Time Gangsters by Berin Stephens

Description from Amazon:
When Billy discovers a hidden cache of ancient coins, it isn’t long before a gang of thugs swipes them right from under Billy. Plotting to use the magical properties of the coins to seize power in the past, these power-hungry gangsters will do anything to reach their goal. Their future threatened, Billy and Danny must race through time to steal back the coins—before history is changed forever!

What are the three things every middle-grade reader wants? Imagination—excitement—fun. Time Gangsters by Berin Stephens delivers each of these in spades.

Young readers are a lot like old readers. They want a story that is going to get their brain thinking and their imaginations wandering. They want to explore new places, times and ideas while still enjoying the comforts of characters they can relate to and recognize. Time Gangsters provides plenty of food for the imagination. In Time Gangsters we get to read about ancient coins with mystical powers. We get to read about time travel and all the mind bending realism that accompanies. We also get to read about gangsters. What a blast! There is plenty to keep me and the middle-grade readers in my home turning the pages.

What’s the most common refrain we hear from 10-14 year olds? In my house it’s, “I’m bored.” We could be at the amusement park and they may say the same thing. Kids want to be entertained and they want a story that speeds along at an exciting pace. Keeping the attention of a tween or young teen is its own magical gift and Time Gangsters delivers the action, adventure and excitement a young reader craves.

Lastly, kids have many mediums competing for their attention; TV, the internet, video games, iPods, sports etc. I really want BOOKS to be a major part of my children’s lives and thankfully they are. The reason BOOKS are so important in my house is because my kids love the fun, exciting stories that capture their imaginations. They have many favorites from recent years like the Percy Jackson and Fablehaven series. Time Gangsters is in the best tradition of these books.

Time Gangsters is a creative adventure with realistic characters, and the bottom line is Time Gangsters is FUN!