Molly Moon's Hypnotic Time Travel Adventure (Molly Moon #3)

Gr 4-6-If reading a Molly Moon title means navigating a variety of twists, turns, and sudden surprising revelations, then this addition to the series is no exception. Having perfected her hypnotic technique and defeated her villainous uncle in Molly Moon Stops the World (HarperCollins, 2004), the protagonist is caught completely unaware when a stranger kidnaps her beloved pug, Petula. It isn't long before Molly follows the pet backwards in time to 1870 India. There, she meets the repulsive Maharaja of Waqt, a spoonerism-loving cad who collects time-traveling crystals. Seeing Molly as an obstacle to his plans, he sets about kidnapping her at ages ten, six, and three, and as a baby. Now she must rescue her former selves and find a way to defeat Waqt, all while navigating some tricky time travel and taking care not to change anything in the past that would significantly alter the future. Byng plays fast and loose with her time-travel rules, often contradicting herself and making up explanations for problems encountered along the way. The breakneck speed of the novel, which reads like an elaborate chase sequence, will undoubtedly please fans and leave them howling for the next installment. Though sloppy, the plot is undeniably engaging and even attempts to explain the rudimentary differences between Hinduism and Islam. Just don't expect any condemnations of colonialism. This is an ambitious addition to the genre and a first purchase for any library in which the previous titles are popular.

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.