


Book Description

A bog may be Earth’s undoing, but it will be a gift to Mars. Digging up bog bodies and analyzing corpses are the last things archaeology graduate student Felicity Cratchett wants to do. And when unusual mummies are discovered in the subpolar region of Polar Bear Provincial Park, it’s the last place she wants to go. But since her faculty advisor insists that she log more hours in fieldwork, she has little choice. In a remote bog with a small team of scientists, Felicity unearths the greatest secret of our time—a secret with ties to ancient Rome, roots in Botswana, and a link to the first people to exercise abstract thought. This revelation will challenge the conventional theory of human origins and human evolution. Meanwhile, astronaut Lucas Wilson, a man tormented with a deep-seated anger, is terraforming Mars. He reluctantly descends to the Red Planet’s surface with his fellow astronauts, preparing to direct their exploration. Mars, in its birth pangs, will challenge every step he takes, with gas explosions and raging rivers, with damaged fuel processors and limited oxygen supplies. In the midst of these disasters, Lucas must keep his companions from discovering a feat of genetic engineering that will transform Mars like nothing has in over a billion years. The double helix of this masterwork twists all the way back to Earth and Felicity’s mummies. But if he fails, Lucas must decide whether to take up Mars’s sword, or to cast the weapon into a bog. Five Stars “In The Furies' Bog ... Deborah Jackson’s writing style is crisp and lively with humor, emotion and the human condition written in each character and event that occurs. -Long and Short Reviews Furies’ Bog is a fast-paced Science Fiction Thriller combined with a Historical Mystery. A combination of Michael Crichton, Steve Berry, and Dan Brown, three authors I enjoy very much.” -Kim Heniadis, Book Influencer, McMillan Library




For the Love of Mars


Book Description

Mars resembles Earth in many ways, except it’s dead and red. But terraformed Mars is greening up. And life exists on the surface, below ground, and in a mysterious Robot Graveyard. (More on that later😉) Lucas Wilson, an astronaut on Mars, and member of the Gilgamesh Movement, a terrorist organization, has been instructed to prepare the planet for imminent colonization and do away with his fellow astronauts after he sabotaged Earth’s climate. But even after killing hundreds of thousands on Earth, he is reluctant to take this final step. The question is: how can he oppose the organization’s leader, Samson Teshda, a man who has devoted his entire existence to annexing the planet for his own people? This man has stridden over the boundaries of Earth’s laws and civil society. He’s even pushed the boundaries of evolution, creating genetic enhancements that provide extraordinary advantages, all for the love of Mars. But for the love of Mars, how can he not? The man is psychotic, as much a threat to their survival as terrifying, terraformed Mars itself.




Doctor Who


Book Description

Premiering the day after the JFK assassination, Doctor Who humbly launched one of the entertainment world’s first super-brands. We begin with a look at TV programming of the day and the original pitch documents before delving into the Daleks, which almost didn’t make the cut but inspired many monsters to follow. After three years, First Doctor William Hartnell left, prompting the BBC to recast their hit rather than end it, giving us the first “regeneration” and making TV history. We follow the succession of Doctors—including Third Doctor Jon Pertwee, exiled to Earth and targeted by the Master—and see how the program reflected the feminism of the 1970s while gaining mainstream popularity with Fourth Doctor Tom Baker . . . until declining support from the BBC eventually led to cancelation. Fan outcry saved the series only for it to suffer a repeat cancelation. Yet many continued to enjoy the Whoniverse in syndication, novels, audio dramas, and Doctor Who Magazine. Paul McGann impressed many as the Eighth Doctor in a 1996 TV movie, but it failed to reignite the series. A new age dawned in 2005 with Ninth Doctor Christopher Eccleston and a serious special effects budget before Tenth Doctor David Tennant helped rocket the series to international popularity and a new era of spinoffs. With Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith, the show became a bona fide success here in America. Following the program’s fiftieth anniversary, Whovians will meet the Twelfth Doctor, ushering in yet another era for the unstoppable Time Lord. Featuring discussions of concepts and characters, with insights from producers, writers, and actors from across the years, here is a rich, behind-the-camera investigation into the dazzling multiverse of Doctor Who.




The Meddler


Book Description

David Cobbington's high profile job with The Jockey Club of South Africa draws him into a web of deceit and complicity, pitting him against a man who will induce the ultimate destruction of his comfortable, affluent life. Anton Medli is the man who becomes David's perfidious and relentless nemesis. The unctuous Corsican is a man for whom thoroughbred racing is both a business and a pleasure and whose only philosophy is money. Known in racing circles as The Meddler, he engineers not only the demolition of David's quiet gentlemanly existence, but eventually the lives of both his brother, Kit, and their influential and wealthy father. The action shifts from the dusty highveldt of Johannesburg, to the wild, blond savannah of Kenya and, finally, to the neon smeared metropolis of Hong Kong. The choices that the two brothers make, whether recklessly, blindly or judiciously are irrevocable and David becomes trapped in a moral maze when both he and his brother step beyond the boundaries of the law. The denouement comes as a shocking and thought-provoking twist in this riveting story of a doomed family, whose integrity and tenets are shattered by the provocations of Anton Medli and his cohorts.




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